WRITTEN QUESTION E-4081/00 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council. Cooperation agreements with the countries of central Asia.
Date: 2001-01-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central Asia, EU programme, cooperation agreement (EU), democratisation, economic development, economic situation, market economy

C 235 E/60

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

communication (cid:145)Commission support for nuclear safety in the Newly Independent States and Central and
Eastern Europe(cid:146), the Commission has begun to provide financial assistance for the process of decom-
missioning nuclear facilities in Lithuania and Slovakia and will grant the bulk of that financial support via
international decommissioning aid funds administered by the EBRD.

The Commission is therefore the competent Community body to answer in detail the questions raised by
the Honourable Member.

(2001/C 235 E/065)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4081/00

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council

(10 January 2001)

Subject: Cooperation agreements with the countries of central Asia

Despite the hopes of economic and social development prevalent among the countries of central Asia after
the dissolution of the Soviet Union, today, ten years after becoming independent, these countries are facing
a profound crisis with no solution in sight. Recent reports in the New York Times point to the adverse
trend of economic indicators for these countries, a rise in corruption and a lack of investment leading to
high unemployment and poverty for large sections of society. Some years ago the European Union
concluded cooperation agreements with the five countries of central Asia (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan) aimed at fostering the economic development of these countries.

Can the Council say what progress has been made in implementing these agreements?

Does it consider that this initiative has contributed to the economic development of the countries of
central Europe and, if so, to what extent?

take the view that

for promoting the
Does it
development of, and granting aid to, fledgling countries which it can use in future in other regions
where the interests of the EU are at stake?

these agreements have proved a successful model

Reply

(7 May 2001)

For the five countries of central Asia the transition from relatively poor Soviet Socialist Republics to
modern and potentially prosperous nation States is proving difficult for various reasons. All the republics
are confronted with serious economic problems. Corruption,
lack of investment, unemployment and
poverty are the evils affecting those countries. In addition there are the serious environmental problems
inherited from the Soviet Union. The economic situation, however, varies greatly from one country to the
next and despite everything progress is being made. In certain countries improvements are made in the
short and the medium terms as regards growth and the reduction of inflation.

External factors exacerbate the difficulties encountered by the countries of central Asia, and in particular
the situation in Afghanistan, relations with Russia, fundamentalism and the lack of regional cooperation.

The Council would point out that three Partnership and Cooperation Agreements, those with Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, entered into force on 1 July 1999. The agreement signed with Turkmenistan
in 1998 has not entered into force. As the Honourable Member is aware, the European Parliament has not
delivered an Opinion, in particular because of the human-rights situation in that country. In the case
of Tajikistan, the unstable situation in the country rules out the possibility of contractual relations with
the EU.

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/61

The European Union has important interests in central Asia, both geopolitical and economic. The Union(cid:146)s
objective is still to maintain stability in the region and to promote the development of democratic
institutions, economic reform and the reduction of sources of conflict. The Union is aware that the
achievement of those objectives will take a long time.

With the Partnership and Cooperation Agreements it has been possible to intensify relations between the
Union and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The creation of the institutions provided for in the
Agreements and in particular the Parliamentary Cooperation Committees have established dialogue and
close cooperation with a view to making progress towards transition to a market economy, including the
improvement of market access and investment conditions and accession to the WTO.

The assistance granted under the TACIS programme for 2000-2003 gives priority to support
for
institutional, legal and administrative reforms, support for the private sector and assistance for economic
development, the promotion of environmental protection and the management of natural resources,
development of the infrastructure and support in dealing with the social consequences of transition.

The Partnership and Cooperation Agreements are the only instruments at present available to the EU for
the purpose of positive cooperation with the countries of central Asia. The cooperation, support and
assistance measures implemented with regard to those countries take account of the divergence of their
needs and priorities. They could not, however, be considered appropriate for any other region that is of
interest to the European Union, as every region has its special characteristics.

There is, however, a Union priority that applies to all non-member countries: the very great importance
that the Union attaches to respect for human rights, fundamental liberties and the rule of law. The Union
does not believe that sustainable economic growth can be achieved in any country in the long term
without democratisation.

(2001/C 235 E/066)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4082/00

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council

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

Reply

(7 May 2001)

In its declaration of 8 September 2000, the European Union expressed its willingness to enter into
a dialogue with the new Somali authorities. The EU is willing to give its support to the efforts of
rehabilitation, reconstruction and the re-establishment of the state, carried out by the Transitional National
Government. In order to allow the European Union to fully support these efforts, the Transitional National
Government should,
lasting stability and security
throughout the country and the emergence of efficient and representative institutions.

through political means, pursue the objective of