WRITTEN QUESTION E-0516/01 by Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Effects of the Gulf war.
Date: 2001-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: ECHO, Iraq, aid policy, civilian victim, firearms and munitions, humanitarian aid, international affairs, international sanctions, war damage

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/219

The Commission is using all the instruments at its disposal to help Ecuador combat poverty: Ecuadorian
exports benefit from a preferential Community trade arrangement (the Andean and Central American
Generalised System of Preferences (1)); grant aid (which does not increase the country(cid:146)s indebtedness) is
provided to support financial and technical cooperation activities implemented in partnership with the
government (€ 13 million per year on average) and with civil society (5 NGO projects backed in 2000 for
a total of € 3,3 million).

The key sectors of cooperation with the Ecuadorian government for the period 2000-2006 will be health,
infrastructure, the environment and economic cooperation.

A total of € 4 million in humanitarian aid has also been provided since 1996 in response to earthquakes,
droughts, El Niæo, flooding, volcanic eruptions and epidemics.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2820/98 of 21 December 1998 applying a multiannual scheme of generalised tariff

preferences for the period 1 July 1999 to 31 December 2001 (OJ L 357, 30.12.1998).

(2001/C 235 E/256)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0516/01

by Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 February 2001)

Subject: Effects of the Gulf war

Nine years after the end of the Gulf war, a situation exists where:

(cid:129) more than one million people (mostly children) are suffering the effects of air raids and sanctions

affecting foods and medicines;

(cid:129) more than 300 tonnes of depleted uranium are causing leukaemias and deformities in children;

(cid:129) air raids by American and British forces are continuing in a climate of total indifference, the most

recent having taken place on 10 February.

Given that senior United Nations officials have described the sanctions as an inhuman tragedy which must
be ended, how long must the civilian population, who are completely innocent, continue to be punished
for acts they did not commit?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 April 2001)

The Commission is aware of the serious humanitarian conditions in Iraq. An improvement of this situation
will require a change/suspension of the economic sanction regime as set out in the United Nations Security
(UNSC) resolution 1284. By continuing to refuse to comply with this resolution, the Iraqi
Council
government carries full responsibility for delaying the lifting of the economic sanctions and prolonging
the hardship of its own people.

Nonetheless, the Commission is doing everything possible within its mandate and with the resources
available to ease the suffering of the Iraqi people through our assistance provided by the European
Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO). Since the Gulf War in 1991, the Community has been the
major donor of humanitarian aid to Iraq, contributing over € 250 million. An amount of € 12 million is
envisaged from the 2001 ECHO budget.

The Commission will continue its assistance as long as there is a need for it in Iraq. The need will remain
as long as the sanctions are in place. The issue of sanctions against Iraq is not primarily a matter of
responsibility for the Commission, but rather of the Council. Ultimately, it is the United Nations Security
Council, which has the responsibility for implementing and/or changing the sanction regime.