WRITTEN QUESTION E-4083/00 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission. Return of stability to Somalia.
Date: 2001-01-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Somalia, cooperation policy, legality, peacekeeping, political situation, rule of law

C 235 E/62

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

The EU will continue to give its backing to recovery measures in all areas of Somalia where stable
conditions exist.

The European Union calls on the authorities of Somaliland and Puntland to establish constructive relations
with the institutions, which have emerged from the Arta process. It also urges the Transitional National
Government to establish a regular and constructive dialogue with the aforementioned authorities for the
purpose of re-establishing national unity in peace and with respect for the elements of stability achieved.
The European Union expects that the Transitional National Government will pay full attention to the
preparation of a new constitution respecting federalism as the guiding principle.

Furthermore, it strongly urges all political groups and armed movements, which remained outside the Arta
peace process to associate themselves with that process and to participate in the demobilisation efforts
undertaken by the Transitional National Government.

The European Union welcomes the contacts between the Transitional National Government of Somalia and
the countries of the region. The Transitional National Government should establish a friendly relationship
with Somalia(cid:146)s neighbouring countries, based on the respect for territorial integrity and national sover-
eignty as well as on regional co-operation.

The European Union will
in February 2001 send a troika mission to Somalia in order to assess the
situation in that country and to communicate its views to the authorities in Mogadishu, Garowe and
Hargeisa.

Other specific EU initiatives with regard to Somalia are spelt out in the Action Plan for Somalia, which
was elaborated by the High Level Working Group on Asylum and Migration and approved by the
European Council in Nice, in December 2000.

(2001/C 235 E/067)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4083/00

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission

(10 January 2001)

Subject: Return of stability to Somalia

As a result of recent developments, Somalia is emerging from the state of anarchy which has prevailed
there for the last decade. The installation of Abdiqassim Salad Hassan as President is the first step in a long
and delicate transitional period which Somalia is now embarking on in order to return to the rule of law
and peace. So far these first attempts by Somalia to return to the rule of law have been supported by the
Arab countries. Following the tragic incidents in 1993 in which American soldiers lost their lives,
European countries have stood aloof from the region.

Does the Commission intend to take some initiative to help Somalia(cid:146)s efforts to leave anarchy behind it?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2001)

The election of Mr Abdiqasim Salad Hassan as President of Somalia and the establishment of a transitional
Government have been welcomed by the Commission as an important step towards the reestablishment of
governance and national unity through peaceful negotiations and agreements.

The Commission fully agrees with the (cid:145)Declaration of the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on
recent developments in Somalia(cid:146) issued on 8 September 2000.

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/63

This declaration contains the following points:

(cid:129) the Union wishes the elected President success in the hope that he will contribute to the preservation

of national unity and the restoration of the State,

(cid:129) it is ready to enter into dialogue with the new authorities and to support their efforts of reconstruc-
tion whilst continuing to support rehabilitation activities in all areas of Somalia where stable
conditions exist,

(cid:129) it calls on the authorities of Somaliland and Puntland as well as on the transitional government to
establish a constructive dialogue aiming at national unity in peace and with respect for existing
stability,

(cid:129) it invites all faction leaders to associate themselves with the peace process,

(cid:129) the Commission continues its support

In December 2000 it approved the Third
Rehabilitation Programme with an amount of € 24,8 million, which focuses on local communities
and civil society.

to Somalia.

Commission representatives have already established contacts with President Abdiqasim and the new
government. During a mission to the Horn of Africa the Member of the Commission in charge of
Development aid met President Abdiquasim in Djibuti the 7 October 2000. The ACP Group has reacted
favorably to the Commission(cid:146)s proposal to allocate € 50 million to Somalia which had not been possible
to access 8th EDF funds. A request for some technical support to the transitional government is currently
being examined by the Commission. The Commission is prepared to examine any reasonable request for
support contributing to the restoration of the state and national unity by peaceful means.

(2001/C 235 E/068)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4089/00

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Information campaign on the euro in Spain

(10 January 2001)

Spain(cid:146)s Ministry of Economic Affairs has promoted an information campaign on the euro which comprises
a number of placards illustrating the most significant achievements of Spain(cid:146)s membership of the European
Union and of economic and monetary union. The fact that the contents of the exhibition, which has been
the Spanish
designed as a contribution to the greater glory of Mr Aznar (the current
Government), are so propagandist in nature is scandalous. To quote a single example: Spain(cid:146)s joining the
European Union is illustrated solely by a distant photo of the 1985 government in which only the figures
of the Spanish King and the then premier, Felipe GonzÆlez, can be made out. On the other hand,
Mr Aznar(cid:146)s picture appears on a number of occasions, including in photos exceeding 1m2 in size.

leader of

Has this type of exhibition been financed out of Community funds? Does the Commission consider that an
information campaign concerning the euro should contain propaganda relating to Mr Aznar?

Should an information campaign on the euro focus on the practical aspects of the single currency, or
should it become a means of glorifying Mr Aznar?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2001)

Two themes running through the information campaigns carried out under the Prince priority programme
generated exhibitions:

(cid:129) (cid:145)Building Europe together(cid:146),

(cid:129) (cid:145)The euro, a currency for Europe(cid:146).