WRITTEN QUESTION E-3535/01 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Cluster bombs in Kosovo and elsewhere.
Date: 2002-01-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Kosovo, UNO, anti-personnel weapon, disarmament, the EU's international role

C 229 E/30

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

The necessary achievement of macroeconomic stability and implementation of structural reforms prior to
the introduction of the euro, and the introduction of the euro itself, will enhance the efficiency and
catching-up of the economies concerned. These will, over the medium term, allow for rising real wages of
future Member States.

(2002/C 229 E/030)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3535/01

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Cluster bombs in Kosovo and elsewhere

What EU resources have been and are being devoted to the clearance of cluster bombs in Kosovo and
elsewhere in the Balkans? What is the Commission’s estimate of the scale of the remaining problem, if any?

Has the Commission made, or does it intend to make, any representations to Member States or other
bodies regarding the future manufacture and use of cluster bombs?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 February 2002)

Decontamination from landmines is inextricably linked to clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO),
cluster bombs (CB) and antitank mines (ATM).

The Community has devoted some € 8,32 million between 1998 and 2000.

It is estimated that approximately 50 000 mines were laid in Kosovo and that around 30 000 cluster
bombs contaminated the area. After three years of hard work, the United Nations Mine Action Centre in
Kosovo has declared Kosovo a ‘mine safe’ area. This rapid progress can be attributed to the fact that the
mine and UXO problem in Kosovo is, relative to other parts of the world,
limited in scope and
comparatively recent; the conflict in Kosovo was relatively short; Serb maps of mined areas, and NATO
maps of air strikes, were available to deminers; and substantial assistance was provided by donors for mine
clearance work.

The Commission is aware that a marginal UXO problem still remains. Specific measures such as explosive
ordnance disposal (EOD) training : supported by the Community in 2001- are being taken in order to
address this specific need. These operations and residual mine clearance will be handled by the Kosovo
Civil Protection Corps (KCPC).

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, which is estimated to be the country most severely affected by mines/UXO in
Europe, the number of UXO/CB is considered ‘high’ but is not specified (a comprehensive Landmines
Impact Survey has not been carried out);
in Bosnia, anti-personnel mines represent much the larger
proportion of the threat. Community support to mine action from 1998 to 2001 amounted to € 8,7
million. On top of this, we are contributing some € 3,7 million to cross border de-mining between Croatia
to projects under the
and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and providing very substantial support
Community Strategic Package for mine action in South East Europe, including R & D initiatives, launched
under the Stability Pact; we are contributing some € 17 million over three years to the latter.

The Commission was fully behind the EU approach to address the problems caused by cluster bombs and
other ‘explosive remnants of war’ (ERW) at the review conference of the United Nations (UN) Convention
on the prohibition or restriction on the use of certain conventional weapons (CCW). These efforts resulted
in the establishment of a Working Group of governmental experts mandated to explore the possibility to
deal with these ordnance in the framework of the CCW.