WRITTEN QUESTION E-3220/01 by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission. Review of action taken in Afghanistan pursuant to Article 2(i) of the Council common position of 22 January 2001.
Date: 2001-11-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Afghanistan, EU action, cease-fire, international negotiations, settlement of disputes, the EU's international role

C 160 E/76

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.7.2002

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2002)

The Community support framework (CSF) for Greece during the 2000-2006 programming period defines
a development strategy which includes road, rail, ports and airports communications and sets priorities in
relation to the resources available. Further details on the intervention foreseen in this field are set out in
the Operational Programmes.

The Operational Programme for the region of Peloponnese provides for support for roads in Argolis and
Arcadia.

For Trans-European transport network (TEN) projects in Greece, some € 4 billion for roads and € 2 billion
for railways are foreseen for Greece during the programming period 2000-2006 to be financed by the
European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund. A further € 0,2 billion from the EU under
the TEN budget line is foreseen for the co-financing of studies. These amounts are more than doubled by
the public and private national contributions and reflect the infrastructure needs of the Member State and
the capacity of its managing authorities to implement within the time available. As regards rail investment
in particular, a considerable effort
is being made by the Greek authorities to reinforce its project
management capacity.

The expected completion of these investment programmes by 2008 should ensure that the TEN for both
road and rail is broadly in place in Greece, in line with the transport strategy for the fifteen approved by
the Council of Ministers of the European Union.

The TEN priority for rail networks in the Peloponnese is the link from Patras to Corinth continuing
through Athens to Thessaloniki and up to the Bulgarian and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
(Fyrom) borders. For this link, a Community co-financing of € 0,4 billion is foreseen. When this link is
complete and operational, the quality of service provided may justifiy further investment in subsidiary lines
elsewhere in the Peloponnese. However, this depends on detailed traffic forecasts for the region taking
account of factors such population density, levels of economic activity and topography. For large parts of
such regions, road transport can be the most sustainable solution at least in the medium-term.

The Commission draws the attention of the Honourable Member that any project subject to Community
in the Peloponnese as well as in the rest of the Community, must conform with the
co-financing,
including that concerning environmental protection, and is subject to a prior
Community legislation,
environmental impact assessment.

(2002/C 160 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3220/01

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(22 November 2001)

Subject: Review of action taken in Afghanistan pursuant to Article 2(i) of the Council common position of

22 January 2001

Having regard to the Council common position of 22 January 2001 on Afghanistan (1);

having regard to Article 7 thereof, which states that the Commission intends to direct its action towards
achieving the objectives of the common position;

having regard to Article 2(i) thereof, under which, in order to support the United Nations peace efforts,
reaffirmed by UN General Assembly Resolution 203 A and B of 18 December 1998, the Union shall
‘continue contacts with the Afghan parties and prominent Afghan individuals to point to the [f]utility and
grave and unacceptable humanitarian consequences of the continued fighting, and urge an immediate
ceasefire and the negotiation of a political settlement under UN auspices, including the establishment of a
fully representative, broad-based government’;

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/77

what practical action did the Commission take prior to the events of 11 September with a view to meeting
the above objective?

(1) OJ L 21, 23.1.2001, p. 1.

(2002/C 160 E/086)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3221/01

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(22 November 2001)

Subject: Review of action taken in Afghanistan pursuant to Article 2(j) of the Council common position of

22 January 2001

Having regard to the Council common position of 22 January 2001 on Afghanistan (1);

having regard to Article 7 thereof, which states that the Commission intends to direct its action towards
achieving the objectives of the common position;

having regard to Article 2(j) thereof, under which, in order to support the United Nations peace efforts,
reaffirmed by UN General Assembly Resolution 203 A and B of 18 December 1998, the Union shall
‘follow closely and support efforts by influential Afghan individuals and organisations, such as the’Rome
Process‘launched by former King Zahir Shah which envisages the holding of a Loya Jirgah as a step in the
process towards peace and a broad-based government’;

what practical action did the Commission take prior to the events of 11 September with a view to meeting
the above objective?

(1) OJ L 21, 23.1.2001, p. 1.

(2002/C 160 E/087)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3222/01

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(22 November 2001)

Subject: Review of action taken in Afghanistan pursuant to Article 2(k) of the Council common position of

22 January 2001

Having regard to the Council common position of 22 January 2001 on Afghanistan (1);

having regard to Article 7 thereof, which states that the Commission intends to direct its action towards
achieving the objectives of the common position;

having regard to Article 2(k) thereof, under which, in order to support the United Nations peace efforts,
reaffirmed by UN General Assembly Resolution 203 A and B of 18 December 1998, the Union shall
continue to ‘impress upon all those countries with influence in Afghanistan the importance the Union
attaches to the early settlement of the conflict under UN auspices, and urging them to lend the UN every
support’;

what practical action did the Commission take prior to the events of 11 September with a view to meeting
the above objective?

(1) OJ L 21, 23.1.2001, p. 1.