WRITTEN QUESTION E-1534/01 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council. Measures to prevent the cultivation of cannabis and opium in Lebanon.
Date: 2001-06-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Lebanon, administrative cooperation, association agreement (EU), crop production, drug traffic, narcotic, technical cooperation

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/35

In accordance with the provisions of Article 10(1) of the aforementioned Act, the Council determined the
period during which the dates of the first elections to the European Parliament were to be set, namely 7 to
10 June 1979. Subsequent elections take place in the corresponding period in the last year of the five-year
legislative period.

However, under Article 10 it is possible to determine another period for the dates of European elections.
This period may be not more than one month before or one month after the period corresponding to that
fixed for the first elections. Any such decision must be taken by the Council, acting unanimously after
consulting the European Parliament.

(2002/C 81 E/043)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1523/01

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Council

(21 May 2001)

Subject: Chemical and biological weapons in Russia

A number of reports point out the serious risks connected with the enormous arsenal of chemical and
biological weapons inherited by Russia and, unlike nuclear weapons, it seems that no steps have been
taken to destroy them.

Does the Commission consider it appropriate to launch programmes in agreement with the Russians to
obtain detailed information and subsequently take practical steps to reduce and eliminate the most
dangerous products, not least in the interests of the safety of Europe(cid:146)s citizens?

Reply

(21 November 2001)

In accordance with Article VII, 5 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, a State Party shall inform the
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) of the legislative and administrative
measures taken to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Russian Federation is a State Party
to this Convention. Detailed reports on the state of play of the Russian Chemical Weapons destruction
programmes are therefore regularly discussed in the Executive Council of the OPWC.

On 17 December 1999 the Council adopted a Joint Action establishing a European Union Cooperation
Programme for Non-proliferation and Disarmament in the Russian Federation. The objective of the
Programme is to support the Russian Federation in its efforts towards arms control and disarmament.
Within that framework, installation services and equipment valued at nearly € 6 million will be delivered to
projects aimed at the destruction of the Chemical Weapons in Gorny. Further actions relating to weapons
of mass destruction in the Russian Federation are currently being considered.

(2002/C 81 E/044)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1534/01

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council

(7 June 2001)

Subject: Measures to prevent the cultivation of cannabis and opium in Lebanon

According to articles appearing in the international press, one of the consequences of the long drawn-out
civil war in Lebanon has been the illegal cultivation of cannabis and opium, replacing agricultural crops.
To date, aid measures seeking to restore a healthy and developing agricultural economy in Lebanon,
putting a definitive end to cultivation connected with drugs trafficking, have not produced the hoped-for
results. The press reports in question also mention US aid but make no reference to similar efforts by the
European Union.

C 81 E/36

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

Given the major importance of combating drug trafficking and preventing this major scourge from
afflicting the European Community:

1. What specific programmes of aid for Lebanon are being considered by the Council?

2.

Is the Council considering funding for programmes to combat the cultivation of cannabis and opium
and strengthen Lebanon(cid:146)s agricultural economy? If so, what are these programmes?

3. Can the Council provide any information concerning MEDA funding for programmes to assist

Lebanon?

4. Have specific initiatives been taken to cooperate with the Lebanese authorities in combating illicit

cultivation activities and networks trafficking in illegal drugs?

Reply

(26 November 2001)

1.
Following the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam and the adoption of the Common
Strategy on the Mediterranean region by the Feira European Council on 19 and 20 June 2000, the Council
in May 2001 adopted an addition to the negotiating directives of 1995 for the EU-Lebanon Euro-
mediterranean Association Agreement. This addition refers to the strengthening of cooperation in different
areas of justice and home affairs, including cooperation on illicit drugs.

the Parties,

(cid:145)within their

According to the addition to the mandate,

2.
respective powers and
competencies, will co-operate to ensure a balanced and integrated approach towards drugs. Drug policies
and actions should be aimed at reducing the supply, trafficking and demand of illicit drugs as well as at a
more effective control of precursors. In order to attain these objectives, the Parties will, in the framework
of these provisions, agree on the necessary methods of co-operation. These actions shall be based on
commonly agreed principles along the lines of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session 1998.
The co-operation between the Parties is also envisaged to comprise technical and administrative assistance
in particular in the following areas: drafting of national
legislation and policies; establishment of
institutions and information centres; training of personnel; drug related research; and the prevention of
diversion of precursors used for the illicit manufacture of drugs. The Parties may also agree to include
other areas.(cid:146)

The question raised by the Honourable Member of Parliament in regard to the MEDA funding for
3.
programmes to assist Lebanon in preventing the cultivation of cannabis and opium in Lebanon, falls into
the competence of the European Commission.

(2002/C 81 E/045)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1535/01

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission

(22 May 2001)

Subject: Measures to prevent the cultivation of cannabis and opium in Lebanon

According to articles appearing in the international press one of the consequences of the long drawn-out
civil war in Lebanon has been the illegal cultivation of cannabis and opium replacing agricultural crops. To
date, aid measures seeking to restore a healthy and developing agricultural economy in Lebanon, putting a
definitive end to cultivation connected with drugs trafficking have not produced the hoped-for results. The
press reports in question also mention US aid but make no reference to similar efforts by the European
Union.