WRITTEN QUESTION E-0153/01 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Balkans syndrome and the responsibilities of the Agency for the Reconstruction of the Balkans.
Date: 2001-01-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Agency for Reconstruction, dissemination of information, division of powers, environmental impact, health risk, powers of the institutions (EU), quality of the environment

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/133

The next thing is to obtain balance assessments of health risks. The Commission will, as soon as possible,
set up expert groups, one on the effects of DVT and the other on air quality and cabin conditions. They
will scrutinise existing research and then draw conclusions on risks to health, the need for further research
and on measures that the different actors involved should take.

(2001/C 235 E/142)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0152/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Balkans syndrome (cid:129) safety of Community staff

(31 January 2001)

The Commission has already expressed its concern about the Balkans syndrome, while large numbers of
Community staff and non-governmental organisations are located in dangerous areas of Kosovo. As
Thessaloniki is the seat of the Agency for the Reconstruction of the Balkans, does the Commission intend
to consider the possibility of moving Community staff to Thessaloniki to protect their health? The
extension of the agency(cid:146)s activities to Serbia and Montenegro will cause communication problems for the
is a subsidy for an air service connecting
agency(cid:146)s Community staff. Under the existing regulations,
Thessaloniki with Pristina-Belgrade-Podgorica a possibility?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2001)

The investigation of the alleged (cid:145)Balkans syndrome(cid:146) is still ongoing in various fora.

The United Nations Environmental Programme and the Community(cid:146)s Article 31 Committee have
concluded that there is no immediate environmental or health risk. The Community co-operates with the
international organisations carrying out such investigations. Thus far, there is no clear evidence of health
implications. The work of the European Agency for Reconstruction will therefore continue as usual i.e. in
the places where the programmes are implemented.

Although transport in the region can be difficult, the opening of offices of the Agency in Belgrade and
Podgorica will not cause communication difficulties. Apart from the fact that each of the Agency(cid:146)s three
offices will handle separate programmes with dedicated staff, modern technology provides for sufficient
contacts and overall co-ordination.

As regards the Honourable Member(cid:146)s second suggestion, the Commission would remind the Honourable
Member that Community competition rules would not allow such a subsidy (cid:129) either with Community or
national funds (cid:129) unless it results from a Community-wide tendering process.

(2001/C 235 E/143)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0153/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(31 January 2001)

Subject: Balkans syndrome and the responsibilities of the Agency for the Reconstruction of the Balkans

As implementing authority for the CARDS regulation, one of the responsibilities of the Agency for the
Reconstruction of the Balkans is environmental rehabilitation in the Balkans (Article 2(2)(d) of Regulation

C 235 E/134

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

2666/2000 (1)). In view of the legitimate concerns of the European public over the (cid:145)Balkans syndrome(cid:146),
why should this agency not be given the additional task of combining environmental rehabilitation with
the simultaneous provision of information and assistance to local residents?

(1) OJ L 306, 7.12.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 2001)

As the Honourable Member is aware, the investigation of the alleged (cid:145)Balkans syndrome(cid:146) is still ongoing in
various fora. UNEP and the Community(cid:146)s Article 31 Committee have concluded that there is no immediate
environmental or health risk. Should it be decided, to implement specific Community environmental
rehabilitation programmes in this regard, it is most probable that the European Agency for Reconstruction
would be responsible for the implementation of such Community programmes and associated information
tasks. However, the primary responsibility for providing information to local residents as regards potential
issues of public health and environment lies with the governments of the States concerned. Environmental
aspects are, wherever relevant, an integral part, where relevant, of programmes implemented by the
Agency, in line with Article 2(2)(d) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000 of 5 December 2000 on
assistance for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, repealing Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 and amending Regulations (EEC)
No 3906/89 and (EEC) No 1360/90 and Decisions 97/256/EC and 1999/311/EC.

(2001/C 235 E/144)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0154/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(31 January 2001)

Subject: Orderly operation of the Agency for the Reconstruction of the Balkans

The Agency for the Reconstruction of the Balkans has extended its activities to Serbia and Montenegro.
Branches need to be set up in Podgorica and Belgrade so that it can carry out its duties. Can the
Commission provide information on the staffing of these services? How will staff be hired in these two
areas, and how will transparency be ensured?

Why did the Commission suggest that for 2001 the number of meetings of the governing board of the
committee referred to in Article 10 of Regulation 2666/2000 (1) be reduced from 12 to 4, at a time when
the volume of work is increasing due to the extension of the committee(cid:146)s responsibilities to the above
areas?

(1) OJ L 306, 7.12.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2001)

As the Honourable Member is aware, the European Agency for Reconstruction is an autonomous agency
with full independence in the management of its administrative functions. As far as the set up of its
operational centres in Belgrade and Podgorica is concerned, the Agency is currently in the process of
hiring the best qualified professionals to implement the Community assistance programmes in the region.
Most of the posts for these two offices have been published in the international press and on the websites
of the Commission and the Agency.

The Director of the European Agency for Reconstruction regularly informs the Governing Board of the
Agency, composed of the Commission and the representatives of the Member States, of the staffing levels