WRITTEN QUESTION E-2914/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council. Austria/sanctions.
Date: 2000-09-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, European Union membership, extreme right, international sanctions

C 151 E/24

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

(2001/C 151 E/028)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2913/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council

(20 September 2000)

Subject: Doubts over the effectiveness of sanctions policy

On 10 July, at their first meeting under French Presidency, the EU Foreign Ministers discussed the aims and
methods of their Balkan policy. The French Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council, Hubert
Vedrine, stated that an increasing number of countries were doubtful of the efficacy of sanctions against
Yugoslavia in relation to their goal of democratisation. The sanctions were discouraging the population
rather than damaging Milosevic. He admitted that that it was obvious that our political goals were not
being achieved. Our leaders are clearly embarking on a radical reappraisal of their sanctions policy, despite
Milosevic(cid:146)s recent attempts to retain power.

is the Council having similar thoughts about the sanctions against Austria
Against this background,
(unjustified by comparison with those against
the undemocratic Milosevic regime) and considering
removing bilateral sanctions and resuming Community dialogue with this fellow EU member and partner?

Reply

(22 December 2000)

The Council has no position on the issue raised by the Honourable Member and is therefore unable to
respond.

(2001/C 151 E/029)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2914/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council

(20 September 2000)

Subject: Austria/sanctions

During their session of 10 July 2000, the EU foreign ministers decided to release Russia(cid:146)s frozen funds,
despite their constant concern about the situation in Chechnya. Only in December last year, the Union
froze financial aid in the region of € 58 million, in order to induce Russia to put an end to the fighting in
the Caucasus region and strike up a political dialogue with the independence fighters. However, this
measure has now been rescinded. Consequently, despite continuous violent repression, Moscow is this year
entitled to receive the full amount of € 90 million in financial aid.

As a result, a distinctive change has come about in the EU(cid:146)s Russia policy: it discards its long implemented
sanction policy (cid:129) one which has, after all, been somewhat unsuccessful due to its half-hearted measures (cid:129)
and demonstrates readiness to negotiate with a country, whose political views and inhuman approach in
Chechnya it does not wish to condone, yet one which is essential as a partner for peace and stability in
Europe.

In so far as the relationship between the EU Member States is concerned, the Fourteen are persisting with
their policy of sanctions against Austria.

The Council:

(cid:129) would it be prepared, in accordance with its new foreign political position on sanction issues, to also

consider (cid:129) that is, abandon (cid:129) the sanction policy concerning Austria, and

(cid:129) would the Fourteen be willing to fully re-establish the bilateral political dialogue with its partner?

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/25

Reply

(22 December 2000)

The Council has not taken a view on the two issues raised by the Honourable Member, and is not
therefore in a position to respond to the question.

(2001/C 151 E/030)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2920/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2000)

Subject: Sporting and leisure activities in Andalusia

Does the Commission accept that the kind of (cid:145)leisure(cid:146) activities which took place at Ramon Romero(cid:146)s
(cid:145)Seventh Heaven(cid:146) School of Riding in Chivirel, Andalusia made it an entirely unsuitable recipient of
Community funds, and what steps have been taken to ensure that in future proper inspection procedures
are put in place so that all projects receiving Community funds are (cid:145)bona fide(cid:146)?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 2000)

The case of the project mentioned by the Honourable Member was indeed one of deflection of funds to
purposes other than those specified in the application for part-financing.

This was rapidly detected through the Andalusian Regional Government(cid:146)s policing arrangements. Action
was immediately initiated to recover the funds in question.

The Spanish authorities(cid:146) payments were not included in the certified expenditure notified to the Commis-
sion. Thus their advancing of sums did not give rise to any payment from the European Regional
Development Fund.

(2001/C 151 E/031)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2935/00

by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission

(19 September 2000)

Subject: Cyprus

Can the Commission indicate what action it has taken with regard to Turkey with a view to persuading
that country to lift its embargo on merchant ships that have visited Cyprus? Would the Commission agree
that this action is illegal, would contravene all European Union regulations and does no credit to Turkey(cid:146)s
aspirations to become a Member State?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2000)

The restrictions still applied by Turkey on vessels trading with Cyprus and on those on the Cyprus register
remain a concern for the Commission.