WRITTEN QUESTION E-3649/01 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Terrorism, Somalia and information.
Date: 2002-01-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Somalia, access to information, communications profession, cooperation policy, democratisation, fight against crime, religious fundamentalism, terrorism, vocational training

C 277 E/14

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

Council of 23 October 2001 on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large
combustion plants (1). This new directive will require that more stringent environmental standards apply to
existing plants from 1 January 2008. The Commission is enquiring with the Spanish authorities regarding
more recent emission data and will inform the Honourable Member of its findings (2).

(1) OJ L 309, 27.11.2001.
(2)

‘existing’ plants are defined as those for which the original construction licence or,
procedure, the original operating licence was granted before 1 July 1987.

in the absence of such a

(2002/C 277 E/012)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3649/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(14 January 2002)

Subject: Terrorism, Somalia and information

Recent events connected with the fight against terrorism have identified Somalia as one of the countries in
which powerful groups linked to Islamic fundamentalism operate, receiving funding, weapons and
instructors to organise terrorist training camps.

In view of this, consideration has been given to possible military intervention to block any attempt to
carry out terrorist action based in Somalia.

In a situation such as this and in order to give the population information which may help to strengthen
democracy and combat fundamentalism, can the Commission say whether:

3 it does not consider it useful and appropriate to devise and bring into operation an independent

information network in Somali, in order to provide the population with accurate information;

3 it does not consider, in the current situation, that accurate information may help to restore peace and
introduce a truly democratic system with the consensus of the population of various ethnic groups
and regions?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(22 February 2002)

The Commission believes that accurate information is best provided by information professionals.
Recently, the Commission contributed to the financing of specific training initiatives for Somalia in this
area in close co-operation with the BBC World Service.

The main objective of the project was a journalists’ training programme covering technical as well as
editorial, writing and production skills.
the training
programme sought to enable Somali journalists to produce material which would help to build a strong
pluralistic society. A total of 83 Somali print, radio and TV journalists attended the BBC training courses
and workshops held in different parts of Somalia.

In developing and strengthening those skills,

Should the conditions allow the development of a democratic information practice in Somalia, the
Commission could envisage co-operating with recognised organisations in order to promote further
actions aimed at strengthening the information capabilities in Somalia.

It has to be stressed that adequate information is not enough to allow the good functioning of a
democratic political system. In the case of Somalia most of the population is illiterate and public opinion is
dominated by clan-based and local interests. Traditional and religious rulers therefore play an important
role as opinion leaders. Furthermore, dissemination of information throughout Somalia remains limited by
high investment costs, logistic problems and war.

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/15

Nevertheless, part of the population does benefit from more diverse information: the collapse of the state
favoured the multiplication of information sources, both written and audio-visual, and foreign programmes
in Somali are already being broadcast on a daily basis.

(2002/C 277 E/013)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3695/01

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 January 2002)

Subject: EU delegations

The presence of an EU delegation in a country reflects the importance that the EU attaches to that area.

Can the Commission give a breakdown of:

3 countries where the EU delegation is being done away with,

3 countries where a new EU delegation is being established,

3 countries where there will continue to be an EU delegation?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 March 2002)

The Commission has no plans to close any of its Delegations. The Communication to the Council and the
Parliament of 3 July 2001 on the Development of the External Service (1) foresees the streamlining of three
Delegations, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago. As a result of this decision, the Commission
proposes to accredit to each of the three governments a Head of Delegation in a neighbouring country as
non-resident Head of Delegation. The Delegations will remain in place manned by a single official as
‘chargé d’affaires’ with his own local staff. This will enable it to follow as today the traditional issues of
development co-operation but also political and economic matters, including trade.

In the framework of the same Communication the Commission decided to close seven of its existing
Offices, Antigua and Barbuda, São Tomé e Príncipe, Equatorial Guinea, Belize, Comores, Netherlands
Antilles and Tonga.

Closing these Offices however does not mean that the Commission has changed its commitment in its
relations with the countries affected. Responsibility for its activities will remain with regional Delegations
whose Heads of Delegation will continue to be accredited to those countries. The Commission is convinced
that this restructuring of External Service will allow it to maintain the close co-operation that it already
enjoys with them. Indeed, the Commission’s aim is to strengthen relations, improve the management of aid
and make the best use of scarce resources by pooling expertise in one Delegation to be made available to a
whole region.

The Communication of 3 July 2001 on the Development of the External Service foresees the opening of
seven new Delegations: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal Saudi Arabia, Paraguay and Singapore.

Moreover, consideration will be given to opening a trade representation office in Taiwan.

A regular presence in Cuba will also be considered in the light of
forthcoming closure of the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO).

internal developments and the

A list of External Representations (changes indicated above are due to be implemented by the end of 2002)
is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament’s Secretariat.

(1) COM(2001) 381 final.