WRITTEN QUESTION E-3343/01 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Action to promote a federal state in Somalia.
Date: 2001-12-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Islam, Somalia, development aid, peacekeeping, politics, public safety, religious fundamentalism, the EU's international role

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/15

When pursuing the measures referred to above and seeking to harmonise taxes, will the Commission allow
this distinction in tax treatment to remain unaltered? Is it taking into account the legitimate interests of the
citizens concerned, who have no connection with criminal activities of any kind? Will it submit any form
of legislative proposal on the subject?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(18 January 2002)

The issue raised by the Honourable Member concerns the application of new provisions introduced by a
reform of Income Tax for individuals which entered into force during 1999. Under the new rules it is
likely that a Spanish citizen, previously considered as resident in Spain for tax purposes and who changes
his residence to a tax haven, will continue to be subject to Spanish tax on a worldwide basis both for the
year in which the change occurs and also for the following four years. The Principality of Andorra is
considered to be a tax haven according to Spanish rules.

The Commission should point out that in the absence of harmonisation at Community level, the taxation
of income is essentially a matter falling within the competence of Member States, subject to compliance
with the basic principles of the Treaty; in particular the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of
nationality.

However, the Treaties do not cover the case where a citizen of a Member State moves to Andorra, which
is not a Member State. Consequently, Community law is not applicable in such a case and Spain may lay
down rules applicable to their citizens who move there even if those rules could give rise to the sort of
difference in treatment that is mentioned.

(2002/C 229 E/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3343/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(3 December 2001)

Subject: Action to promote a federal state in Somalia

During the latest UN Security Council session, at which the situation in Somalia was discussed, the
Ethiopian Ambassador said he had proof of Islamic fundamentalist involvement in Somali politics, with
particular reference to the Arta Group, and thus to the Transitional National Government
led by
Abdiqassim Salad Hassan.

What is more, the Washington Post has reported that there have been repeated political and military
attacks against the autonomous region of Puntland over recent months, which are seriously undermining
the security and stability of the entire area.

1.

Is the Commission aware of this situation?

2.
Does it intend to open talks with the authorities in the autonomous region of Puntland and, in
general, with all the parties concerned, with a view to finding a solution which will ensure that due respect
is shown for the various ethnic groups in Somalia?

Has it looked into the press reports about links between the Transitional National Government and

3.
Islamic fundamentalists?

4.

5.

Is the European Union involved in economic cooperation with Somalia?

If it is, what does such cooperation entail and what results has it achieved?

C 229 E/16

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2002)

1. to 3.
Yes, the Commission is aware of the statements by the Ethiopian authorities regarding the
Transitional National Government set up pursuant to the Arta agreements. However, it notes that the
statements were made as Addis Ababa was receiving the new Prime Minister of the TNG for diplomatic
talks, and Ethiopia appears to be taking the initiative again in Somalia on the ground.

The Commission prefers to encourage the parties concerned to discuss the future of Somalia themselves.
Any political
initiative by the Commission would have to take account of the Common Foreign and
Security Policy (CFSP).

The reports to which the Honourable Member refers are not new. While the Commission is always willing
to give due consideration to information it receives, it treats with caution reports from any of the parties
involved in the Somali situation.

The Commission is generally reasonably well-informed, specifically as regards Somalia, through its own
local contacts and its close coordination with the Member States active there.

4. and 5.

The Community has no economic cooperation ties with Somalia.

As regards development cooperation, the Commission would draw the Honourable Member’s attention to
The ACP-EC Council Decision of 20 December 2001 allocating special aid to Somalia under Article 93(6)
of the Cotonou Agreement. Arrangements for implementing this special aid are still to be examined by the
Community’s decision-making bodies.

(2002/C 229 E/015)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3346/01

by Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission

(3 December 2001)

Subject: Hazardous waste at Krasny Bor in Russia

The hazardous waste storage and disposal facilities at Krasny Bor, some 40 km from St Petersburg and the
River Neva, have received US$ 500 000 in Tacis funding towards upgrading. Tacis has been involved with
Krasny Bor ever since the early 1990s. In the Commission’s view, how successful have efforts been to
upgrade the waste disposal and hazardous waste management facilities at Krasny Bor?

Is the Commission monitoring the situation continuously? To what extent is it prepared to continue
contributing to the financing of the hazardous waste installation?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2002)

Following a pre-feasibility study financed by Finland, the Tacis Cross-border Co-operation Programme has
funded, between 1998 and 2000, the preparatory phase of the ‘Krasny Bor Toxic Waste Clean-Up
Programme’. The Tacis project ‘Hazardous Waste Management in St Petersburg’ (€ 1,5 million) has indeed
provided assistance to local authorities for the technical, economic and financial evaluation of site
rehabilitation and waste disposal. It has also contributed to building environmental awareness and to
establish links between potential donors.

Following the Tacis project, the St Petersburg City Administration signed an Agreement for an € 6,5
million loan with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in April 2001. In May
2001, the City Administration also signed a Co-ordination Agreement with the EBRD, Danish Environ-
mental Protection Agency (DEPA), Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), Nordic Environ-
ment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), the Finnish Ministry of Environment and Tacis for supporting grants