WRITTEN QUESTION E-1916/00 by Guido Podestà (PPE-DE) to the Commission. War in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Date: 2000-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU national, Eritrea, Ethiopia, common foreign and security policy, establishment of peace, return migration, war victim

C 89 E/112

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

3. with regard to the practical measures the representative of the European Union(cid:146)s Presidency,

in
tandem with the Presidency of the OAU, plans to carry out at once to sustain the civilian peoples who
are victims of the conflict?

4. Can the Council also report on whether evacuation plans for EU citizens, coordinated between the

various Member States, exist?

Reply

(23 October 2000)

On 18 June 2000 the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea signed an agreement on the cessation of
hostilities, proposed by the OAU, which the Feira European Council welcomed in its declaration of
20 June 2000. The Council subsequently adopted, on 29 June 2000, Common Position 2000/420/CFSP
concerning EU support for the OAU peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Under that common
position, the European Union will support, in particular, the deployment of international observers, the
delimitation and demarcation of borders, mine-clearance and efforts to assist refugees and displaced
persons.

The Honourable Member(cid:146)s attention is also drawn to the fact that Senator Rino Serri(cid:146)s mandate as the
Presidency(cid:146)s special representative for Ethiopia/Eritrea was recently extended for a further six months.

(2001/C 89 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1916/00

by Guido Podest(cid:224) (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: War in Ethiopia and Eritrea

The crisis in Ethiopia, which the Committee on Development and Humanitarian Aid has been faced with
in the last few months in attempting to alleviate the food emergency, has recently been exacerbated by the
worsening of the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

In an effort to find a way to mediate, the United Nations Security Council has approved a resolution
holding the two nations equally responsible for the warfare, which thus does not take into account the
differing degrees of involvement of aggressor and victim, in the case in point Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Can the Commission therefore say what the European Union(cid:146)s position is and what initiatives it intends to
take:

1. with regard to the search for a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict in the Horn of Africa,

2. with regard to the steps the representative of the European Union(cid:146)s Presidency with responsibility for
the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea intends to take to promote an immediate stop to the conflict,

3. with regard to the practical measures the representative of the European Union(cid:146)s Presidency,

in
tandem with the Presidency of the OAU, plans to carry out at once to sustain the civilian peoples who
are victims of the conflict?

4. Can the Commission also report on whether evacuation plans for EU citizens, coordinated between

the various Member States, exist?

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/113

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2000)

Since fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea first broke out in May 1998, the Union has repeatedly urged
both countries to cease hostilities on all fronts immediately, to refrain from any further use of violence and
to co-operate with the Organization of African Unity (OAU) efforts to mediate a peaceful negotiated
solution to the conflict.

The Union therefore welcomed on 14 June 2000 the acceptance by both parties of the proposal for an
agreement on the cessation of hostilities, prepared by the OAU and assisted by an envoy from the United
States and by the Union Presidency Special representative, Mr. Serri. The European Council of 19 and
20 June 2000 applauded the signing of the agreement on the cessation of hostilities of 18 June 2000 in
Algiers.

The Algiers agreement foresees a peaceful resolution of the conflict, a respect for the borders existing at
independence, to be determined on the basis of pertinent colonial treaties and reaffirms both countries(cid:146)
acceptance of the OAU framework agreement and its implementation. The countries furthermore commit
themselves to an immediate cessation of hostilities starting from the signature of the document, followed
by the deployment of a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission under the auspices of the OAU.

Since the start of the conflict in May 1998, the Commission, through ECHO, has made funding available
for humanitarian aid programmes in both countries in favour of conflict affected populations for a total
amount of some € 15,7 million. Areas of activities are water and sanitation, supplementary feeding, shelter,
food, and non-food items. Activities are focussed on displaced people as well as victims of deportation.
This includes an amount of € 2 million made available by the Commission for rapid action in favour of
Eritrean populations forced to flee from the invading Ethiopian troops. Further funds, the amount of which
will depend on the needs identified, will be made available after identification of precise needs and
implementing partners.

The Commission can report that in both countries evacuation plans for Union citizens have been discussed
and prepared. There is no issue of confidentiality as this is common practice and as the contents of the
plans are not divulged. These evacuation plans are regularly updated in view of the changing situation.
The Presidency, the Commission as well as Member States are well aware of the necessity for close co-
ordination in matters of security for Union citizens.

(2001/C 89 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1917/00

by Michiel van Hulten (PSE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: European aid for Enschede

On 13 May the SE Fireworks factory in Enschede exploded, destroying or damaging a considerable
proportion of the Enschede-North district. On 17 May Commission President Prodi went on a reconnais-
sance flight over Enschede and on his return said he would consider ways in which the Commission could
contribute to repairing the enormous damage.

Can the Commission state what initiatives it has now taken and what other action it has taken to

1.
honour that undertaking?

2.
Is the Commission prepared to treat any review of the Netherlands(cid:146) proposals on the European
structural funds as a priority matter so that the repair work can be carried out without any unnecessary
delay?