WRITTEN QUESTION E-0700/01 by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. UK involvement in the bombing of Baghdad.
Date: 2001-03-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Iraq, United Kingdom, aid policy, civilian victim, humanitarian aid, international affairs, international sanctions, military intervention

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/239

Will the Commission therefore say how much has been spent on all the above projects?

Can it confirm that the above installations operate as they should?

Is it possible for the Commission to carry out spot checks?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 2001)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2001/C 235 E/282)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0700/01

by Eurig Wyn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 March 2001)

Subject: UK involvement in the bombing of Baghdad

Will the Commission be supporting UK involvement in the bombing of Baghdad?

Would the Commission not agree that the citizens of Iraq have already suffered enough following the
economic embargo, and that further air attacks by the USA and Britain will only add to their suffering, and
that in the name of democracy and human rights these attacks should be condemned?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2001)

The recent joint American and British air raids against military installations in Iraq have been discussed
both in the Parliament and the Council. Although opinions may vary on this allied military intervention,
there is general consensus that the present situation in Iraq is due to the Iraqi Government(cid:146)s non-
compliance with a number of United Nations Security Council resolutions. According to these, Iraq should
dispose of all weapons of mass destruction and allow for United Nations verification, monitoring and
inspection of this process. Through its refusal to cooperate with the United Nations inspectors, the Iraqi
Government prolongs the economic embargo, and therefore bears the responsibility for the continuing
suffering of the Iraqi people.

The Commission regrets the loss of human life in Iraq. However, it must be borne in mind that the regime
through its policy of non-cooperation with the United Nations, bears the full
of Saddam Hussein,
responsibility for suffering and deaths which occur daily in Iraq. Under the oil-for-food programme, Iraq
has more than enough funds for relieving the humanitarian situation, but has not done so.

Any solution to the present state of affairs must be found within the United Nations framework of
negotiations. In this context, the Commission therefore welcomes the resumption of talks at the end
of February 2001 between the United Nations and the Iraqi Government and hopes for a positive outcome
that will eventually lead to the improvement of the humanitarian situation in Iraq.

Nonetheless, the Commission is concerned about the Iraqi people(cid:146)s suffering and is doing everything
possible within its mandate and with the resources available to ease the situation. Since the Gulf War in
1991, the Community has been the major donor of humanitarian aid to Iraq, contribution over € 250
million. For the last two years, the Commission has provided assistance amounting to € 8 and € 10 million
respectively. For 2001 the amount will be similar.