WRITTEN QUESTION E-0079/02 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Council. Removal of lines marking borders from US charts.
Date: 2002-01-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Aegean Islands, Aegean Sea, Greece, Türkiye, United States, accession to the European Union, air traffic, cartography, external border of the EU

C 277 E/18

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2002)

The Commission adopted a ‘Framework programme for Community support to China’s accession to the
World Trade Organisation (WTO) of € 3 million in 1998. This amount has been increased by € 600 000 in
2001, and the programmes’ duration has been extended until 31 December 2003. This programme is
currently under implementation and aims to strengthen China’s administrative capacity to comply with
WTO requirements,
including the recognition and implementation of agricultural and sanitary/
phytosanitary standards.

In the China National Indicative Programme 2002/2004 which is part of the China Country Strategy
Paper, high priority is given to continued support to China’s WTO membership, and an amount of € 15
million will be available for commitment in 2002. This new programme will help China to further develop
its legal and regulatory framework, and to strengthen its administrative capacity to implement and enforce
this framework. A Community expert mission is scheduled to visit China in April 2002 to further define
the new programme proposal, which is expected to include a significant component related to sanitary and
phytosanitary standards (SPS).

(2002/C 277 E/017)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0079/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

Subject: Removal of lines marking borders from US charts

(24 January 2002)

The USA’s removal of the lines marking borders on American digital charts of the eastern Aegean at the
same time as Turkey has issued a NOTAM requiring all national aeroplanes passing through air corridors
G-18 to Rhodes and R-19 to Nicosia to submit their flight plans to the Turkish authorities, or be
intercepted, represent another attempt to revise the operational and legal status of the Aegean.

Given that the removal of the borderlines affects the Union because the borders in the Aegean are also its
own borders:

1.

can the Council confirm that the borderlines are marked on the Union’s charts, and

2. will the Council make representations to Turkey concerning the fact that the Turkish NOTAM creates
further tension in the Aegean, does not promote good neighbourly relations with a Member State and
is contrary to Turkey’s obligation under the partnership agreement to take a constructive approach to
finding a solution to the problem of Cyprus?

Reply

(22 July 2002)

In general, the borders between Member States and third States are clearly marked on European Union
including the borders between Greece and Turkey. Concerning
charts published by the Commission,
specific information on digital air traffic charts, the Honourable Member is invited to consult Eurocontrol,
which is the competent body for air traffic management in Europe.

The need for all candidate countries including Turkey to resolve any outstanding border disputes and other
related issues was clearly stated in the Helsinki European Council conclusions on 10-11 December 1999.
This was also specified in the Accession partnership. The need for Turkey to promote good relationship
with its neighbour in the Aegean is regularly stressed by the Council in the framework of the political
dialogue, most recently at the level of the political directors troika meeting in Madrid on 8 January.