WRITTEN QUESTION P-3406/01 by Hans-Peter Martin (PSE) to the Council. Unexploded cluster bomblets in Afghanistan.
Date: 2001-12-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Afghanistan, anti-personnel weapon, developing countries, disarmament, international agreement

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.