WRITTEN QUESTION E-3145/00 by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission. Reestablishment of a police force in Albania.
Date: 2000-10-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Albania, EU aid, fight against crime, police, public order

C 163 E/44

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

In view of the threat of renewed armed conflict in Mogadishu and the surrounding district and the
destabilisation of the peaceful autonomous regions of Somaliland and Puntland, what steps will the
Commission take to ensure peace and re-establish a political balance between the various regional entities,
which may be guaranteed by a federal system respecting autonomous entities?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(17 November 2000)

The Commission fully agrees with the declaration of 8 September 2000 by the Presidency on behalf of the
Union on recent developments in Somalia.

This declaration expresses the hope that the election of Mr Abdiqasim Salad Hassan as President of Somalia
by the National Transitional Assembly meeting in Arta and the recent nomination of a new government
will contribute to the restoration of the State, to the preservation of national unity and to the territorial
integrity of the country; the willingness to enter into dialogue with the new Somali authorities and, once
they have established their authority, to support their efforts to rebuild the country, while continuing to
give backing to recovery measures in all areas of Somalia where stable conditions already exist, thereby
taking account of the situation in Somaliland and Puntland; a call on the authorities of Somaliland and
Puntland to establish constructive relations with the institutions which have emerged from the Arta
process while also urging the future transitional government to engage into a constructive dialogue with
these authorities; an invitation to the heads of the armed movements which remain on the margins of the
peace process to associate themselves with that process; and the hope that the new Somali authorities will
establish close relations of friendship and cooperation with all the countries in the region.

The Commission is fully aware that international recognition of the new Somali government will take time
especially considering the failure of many previous efforts to re-establish state structures in Somalia.

However, the Commission thinks that any reasonable initiative in this regard deserves support. The peace
dividend approach to rehabilitation and development, which has been developed under full Community
is designed to ensure that international assistance is not only relevant to local efforts at
participation,
reconstruction but also to peace building and support for civil society.

The Commission encourages the parties involved to find through negotiations, and under the strict
exclusion of violence, a lasting well balanced political system. It supports the decision taken by the Arta
peace conference enshrined in the transitional charter which foresees a federal system providing a
substantial degree of autonomy for the various entities. The Commission has already funded a study on
decentralisation in Somalia which has had a strong influence on the internal discussion regarding the
future constitution.

(2001/C 163 E/043)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3145/00

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: Reestablishment of a police force in Albania

Given that:

(cid:129) on 16 June the Council decided to extend until 31 December 2000 Joint Action 1999/189/CFSP,
adopted on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union, concerning a contribution by the
EU to the reestablishment of a viable police force in Albania;

(cid:129) during the first stage 3000 Albanian police officers were trained at a cost of € 2,1 million. So far

operations to combat crime in Albania have been non-existent;

(cid:129) in the last few days Albanian boatmen have committed criminal offences (throwing bombs) against
a patrol boat belonging to the Italian Customs Service, which was trying to put a stop to the daily
transport of illegal immigrants to the coast of Apulia, which often has tragic consequences.

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/45

Can the Commission specify whether the joint action has had positive effects and, if so, what they are,
how and where the 3000 Albanian policemen are employed, what their duties are and who supervises the
deployment of these police officers and how?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2000)

The Western European Union (WEU) mission, known as the multinational police advisory element (MAPE),
provides training, assistance and advice to the Albanian police. WEU/MAPE works in co-operation with the
Albanian Ministry of Public Order mainly in Tirana, Durres and in mobile teams at district level. Its
activities do not cover the (almost non-existent) Albanian military coastguards.

The Union joint action mentioned by the Honourable Member has been the basis for Union support for
MAPE since March 1999. The MAPE mission forms part of a wider strategy, also involving Community
assistance, in co-operation with MAPE, for procurement of equipment for the Albanian police.

The Commission considers that overall security and public order in Albania have improved considerably
compared with the situation that prevailed in 1997. Nevertheless, the 1999 Kosovo crisis created problems
for policing in Albania, such as the increase in illegal trafficking of human beings, which has led inter alia
to the incident mentioned by the Honourable Member.

The results of the MAPE training programme need to be assessed against the background of the difficult
circumstances in Albania. While it is true that the MAPE mission has suffered from a relatively high level
of turnover within the Albanian police service (cid:129) up to 30 % of the policemen who received training since
1999 have left the service or been dismissed (cid:129) according to Commission information, more than 3 000 of
the around 14 000 Albanian policemen have received basic training since 1999. In addition, a (cid:145)training for
trainers(cid:146) programme was launched recently.

As to MAPE(cid:146)s advisory function, in November 1999 Albania adopted a framework law for its state police.
This is currently being implemented through adoption of numerous subsidiary regulations in line with the
1999 civil service law. It is expected that a sound legal framework, combined with continued efforts in
terms of training, advice and equipment support will help to create a more stable environment and
a better-functioning police force, thus improving security and public order in the country.

In the overall context of integration of certain WEU functions into the Union, a comprehensive evaluation
of the activities of WEU/MAPE and a general assessment of police reform in Albania is envisaged. This will
provide the basis for reflection on a possible extension and adjustment of MAPE activities in Albania after
31 December 2000.

(2001/C 163 E/044)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3146/00

by Mario Mastella (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: High price of heating fuel in Italy

In Italy the price of heating fuel is twice as high as that set by the other Member States and has now
reached ITL 1 700 per litre, compared with the European average of ITL 800.

This problem is particularly acute for Italians living in mountain regions, especially pensioners, who are
obliged to heat their houses for nine months a year.

It is essential to bring the price of heating fuel in Italy into line with the European average.

Does the Commission intend to propose legislation setting out the conditions for establishing a uniform
price for heating fuel in all the Member States?