WRITTEN QUESTION P-3524/01 by Wilhelm Piecyk (PSE) to the Commission. EU/Kaliningrad transport links following enlargement to the east.
Date: 2001-12-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Lithuania, Poland, USSR, airline, enlargement of the Union, transport policy

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/77

(2002/C 172 E/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3524/01

by Wilhelm Piecyk (PSE) to the Commission

(20 December 2001)

Subject: EU/Kaliningrad transport links following enlargement to the east

At the end of October 2001, the Scandinavian airline SAS closed its Kaliningrad-Copenhagen route. The
discontinuation of the only scheduled air service from Kaliningrad to Scandinavia, and hence to Germany
and western Europe, will have substantial adverse effects on economic activity and tourism, which are just
beginning to develop. Not only are transport links between the Kaliningrad region and the European
Union, especially the countries around the Baltic, essential for the region’s economic development, for they
are also an urgent requirement as far as the political development of the region, which is part of Russian
is concerned. After its forthcoming enlargement to the east, the European Union will have
territory,
external borders with Kaliningrad.

Has the Commission already examined the special situation of Kaliningrad, which is surrounded
geographically by two candidate countries, Poland and Lithuania, and how does it assess that situation in
terms of links to the European Union?

How does it propose to ensure that the Kaliningrad region has transport links to the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2002)

The Commission’s analysis of the specific situation of Kaliningrad is presented in the Communication on
‘The European Union and Kaliningrad’ of January 2001 (1). This was prepared to provide a basis for
discussions within the Union as well as with Russia, and those candidate countries for accession that are
most interested, in particular Poland and Lithuania.

Transport issues have been recognised in the Communication and appropriate technical assistance is
provided to Poland and Lithuania as well as to Russia for making the transit of goods to and from
Kaliningrad faster and more efficient.

Two of the Pan-European Transport Corridors link Kaliningrad with Poland and Lithuania. Both are multi-
modal transport links for road and rail. The Commission attaches particular importance to the relevant
sections of the Corridors and provides assistance for their completion.

The provision of air transport links between Kaliningrad and destinations in the Union is a matter for the
operators, whose decisions will be taken on the basis of economic considerations. The Commission does
not subsidise air links with third countries.

(1) COM(2001) 26 final.

(2002/C 172 E/081)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3532/01

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Tobacco premiums for 2005

Commission proposal (1) fixes tobacco premiums for 2002, 2003 and 2004. In view of the fact that
tobacco growers need to know what the premium for their product will be at least one marketing year in
advance, when does the Commission intend to submit its new proposal for the arrangements which will
apply to the harvest in 2005 and thereafter?

(1) COM(2001) 684, 21.11.2001.