WRITTEN QUESTION P-3403/01 by Thierry Jean-Pierre (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Information on EU external aid.
Date: 2001-12-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, activity report, aid recipient, aid system, exchange of information, third country, use of aid

C 147 E/168

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

In its judgment No. 1631/2001, the Athens Administrative Court of First Instance recognised that there
had been a breach of certain articles of EU competition rules (Articles 81, 82, 85 and 86 of the EC Treaty)
and ruled that the Greek State should pay compensation to the company as it had been prevented by
ministerial decisions and special market policy provisions laid down by the Greek Administration from
selling its products in the Attica Basin, thereby suffering damage, during the period 1994-1999.

Since Typopoiitiria Thivas is a subsidised company, if it is closed down less than a decade since it started
up, the Commission will ask the Greek State to pay back the subsidies that it has received.

In view of the fact that the Greek courts have already ruled that the damage to the company which has
forced it to suspend operations is not due to negligence or improper conduct in the running of the
company but to unlawful acts by government agencies which broke EU competition rules, is the company
required to pay back the subsidies it has received?

(1) OJ L 51, 23.2.1977, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 91, 6.4.1990, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2002)

The Commission has already been informed by the company ‘Typopiitiria Thivas S.A.’ of the dispute it is
involved in with the Greek authorities. On 23 November 2001 it wrote to those authorities, asking for
explanations and for corrective action to be taken so as to enable the company to operate normally.

On the basis of the answer the Commission is expecting from the Greek authorities, it will decide whether
to apply Article 24 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93 of 20 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC)
No 4253/88 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards
coordination of the activities of the different Structural Funds between themselves and with the operations
of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial instruments (1) dealing with the recovery
of sums unduly received. The Commission is particularly concerned that the schemes part-financed by the
Structural Funds should be operational and not dormant.

(1) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993.

(2002/C 147 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3403/01

by Thierry Jean-Pierre (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 December 2001)

Subject: Information on EU external aid

It was emphasised in the annual report on implementation of the Commission’s external aid programmes
in 2000 that reform of the management of EU external aid was under way and would begin to bear fruit
in 2002.

The main objectives of this reform are to reduce the time lapse between commitments and payments and
to decentralise responsibilities from the Commission to the Delegations in the beneficiary countries and
territories.

In addition, the Commission’s EuropeAid Agency has published its first Annual Report, which includes
details of a reform process consisting in the establishment of a single agency with responsibility for
managing the whole operational cycle of the EuropeAid projects and the granting of specific powers to the
active Delegations, with a view to improving the Commission’s overall capacity in managing programmes
on a country-by-country basis.

20.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/169

In order to give greater visibility to the impact of aid on its beneficiaries, I should like to have a complete
list for 1997-2001 of the associations and NGOs involved in EU external aid to the following countries:
the Barcelona Process countries, Libya, Mauritania, Sudan, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Albania, Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2002)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer
communicate its findings as soon as possible.

the question properly.

It will

(2002/C 147 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3406/01

by Hans-Peter Martin (PSE) to the Council

(5 December 2001)

Subject: Unexploded cluster bomblets in Afghanistan

According to evidence provided by experts, since the end of the war in the Balkans over 150 civilians have
been killed by the detonation of cluster bomb units which did not detonate on impact. These bomblets
have extremely sensitive detonators which can be set off by the slightest touch, and still kill people 50
years after they were dropped.

Cluster bomb units are now also being used by the US in Afghanistan. It has been estimated that about
10 % of the bombs dropped do not explode, with unforeseeable consequences.

Is the Council aware of this problem?

What action can the Council take to avert this risk that innocent civilians’ lives will also be at risk from
unexploded cluster bomb units in Afghanistan for years after the end of the conflict?

Reply

(18 March 2002)

1.
In its conclusions on promoting the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons adopted on
19 November 2001, the Council of the European Union stated that it was particularly concerned by the
problems caused by the ‘explosive remnants of war’. It considered the topic as having the highest priority
for the Review Conference of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain
Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects
(Geneva, 11 to 21 December 2001). In that connection the European Union supports the setting up by the
Review Conference of a working party on the explosive remnants of war with a view to negotiations on a
legal instrument on this issue.

2.
The situation in Afghanistan, in particular the problem raised in the Honourable Member’s question,
was discussed at a meeting between a high-level EU delegation and the ICRC in Islamabad on
24 November 2001. With regard to humanitarian mine clearance in Afghanistan, the Council would
refer the Honourable Member to Regulation No 1724/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 23 July 2001 concerning action against anti-personnel landmines in developing countries, which also
covers the explosive remnants of war. Under Article 12 of the Regulation, a Strategy Paper is to be drawn
up comprising priorities for Community mine action. The Strategy Paper is to be transmitted to the
European Parliament for information.