WRITTEN QUESTION E-0514/01 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission. Declaration of state of emergency and serious situation in Ecuador.
Date: 2001-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Ecuador, aid policy, debt reduction, economic situation, ethnic conflict, external debt, non-refundable aid, poverty, social situation, state of emergency

C 235 E/218

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

In this context a dossier on the possible link between organophosphates treatment against warble fly and
BSE, recently submitted to the Commission, has been transmitted to the secretariat of the SSC(cid:146)s permanent
transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE)/BSE ad hoc Group.

The Commission is not aware of any research being carried out into the cause of BSE which considers the
possible effects of trichlorphon or crufomate systemic insecticides. It cannot however be excluded a priori
that such research is being carried out with national funding and that the Commission has not been
informed of it.

(2001/C 235 E/255)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0514/01

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission

(22 February 2001)

Subject: Declaration of state of emergency and serious situation in Ecuador

The economic austerity policy pursued by the Ecuadorian Government in an attempt to resolve the grave
economic crisis that has been affecting the country for more than three years has been accompanied by
serious social unrest. In addition to the emigration of a large section of the working population prompted
by poverty, there has also been increasing mobilisation and protest on the part of the section of the
population most severely affected by the crisis, mainly the Indian population.

Apart from a crackdown by the forces of order, the Ecuadorian authorities have responded to this social
unrest by declaring a state of emergency.

Given the ethnic character of
is the
Commission not afraid that the current economic crisis might jeopardise the plurinational and democratic
State enshrined in the country(cid:146)s new constitution?

the protest, which has so far remained essentially peaceful,

Has the Commission expressed its opposition to the state of emergency that has been declared, or does it
intend to do so?

Will the Commission call on the Ecuadorian Government to guarantee the civil and political freedoms of
the population during the protests, provided they are peaceful, in order to prevent the situation from
deteriorating?

Given the conditions of real poverty faced by around 70 % of the population at a time of political
instability, does the Commission not think that the international community should tackle the problem of
Ecuador(cid:146)s external debt and the need to rebuild its economy in the context of the Paris Club and on the
basis of criteria that seek to avoid an aid-based approach and focus on large-scale national and
international investment?

What other initiatives will the Commission take to help Ecuador overcome this difficult situation?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2001)

The state of emergency declared on 2 February 2001 was lifted on 7 February following the signing of an
agreement between the Ecuadorian government and representatives of the indigenous populations. The
Commission welcomes the resumption of dialogue and consultation and the ensuing return to a full
guarantee of constitutional freedoms. The Commission is indeed concerned at the increasing involvement
of indigenous ethnic groups in social protest movements and fears that the situation could jeopardise
Ecuador(cid:146)s multi-ethnic nature. Protection of the rights of indigenous peoples was identified as one of the
key objectives in the implementation of the European initiative for democracy and human rights in
Ecuador (budget chapter B7-70).

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.