WRITTEN QUESTION E-2205/01 by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission. Albanian elections without EP observers.
Date: 2001-07-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Albania, European Parliament, OSCE, democratisation, human rights, international cooperation, national election, observer

C 115 E/38

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

(2002/C 115 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2205/01

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Albanian elections without EP observers

(23 July 2001)

In view of the situation in Albania, where the holding of proper free and democratic elections involving
the whole population is still a long way off, is the Commission willing to say why, during the second
ballot stage (an extremely delicate stage because of repeated allegations of election-rigging and police
intervention) no observer was sent by the European Parliament? What criterion was used to pick out the
polling stations to which observers were allocated?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(14 September 2001)

The decision to send or not to send Parliament observers to monitor the second round of the Albanian
elections was of the exclusive competence of the Parliament itself. The Commission has no say in
Parliament decisions of this nature.

In order to ensure an adequate follow up of the whole electoral process in Albania, an ‘International
Election Observation Mission’ under the auspices of the Organisation for security and cooperation in
Europe/Office for democratic institutions and human rights (OSCE/ODHIR) has been set up. This mission
has assembled a significant number of international election experts, long-term and short-term observers,
members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and, during the first round, members of
the Parliament. The Commission considers that this Mission is adequately performing its mandate.

The exact criteria for the allocation of observers by the OSCE/ODHIR to the various polling stations are
not known to the Commission. The Commission fully relies on the widely recognised expertise and know-
how of the OSCE/ODHIR in this respect.

(2002/C 115 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2206/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 July 2001)

Subject: Import subsidies for Uzbekistan

Products from the Central Asian Republic of Uzbekistan are subject to a levy of 10,5 % upon importation
into the European Union. Yet businesses from Uzbekistan are permitted to make use of the so-called GSP
FORM A, by analogy with businesses from Bangladesh, Burma and Cambodia. In order fully to support the
socio-economic development of Uzbekistan, it would be appropriate to apply all aspects of GSP FORM A,
including exemption from import levies, to imports of products from this Central Asian republic into the
European Union.

1. Why are not all aspects of GSP FORM A, including exemption from import levies, applicable to
imports of products from Uzbekistan, by analogy with the arrangement for products from Bangladesh,
Burma and Cambodia?

2. Will the Commission apply all aspects of GSP FORM A, including exemption from import levies, to
imports of products from Uzbekistan, in view of the precarious socio-economic situation in this Central
Asian republic? If not, why does the Commission refuse to apply all aspects of GSP FORM A, including
exemption from import levies, to imports of products from Uzbekistan?