WRITTEN QUESTION E-3627/00 by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. budget contributions.
Date: 2000-11-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Member States' contribution, financing of the EU budget, general budget (EU)

C 163 E/184

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 2001)

All African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP) Ambassadors present their credentials to the President
of the Commission. This occasion is not only ceremonial, but also an opportunity to discuss relations with
the country concerned. On other occasions, Ambassadors are usually received by the Member of the
Commission responsible for the ACP countries or by senior officials.

There has been no change in policy.

(2001/C 163 E/211)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3626/00

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Ethiopia/Eritrea

Would the Commission give details of the precise role of the EU envoy deployed at this time in Eritrea and
Ethiopia?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 2001)

Senator Serri was appointed Special Representative of the Union Presidency in January 2000, to assist the
Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in its efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the conflict between
Ethiopia and Eritrea. All parties involved have expressed their satisfaction with this appointment. He has
an intimate knowledge of the Horn of Africa and its problems. Senator Serri has, since his appointment,
been in close and constant contact with the Algerian Presidency of the OAU in order to contribute to the
success of the mediation initiative. The OAU has expressed its strong appreciation for the Union support
to the peace process, bringing together information, perceptions and evaluations of the underlying reasons
for the conflict as well as developing scenarios for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. In his capacity as
the Union Presidency Special Representative, Senator Serri carried out his first mission to Asmara and
Addis in February 2000. He met the President of Eritrea and the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister
of Ethiopia.

In October 2000, Mr. Serri was involved in the Algiers proximity talks where he continued his support to
the peace process. In October 2000 also, on the occasion of the eighth summit of heads of state and
governments of the Intergovernmental authority on development (IGAD) in Kartoum, he again had talks
with President of Eritrea and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia as well as with the foreign ministers of both
countries.
In the meantime the permanent contact between Mr Serri and the OAU Presidency has
continued unabated. All parties expressed their appreciation for the European contribution through the
Special Representative.

Mr Serri embodies not only the Union support to the peace process led by the OAU, but also provides
both the Member States and the Commission with very valuable up to date information on the peace
process and its constraints. This helps the Union to appreciate the underlying issues of the conflict and
permits the Union to assist in resolving the conflict.

(2001/C 163 E/212)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3627/00

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: budget contributions

Can the Commission give, for the latest year available, the gross and net contributions to the European
Union budget for all Member States?

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/185

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(19 December 2000)

The material the Honourable Member is seeking is available in the Europa site in the world wide web.

Specifically, the latest data on net contributions, defined according to the operational definition of the
budgetary balance, are for 1999 and can be found in Table 6 of the statistical annex of the report
issued in July 2000. Data on gross
(cid:145)Allocation of 1999 Operating Expenditure by Member State(cid:146),
contributions by Member State, consistent with the 1999 budgetary balance estimates, are also reported
in Tables 4a to 4f of the report (the gross and net contributions data go back to 1993). The report can be
found at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/budget/en/agenda2000/a2000rp.htm.

The data for the 2000 gross contributions according to the supplementary and amending budget (SAB)
1+2/2000 and the 2001 gross contributions according to the preliminary draft budget (PDB) 2001 is sent
direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(2001/C 163 E/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3628/00

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Swaziland

Would the Commission outline any plans which exist to deal with the crisis in Swaziland?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2000)

The Commission is concerned by the recent developments in Swaziland and the social unrest which
culminated mid-November in a two day stay-away called by the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions.
However, the Commission notes that it is not the first social crisis in Swaziland. On the contrary, protests,
stay-aways and blockades have been a recurrent feature since the suspension of the constitution in 1973,
and demands for political reform have intensified in the mid-1990s as other countries in the region
transformed into multi-party democracies.

The issues at stake in the current crisis are essentially of a political nature, having to do with the country(cid:146)s
constitution, political freedoms, industrial relations and the security of land tenure. A statement of the
Union at this stage can only emerge as a result of a coordinated approach of the Commission and the
Member States of the Community, in line with the rules of the Common foreign and security policy
(CFSP). To date, the Commission has followed a constructive approach involving a constructive and
thorough dialogue with the Swazi Government and established authorities, support
to the various
democratic forces and the civil society and assistance with the constitutional reform process.

The Commission is in any case following the situation closely. It remains concerned that if the current
crisis over the political and social climate persists or aggravates, this will have an impact on the dialogue
with the Swazi Government and negatively affect the implementation of development cooperation with
Swaziland.