WRITTEN QUESTION E-1028/01 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
Date: 2001-03-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Afghanistan, Pakistan, health risk, refugee, the EU's international role

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/187

Finally, the Europol Convention also authorises the transfer of personal data if an adequate level of
data protection is ensured in a Member State or a third body. The assessment of the adequacy is based on
all the circumstances involved in transmission, and in particular the type of data, their purpose, the
duration of the processing and the general or particular arrangements applying to third countries and
bodies.

When, in order to perform its task, Europol concludes agreements with third bodies not linked to the
European Union, it must comply with the rules governing the transmission of personal data to third
countries and bodies.

Negotiations on concluding such an agreement with Europol are currently under way and should be
concluded very soon. Reports from Europol
indicate that there should be an agreement before the
introduction of the euro on 1 January 2002.

The procedure lays down, in particular, that an agreement may be concluded only after being approved
unanimously by the Council, and after the opinion of the joint supervisory authority has been obtained.
That authority gave its opinion last year on an initial draft agreement between Europol and Interpol, and
very recently on a new proposal, while expressing certain reservations.

(1) OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000.
(2) Cf. the Commission(cid:146)s answer to Written Question E-286/01 by Mr Ford (OJ C 261 E, 18.9.2001).

(2001/C 318 E/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1028/01

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(30 March 2001)

Subject: Treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan

Would the Commission outline how it intends to respond to the news stories emanating from Pakistan
about Afghan people who are apparently living in appalling conditions in refugee camps?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 May 2001)

The Commission is aware, from its own sources and from press reports, of the conditions prevailing in
certain camps for refugees in Pakistan, notably the camp at Jalozai, where conditions are said to be
precarious.

The Commission, through the European Community(cid:146)s Humanitarian Office (ECHO), has already made
available € 1 135 million from its 2001 budget to improve the condition of refugees in two camps in
Pakistan: Shamshatoo and Jalozai. These funds, allocated to the non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
International Rescue Committee and the Danish Refugee Council and to United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will,
in Shamshatoo, be used to improve basic hygiene, trans-
portation of drinking water to those parts of the camp which have no access to wells, the distribution of
5 000 hygiene kits and 5 000 kerosene lamps. Three wells with generator pumps will be dug and a hand-
pump water distribution system installed. It is hoped that some 43 500 people will benefit from this
operation.

UNHCR will use its funding from ECHO for the purchase of 4 500 tents, 18 500 blankets, 8 500 cooking
sets, 12 000 heaters and 12 000 kerosene lamps for eventual use in the Jalozai camp, once the Pakistani
authorities have given UNHCR permission to screen the refugees in this camp.

In this regard, the Union Troika, conscious of the situation in the Jalozai camp, met the Pakistan
authorities and made a (cid:145)dØmarche(cid:146) on 24 February 2001 expressing concern at the Afghan refugee
situation in Pakistan, particularly in Jalozai and noting the potential for a humanitarian disaster there.