WRITTEN QUESTION E-3637/01 by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Diamond trafficking.
Date: 2002-01-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Angola, Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, export monitoring, illicit trade, import (EU), international sanctions, precious stones, surveillance concerning imports

C 301 E/16

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

(cid:1) If it proves to be the case that the grounds put forward by the US authorities are actually trade
barriers, how and by whom is compensation to be paid to European farmers in order to make good
the losses they have suffered in terms both of product value and of market share lost?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2002)

The Commission is aware of this case and officials have been closely monitoring the situation. The
conditions for the exportation of clementines from Spain to the United States are subject to United States
import rules and the Commission’s initial responsibility is to verify that these rules and their application
comply with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures.

The apparent disproportionality of the United States ban and potential illegality with the WTO provisions
have been raised separately by the Member of the Commission responsible for Trade and the Member of
the Commission responsible for Health and Consumer Protection when they met Mr Zoellick, United
States Trade Representative (USTR) in December 2001 and by the Commission Delegation in Washington.

Technical discussions are ongoing between the United States and Spanish officials which hopefully will
clarify the factual and technical aspects of the case and possibly resolve the problem. In the event that the
the Commission could consider the possibility of
issue is not resolved rapidly and satisfactorily,
appropriate action within the framework of the WTO,
in particular the Agreement on Sanitary and
Phytosanitary measures.

Exporters who at this stage seek to recover the losses arising from the United States ban should consider
pursuing this on their own behalf in the United States’ domestic courts.

(2002/C 301 E/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3637/01

by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 January 2002)

Subject: Diamond trafficking

There are frequent rumours and reports, not all of them confirmed, about the export and fraudulent
marketing of diamonds obtained in equatorial Africa, the countries most often mentioned being the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa), Angola and Sierra Leone. The diamonds are allegedly sold
on the black market in a number of European countries. According to views expressed by the authorities
in the countries mentioned and by some European diplomats with whom the questioner has spoken
personally on several occasions, the profits from the sale of diamonds on the black market are sometimes
used to fund military and guerrilla activities in the African countries.

What does the Commission know about these alleged activities? What steps have been taken in Europe
and the Community to combat these practices?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2002)

During the past few years the evidence of rough diamonds fuelling some of the longest and most cruel
conflicts in Africa has become substantial.
In these conflicts rebel movements fighting legitimate
governments are partly financed by the proceeds from sales of rough diamonds mined in areas controlled
by these groups.

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/17

The United Nations Security Council has adopted sanctions against the rebel movements in Sierra Leone
and Angola and against the Liberian government for their support to the rebels. The sanctions include a
prohibition to import rough diamonds from Liberia and from Angola and Sierra Leone, if they are not
accompanied by a certificate of origin issued by the respective legitimate governments.

The sanctions have not been able to stop the flow of conflict diamonds into the legitimate trade or to
bring the conflicts to a halt.

In order to complement the sanctions regimes, a regime of controls has been discussed within the so called
Kimberley Process for about two years. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) asked participants
of the Kimberley Process to put forward proposals for a simple and workable international certification
scheme for rough diamonds. The purpose of the process is to find ways and means to create a system that
would protect the legitimate trade in diamonds against the influx of conflict diamonds.

The Commission has been actively participating in the negotiations on behalf of the Community.

The Kimberley Process has presented a proposal for a Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds to the
UNGA at the end of 2001. The UNGA is expected to consider the proposal in March 2002.

Illicit trafficking in diamonds constitutes a serious crime, which can only be addressed effectively through
close co-operation at international
level. Although no specific law enforcement initiatives have been
adopted at Union level against this particular form of crime, considerable recent action and initiatives have
focused on combating organised criminal and terrorist activities in general, including their financing.

(2002/C 301 E/015)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3641/01

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(7 January 2002)

Subject: Community aid for emigrants in Argentina

Community citizens who have emigrated to Argentina are suffering the effects of the serious economic and
social crisis afflicting the country, especially those over the age of 65, who are unable to work and are
losing their savings and their pensions.

The European Union uses financial instruments such as the European Social Fund to provide support
programmes for Community citizens resident in the Member States, as well as projects to assist the
immigrants from third countries. Community emigrants to third countries such as
integration of
Argentina, however, are facing serious problems and feel they have no one to turn to.

Is the EU undertaking or helping to finance any projects to assist emigrants in Argentina?

What financial instrument could be used to fund a Community project to demonstrate Europe’s solidarity
with its fellow citizens in Argentina and who would be responsible for taking an initiative of this kind?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2002)

The European Social Fund area of interventions is limited to Community territory. There is no financial
instrument comparable to the European Social Fund, aimed at providing support to Community citizens
outside of this territory.