WRITTEN QUESTION P-0712/01 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission. Humanitarian and economic disaster in Mongolia.
Date: 2001-03-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Mongolia, agricultural disaster, aid policy, animal feedingstuffs, economic consequence, food aid, humanitarian aid, livestock farming

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/181

Reply

(30 May 2001)

The Council has always followed closely the situation in Montenegro and discussed the issue raised by the
Honourable Member on several occasions.

As the Honourable Member rightly underlines, the primary objective of the EU is stability in the region.
This was clearly stated at the highest level last November not only by the EU but also by regional Heads of
State and Government during the 23 November Zagreb Summit. President Djukanovic was present and
committed the government to support this objective. Following President Djukanovic(cid:146)s announcement of
the holding of Parliamentary elections 22 April, followed by a referendum on independence, the EU has
immediately clarified its position during the 22 January meeting of the Council (formation General Affairs)
in which the Council urged authorities in Belgrade and Podgorica,(cid:145)(cid:133) to agree on an open and democratic
process, within an overall Federal framework, to decide on a new constitutional arrangement for the
relations between the components of the Federation acceptable to all the parties. The Council welcomes
the readiness shown by President Kostunica to play a constructive role to that end. It underlines the
importance of avoiding any unilateral action which could jeopardise this negotiating process and to ensure
the democratic legitimacy of its outcome. It reaffirms its conviction that any renegotiation of the Federal
relationship must be consistent with the internal stability of the FRY and the regional stability of South
Eastern Europe.(cid:146)

The EU position was clearly presented to Belgrade and Podgorican authorities by Troika visits, respectively
at Ministerial and Political Directors level, 7 and 8 February 2001.

(2001/C 261 E/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0712/01

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission

(1 March 2001)

Subject: Humanitarian and economic disaster in Mongolia

For the second year running, Mongolia has found itself in the grip of an extremely harsh winter which,
with temperatures of minus 30(cid:176)C and very heavy snowfalls preventing animals from grazing, poses a grave
threat to a large proportion of the country(cid:146)s 30 million livestock. Last year(cid:146)s economic disaster resulted in
the deaths of 2,4 million livestock and was followed by an extremely dry summer. The Mongolian
Government and experts from the United Nations Development Programme estimate that without a
rapid injection of aid on a massive scale, some 12 million livestock are likely to die during the coming
weeks, which in humanitarian terms would be nothing short of disastrous. The climatic conditions at the
end of January caused the deaths of more than 500 000 livestock and left more than 75 000 Mongolian
families struggling to survive.

The European Union, India, Israel and other countries have responded to the appeal launched jointly by
the Mongolian Government and the United Nations with offers of several hundred thousand dollars in aid.
But the need for aid has been estimated at USD 8,7 million, a figure that does not include approximately
USD 4 million in food and other aid (cid:129) animal feed is the top priority (cid:129) needed to contain an economic
disaster that is already taking hold and is fast becoming a humanitarian tragedy?

Is the Commission in agreement with the overall assessment of the aid needed?

If so, does it intend to limit its humanitarian intervention and emergency aid to the amounts already
committed?

C 261 E/182

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 2001)

In the last few weeks the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) has received information on
the situation in Mongolia from United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and other humanitarian organisa-
tions. According to the reports, Mongolia is experiencing a second consecutive winter of blizzards and
extremely low temperatures whose negative effects are exacerbated by the previous summer(cid:146)s prolonged
drought. Such climatic conditions result in serious humanitarian problems for the population in the
affected regions. They have lost a large proportion of livestock which is their main source of income.

ECHO is financing urgent humanitarian operations to meet the needs of the people in the most badly
affected regions. Their main priority is to satisfy immediate food requirements caused by the disastrous
winger ((cid:145)dzud(cid:146)). The Commission is in the process of approving a decision to grant aid worth € 1 030 000
for a period of six months. This is in addition to the aid granted by ECHO in 2000 which was worth
€ 1 875 000 to assist Mongolian families suffering from the consequences of the harsh winter of 1999/
2000 and the subsequent drought.

The Commission is continuing to assist Mongolia through the TACIS programme. It aims to facilitate its
transition towards a market economy by supporting reforms begun by the Mongolian government. Its
long-term aim is to help reduce Mongolia(cid:146)s vulnerability to the economic effects of natural disasters.

(2001/C 261 E/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0713/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 March 2001)

Subject: Support for the campaign against AIDS in the form of a stance backing the South African

Pharmaceuticals Act

On 29 September 2000, in answer to a previous question I tabled to the Commission (E-2316/00) (1),
Mr Lamy stated that the TRIPs agreement offered sufficient flexibility to ensure the protection of public
health and that, in certain circumstances, it provided for obligatory authorisations. In that connection, and
given the seriousness of the AIDS situation in South Africa, where 4,3 million people are suffering from
the disease, is the Commission prepared to support the pharmaceuticals legislation adopted by the South
African Government?

If so, is it prepared to notify that fact to the South African Government and also to inform it that the letter
from Sir Leon Brittan dated 23 March 1998, in which he informed the South African Government, on
behalf of the Commission, that the introduction of the new 1997 Pharmaceuticals Act (cid:145)would negatively
affect the interests of the European pharmaceutical
industry(cid:146), will no longer serve as the basis for its
policy?

(1) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001, p. 19.

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2001)

The Commission is of the opinion that international protection of intellectual property rights is essential in
order to encourage investment in research and development activities for pharmaceuticals and vaccines
targeted at life-threatening communicable diseases. The Commission considers that the Trade Related
Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPs) provides necessary flexibility for World Trade Organisation
(WTO) members to protect public health concerns, including recourse to, under certain conditions laid
down in Article 31 of TRIPs, compulsory licensing. Hence, while the Commission attaches importance to