WRITTEN QUESTION E-2169/00 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission. Stability of FYROM.
Date: 2000-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Kosovo, North Macedonia, common foreign and security policy, peacekeeping, threat to national security

C 103 E/78

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

Reply

(7 November 2000)

The behaviour of KFOR troops is a matter for KFOR commanders, NATO and the national authorities of
the sending states. For its part, the EU is naturally concerned that the behaviour of all representatives of
the international community working together to restore stability, security and multiethnic democracy in
accordance with UNSCR 1244 should be exemplary whether in Kosovo or outside. It is confident that its
own representatives generally conform to this high standard and that this is well understood by the
population in Kosovo as in neighbouring countries they may visit on duty or leave.

(2001/C 103 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2168/00

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Rowdy behaviour by KFOR troops in Skopje

(30 June 2000)

According to FYROM press reports, KFOR troops on leave in Skopje have been causing trouble on the
streets and bars of the city and assaulting passers-by, particularly young women. Most of these incidents
are caused by the excessive consumption of alcohol by the troops on leave. The population of Skopje
almost always suffers as a result of this behaviour, but the KFOR military police takes a very relaxed
attitude. This conduct by KFOR troops is an insult to the hospitality shown by FYROM to the KFOR
troops, but above all damages the image of the peacekeeping effort undertaken at enormous cost by
NATO and the EU in particular, which is involved through broader agreements in FYROM and in the
normalisation of the situation in Kosovo.

How does the Commission intend to protect the reputation of the EU in FYROM in the face of the
unacceptable conduct of KFOR troops so as not to cast a shadow over the contribution it is making to
peace in the region?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2000)

As the Honourable Member is aware, the Commission is both involved in and works closely with the
international civil administration (UNMiK) in Kosovo.

Furthermore, the Commission has no involvement whatever in the international military presence (KFOR)
and therefore has no comment to make on the issues raised in his question. These issues should more
appropriately be raised with the States (cid:129) European or other (cid:129) which have contributed contingents to this
military force.

(2001/C 103 E/084)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2169/00

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Stability of FYROM

According to press reports, there have recently been attempts to infiltrate groups of persons into FYROM
with the aim of destabilising the country. These groups, come from Kosovo, consist of UCK units, come

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/79

from Kosovo, are engaged in drugs trafficking, smuggling, illegal arms shipments and the illegal trade in
people and recently have sought to acquire a political facade, involving themselves in plots to undermine
efforts to normalise the situation in Kosovo. However,
it is necessary and politically indispensable to
ensure the stability, peace and security of a state such as FYROM which has repeatedly acted responsibly in
the Kosovo crisis, and in the region in general. Furthermore, it is assumed that the bodies responsible for
the administration of Kosovo are answerable for their actions to the European Union.

What measures does the Commission intend to take to put an end to the efforts by these circles to
destabilise FYROM?

Has the Commission checked whether (cid:145)cooperation(cid:146) ties have been established between these groups and
the peculiar (cid:145)authority(cid:146) which has been established in Kosovo?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

The Commission is not aware of the specific incidents to which the Honourable Member refers. It would,
however, observe that
the UCK/KLA was demilitarised and disbanded in September 1999 to the
satisfaction of the international military administration in Kosovo.

The (cid:145)bodies responsible for the administration of Kosovo(cid:146) to which the Honourable Member refers are, as
regards the international civil administration, the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMiK) and, as
regards the international military administration, KFOR. These are established under United Nations (UN)
Security Council Resolution 1244 and are, contrary to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s assumption, answerable
not to the Union but to the United Nations. Obviously, those parts of the international civil administration
which are in receipt of Community funds are answerable to the appropriate Union authorities as regards
the use of such funds.

As regards the (cid:145)cooperation ties(cid:146) which the Honourable Member alleges to have been established between
the groupings to which he refers and the (cid:145)peculiar authority which has been established in Kosovo(cid:146), the
Commission would like to recall that the authority in Kosovo (cid:129) as described above (cid:129) is based on a UN
the
Security Council Resolution and is in no way (cid:145)peculiar(cid:146). The Commission is equally sure that
Honourable Member is not implying that this international civil administration is engaged in illegal or
questionable activities.

The Commission shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s concerns about the importance of the stability, peace
and security of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and is currently engaged in negotiations with
that state on the establishment of the first of the new stabilisation and association agreements.

(2001/C 103 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2170/00

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Stability of FYROM

According to press reports, there have recently been attempts to infiltrate groups of persons into FYROM
with the aim of destabilising the country. These groups come from Kosovo, consist of UCK units, are
engaged in drugs trafficking, smuggling, illegal arms shipments and the illegal trade in people and recently
have sought to acquire a political facade, involving themselves in plots to undermine efforts to normalise
the situation in Kosovo. However, it is necessary and politically indispensable to ensure the stability, peace
and security of a state such as FYROM which has repeatedly acted responsibly in the Kosovo crisis, and in
the region in general. Furthermore, it is assumed that the bodies responsible for the administration of
Kosovo are answerable for their actions to the European Union.