WRITTEN QUESTION E-1950/01 by Johannes Swoboda (PSE) to the Council. Ratification of the Traffic Protocol.
Date: 2001-07-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Protocol (EU), common transport policy

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/81

From 1 January 2000, the Netherlands was entitled to start European Social Fund (ESF) projects for
2.
the new programming period. The fact that the Netherlands delayed the start of the projects was a decision
taken by the Dutch authorities. The Commission did not request that the projects be delayed.

3.
Since the 1988 reform of the structural funds regulation it has been clearly established that the
monitoring of projects is a task of the Member State and not of the Commission. The example quoted in
the question about software which turned out not to be (cid:145)millennium proof(cid:146) is based on a myth. The
software was deliberately designed in 1994 in a way to make sure that it would be impossible to introduce
new projects after 31 December 1999. This date corresponds to the deadline for commitments set by the
relevant decisions for the programming period 1994-1999.

(2002/C 81 E/093)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1948/01

by Johan Van Hecke (PPE-DE) to the Council

(12 July 2001)

Subject: Council statement on Sudan made on 12 June 2001

In the Council statement made on 12 June 2001, why did the European Union refer to renewed SPLA
military activity but not to the massive offensives carried out by Sudanese Government forces in May and
June 2001 in the Nuba Mountains and the southern Blue Nile region? Why does the European Union
speak of a (cid:145)resumption(cid:146) of aerial bombardments when reports from NGOs and from people on the ground
emphasise that the aerial bombardments have never actually stopped? Should not the European Union
consider the appointment of a special envoy for Sudan, based in Nairobi, with a mandate to carry out
regular visits to the area concerned and to compile objective and accurate information from both the
government and the insurgents?

Reply

(26 November 2001)

In the Declaration by the Presidency on 12 June 2001 on the Sudanese peace process, the European Union
expressed its concern at the renewed military activity by the Sudan People(cid:146)s Liberation Army (SPLA),
particularly in Bahr al-Ghazal in Southern Sudan, and by the Government of Sudan(cid:146)s resumption of aerial
bombings in response to this offensive. The language used in this declaration should be viewed in the
context of the outcome of the Summit of the IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development)
Committee on the Sudan, held in Nairobi on 2 June 2001. The outcome of this Summit had led the
European Union to expect the peace process to be reinvigorated. Indeed, the Government of Sudan had
given a commitment at the Summit to halt aerial bombings and the two parties had agreed to make the
negotiating teams permanent, developments which were welcomed by the EU in the declaration by the
Presidency on 8 June 2001. On observing that the commitments given had been breached only a few days
after the Summit, the EU again called on both parties to halt their military activity and urged the
Government of Sudan to fully honour its commitment to cease aerial bombings.

With regard to the idea of appointing a special envoy for Sudan, the Council can assure the Honourable
Member that the European Union is monitoring the situation in the country very closely, particularly
through the EU(cid:146)s Heads of Mission in Khartoum and in other countries concerned in the region.

(2002/C 81 E/094)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1950/01

by Johannes Swoboda (PSE) to the Council

(12 July 2001)

Subject: Ratification of the Traffic Protocol

When will the ratification of the Traffic Protocol be on the agenda of the Council of Ministers of
Transport?

C 81 E/82

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

Reply

(26 November 2001)

The Council informs the Honourable Parliamentarian that it has received a Proposal for a Council Decision
on the signature, on behalf of the European Community, of the Protocol on the Implementation of the
Alpine Convention in the field of Transport. It has not yet received a Proposal for a Council Decision
regarding the conclusion of this Protocol.

The Council recognises the importance of this Protocol for all contracting parties, including the European
is aware that its signature on behalf of the Community would constitute a
Community. Hence,
significant political signal to all other contracting parties.

it

Therefore, the Council assures the Honourable Parliamentarian of its intention to deploy all efforts with a
view to the adoption of the Council Decision pertaining to the signature of the Protocol in question within
a reasonable time limit. The date for the adoption of said Decision has not been scheduled yet.

(2002/C 81 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1963/01

by Luisa Morgantini (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(12 July 2001)

Subject: Marco Galucci, a European Union aid worker arrested in and deported from Israel

On 8 June 2001 Mr Marco Galucci, who is working on a Commission-funded humanitarian aid project,
was arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport and, although he was able to show clearly why he had come to Israel,
questioned for several hours. He was not allowed to telephone his consulate, his computer was searched,
his diskettes confiscated, and he was eventually sent back to Italy.

Will the Council respond to the actions of the Israeli authorities, bearing in mind that this kind of
behaviour severely impedes the smooth running of Union-funded humanitarian projects to aid the
Palestinian population hard pressed by war?

What specific steps will it take?

Reply

(29 November 2001)

The Commission, responsible for implementing humanitarian aid, has not raised the case of Mr Marco
Galucci with the Council.

is first

for the Commission to judge whether arrest and deportation of Mr Galucci violate the
It
agreements, which the Commission has concluded with Israel, and whether the Israeli actions impede the
implementation of the project and, if this is the case, to take the necessary steps.

(2002/C 81 E/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1964/01

by Guido Podest(cid:224) (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 July 2001)

Subject:

(cid:145)Wolf children(cid:146)

In rare cases (cid:145)wolf children(cid:146), having been abandoned or run away from their parents, have been known to
live in forests among animals which enable them to survive.

The most recent case involved a Chilean boy who was abandoned by his parents and found after living for
ten years with a pack of stray dogs that had kept him alive on bitches(cid:146) milk.