WRITTEN QUESTION E-0879/01 by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Nationalisation of the property of Community nationals in Ethiopia and EU economic aid.
Date: 2001-03-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU national, Ethiopia, European Development Fund, confiscation of property, nationalisation, personal property, real property

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/141

(2001/C 318 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0878/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Destruction of monuments in Afghanistan

(27 March 2001)

In Afghanistan the Taliban in their religious extremism are committing a crime against the World(cid:146)s cultural
heritage by destroying the country(cid:146)s pre-Islamic classical monuments, an act which has been condemned
by many Islamic leaders, such as the Iranian President, Muhammad Hatami. Many of the monuments bear
the stamp of European (cid:129) and specifically Hellenistic (cid:129) culture.

1. What immediate action does it intend to take to protect the monuments which have so far escaped
the destructive fanaticism of the Taliban?

2.
Does it intend to contribute to the immediate creation of a world fund for the purchase of Hellenistic
and other pre-Islamic works of art to save them and hand them over to the Afghan people when the dark
interlude of Taliban rule has ended?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2001)

The Commission, along with the Member States, political and religious leaders and cultural organisations
around the world has condemned the decision by the Taliban to destroy the statues of Buddha in Bamiyan.
Efforts by the Union Troika to meet the leader of the Taliban, Mullah Omar, in order to seek a reversal of
this decision were unsuccessful.

The Union declaration concerning the edict to destroy the statues urged the Taliban leadership not to
implement (cid:145)this deeply tragic decision, which would deprive the people of Afghanistan of its rich cultural
heritage(cid:146). Further destruction of early monuments would be equally tragic.

The most recent Union Common Position on Afghanistan of 22 January 2001 (1) states that the Union
shall urge all factions (in Afghanistan) to protect the cultural heritage of Afghanistan and shall encourage
activities in the field by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) and the
Society for the Preservation of Afghanistan(cid:146)s Cultural Heritage (SPACH). In this regard, the Commission has
noted that the Director General of Unesco will shortly visit Pakistan to take up the issue of saving (cid:145)what
remains of Afghanistan(cid:146)s Islamic and pre-Islamic(cid:146) heritage.

The budget of the Community does not contain provision for the funding of measures destined to protect
the Afghan cultural heritage.

(1) OJ L 21, 23.1.2001.

(2001/C 318 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0879/01

by Ioannis Mar(cid:237)nos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 March 2001)

Subject: Nationalisation of the property of Community nationals in Ethiopia and EU economic aid

In 1974-1975 the property of foreigners living in Ethiopia was nationalised without any compensation or
undertaking to provide such compensation being given by the State. This property included real estate
(such as factories, shops, houses and land) and moveable property (bank accounts, etc.) belonging to
Community nationals. Those whose property was illegally seized by the Communist regime of Mengistu
Haile Mariam included many Greek, Dutch, French and Italian nationals.

C 318 E/142

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

Today the European Union is providing economic assistance for the reforms in Ethiopia and is
encouraging this country in its policy of economic openness and privatisation. However, it is reported
that these planned privatisations include factories and other property which used to belong to Community
nationals but which were summarily confiscated after 1974-1975 by the regime then in power.

Will the Commission give the total amount of EU aid allocated to Ethiopia? What is its position on the
confiscated property of Community citizens? Was account taken of the nationalisation of property in the
negotiations for granting Communty aid after 1991-1992 when Mengistu left the country? Does the new
Ethiopian Government intend to pay compensation to the EU citizens whose property was nationalised or
to return it to them? What does the Commission intend to do in order genuinely to satisfy the demands of
Community citizens whose property was confiscated by the previous Ethiopian regime?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2001)

Under the 8th European Development Fund (EDF) the allocation for Ethiopia amounted to € 294 million.
In October 2000, the Commission decided to reduce the NIP amount to € 250 million over five years.
During the last three years, EDF disbursements were as follows: 1998: € 76 million, 1999: € 55,2 million
and 2000: € 30,1 million

However, after the peace with Eritrea in March 2001, the Commission notified the Ethiopian government
of an increase in the indicative resources allocated under the 9th EDF, amounting to € 384 million for
envelope A and € 154 million for envelope B.

The Community is aware of the problem of property confiscated without compensation by the previous
Ethiopian Government. From a legal point of view the Commission has no mandate to represent
Community citizens(cid:146) cases vis-(cid:224)-vis the Ethiopian authorities. The Commission cannot but advise affected
citizens to contact their relevant national diplomatic representation in Ethiopia which will follow up on
these claims.

in discussions with the Ethiopian Government

Notwithstanding,
the Commission has, on various
occasions, expressed the need to create an environment that is conducive to private sector development
and domestic as well as foreign direct investment. For obvious reasons such a favourable environment
requires, amongst other things, an appropriate solution to cases in which private property was nationalised
without compensation by the previous regime.

The Commission in its contacts with the Ethiopian authorities will continue to raise this problem.

(2001/C 318 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0880/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 March 2001)

Subject: Seismic activity in the EU countries and Commission initiatives

The EU has been struck by a number of large earthquakes over the last few years: the country worst
affected is Greece, since according to data provided by the Commission, eight of the fifteen most
destructive earthquakes in the EU between 1980 and 1995 occurred there. The most recent earthquake in
Athens killed 140 people, but also caused incalculable material damage. Recently great concern has been
caused by strong rumours that a large earthquake is imminent, concern heightened by doubts about the
level of preparation of the state mechanism for dealing with such a contingency.

Will the Commission say what initiatives are being drawn up at European level with Commission funding
relating to the study of seismic activity in the Union and the development of an earthquake warning
network? Exactly how much money has the Commission made available for studying seismic phenomena in