WRITTEN QUESTION E-4082/00 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council. 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

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

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.