WRITTEN QUESTION E-1969/00 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Contributions to East Timor from the European Union and its Member States.
Date: 2000-06-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, East Timor, economic reconstruction

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/159

2. A guarantee that directly or indirectly, support from Indonesian military groups to the (cid:145)militias(cid:146), or

any other provocateurs capable of destabilising the area, has ceased entirely.

In view of all the violence which the Timorese have suffered, it is utterly essential that the European Union
(cid:129) and the whole human-rights-supporting international community (cid:129) should not forget the facts of what
actually happened, and must be particularly demanding and rigorous in these areas; effective means of
verifying on the spot that the situation is genuinely developing in a positive way are required.

Is the Commission able to give an absolutely clear and firm assurance that such minimum guarantees will
be consistently demanded and effectively verified on the ground, as a precondition for developing a new
policy on Indonesia designed to encourage the consolidation of civil democracy in that country, full self-
determination and progress for East Timor, and peaceful conditions throughout the region?

(1) OJ C 46 E, 13.2.2001, p. 79.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2000)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s concern for a speedy solution to the problem of
refugees in West Timor. It should be stressed that responsibility for implementing voluntary repatriation
and for the safety of refugees in camps in West Timor still lies with the Indonesian Government. It is vital
that the refugees be given free and objective information on the current situation in East Timor to allow
them to choose freely whether they wish to return or to be resettled in Indonesia. The Commission is sorry
to say that this condition has not been met.

The Commission has pointed out to the Indonesian authorities that it is willing to assist the bodies
responsible for setting up a voluntary repatriation programme. The Commission has also taken the
initiative, together with the Member States and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), of examining the scope for assisting some of the displaced persons to resettle in Indonesia.

(2001/C 72 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1968/00

by JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: East Timor(cid:146)s accession to the LomØ Convention

(21 June 2000)

Paragraph 15 of the European Parliament(cid:146)s resolution on East Timor of 18 November 1999 (B5-0271/
1999) states that (cid:145)The European Parliament calls on the Commission to begin preparations to East Timor
to join the LomØ Convention(cid:146).

Six months later, what specific steps has the Commission already taken to prepare for East Timor joining
the LomØ Convention? On this issue, how does the Commission view the current stage reached and the
immediate prospects for the future?

(2001/C 72 E/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1969/00

by JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Contributions to East Timor from the European Union and its Member States

The recently published European Parliament report on the visit to Indonesia and East Timor from 16 to
21 April by a Parliamentary Delegation mentions that the contributions promised by the European Union

C 72 E/160

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

for reconstruction in East Timor had not yet been made available. Mrs Catherine Walker, head of the
Donors(cid:146) Coordination Unit in Dili has stated that the EU had committed itself to contributing US$ 9,8
million and US$ 58,9 million for the UNTAET Trust Fund and the World Bank Trust Fund respectively.
Mrs Sara Cliffe, head of the World Bank office in East Timor, confirming that the Commission had not yet
paid its contribution, apparently said that these EU funds might be made available in May.

This delay in the handing over of promised contributions appears also to involve specific contributions
from certain Member States, particularly Germany.

Paragraph 14 of the European Parliament resolution on East Timor on 18 November (B5-0271/1999)
stressed the need to make European Union budgetary resources for East Timor available as a matter of
urgency.

The fact that many donors are behind schedule, and thus holding up the reconstruction of the country, is a
recognised major contributory factor in the instability, uncertainty and insecurity in the territory. Over and
above the observations already made in this respect by international officials, the repeated appeals and
warnings issued by Timorese are extremely pathetic and insistent.

Why has there been such a delay on the part of the EU? What is the state of play in terms of volume of
funds and the timetable for their becoming effectively available, of the contribution promised by the
European Union to East Timor? What steps has the Commission taken in this regard, both with regard to
the speed of processing the EU contributions and likewise encouraging equal dispatch on the part of the
Member States which have undertaken a like commitment? Can the Commission guarantee that from now
on, the EU will act in an exemplary manner in this highly sensitive area?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1968/00 and E-1969/00
given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2000)

The Commission shares the opinion of the international community that the question of whether East
Timor should sign the LomØ Convention is a matter for political decision by the future East Timorese
Government. Once an independent State of East Timor has been constituted, its Government will have to
assess which regional economic group is most suited to furthering East Timorese interests. When that time
the Commission will certainly provide the East Timorese Government with the appropriate
comes,
information.

With regard to the Community(cid:146)s contribution to the rehabilitation of East Timor, the Commission can
confirm that the contribution to the United Nations(cid:146) trust fund (for UNTAET, the UN Transitional
Administration in East Timor), some € 10 million, was transferred to the recipient in the first half of June
2000 and that the first tranche of the contribution to the World Bank(cid:146)s Trust Fund for East Timor (TFET),
some € 9,2 million, will be paid as soon as the financial agreement with the administrator of that fund has
been signed and a request for payment has been received. The agreement is expected to be signed in July
2000. The other tranches will be paid subsequently, as provided for in the financial agreement. As to the
contributions of the Member States, the Commission regrets that it does not have a complete list.

(2001/C 72 E/204)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1982/00

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Legal challenges to the extension of An Post(cid:146)s contract to provide social welfare payments in

Ireland

This question is tabled further to Written Question E-0463/00, tabled by Avril Doyle to the Commission
on 24 February 2000, and the subsequent answer from the Commission (1). Bearing in mind the legal
challenges made by a firm of Dublin-based solicitors (2) to the extension of An Post(cid:146)s contract to issue
social welfare payments in Ireland and the importance of such a service to the vitality of rural post offices