WRITTEN QUESTION E-1934/02 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland.
Date: 2002-07-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Commission Delegation, EU relations, European Commission, European Union, Switzerland, bilateral agreement, budget, financing, staff

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/33

(2003/C 192 E/029)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1934/02

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland

(3 July 2002)

The recent entry into force of the bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland should be
accompanied by the establishment of a Joint Committee or a standing working party which includes
representatives from both parties.

At a recent meeting which I attended in Berne at the invitation of the Swiss trade union representing
workers in industry and the construction sector, and which was also attended by ambassadors from a
number of EU countries (though not by any Commission representative), it became clear that there was an
urgent need for a Commission representation to be set up in Switzerland for the purpose of facilitating
discussion of current problems, particularly ones relating to migration.

Are there any plans for a Commission representation to be set up in Switzerland, and within what
timescale?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2002)

The Commission shares largely the analysis on which the question of the Honourable Member is based.
With regard to the external relations of the Union, Switzerland is one of the most important countries.
In terms of economic relations Switzerland ranks second in trade in goods and services behind the United
States. Also, its central location within the Union calls for cooperation in a wide range of issues.

That is why, already in its Communication of 17 of July 1998 on the evolution of the External Service
when the Commission had decided on a number of changes to its external representation network it was
stated that the opening of a Delegation to Switzerland was envisaged (the other being Delegations to
Azerbaijan, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, and
Offices in Taiwan, Paraguay and Ecuador).

However, for several reasons this was not possible. The principal obstacle to opening the new Delegations
at the time was the lack of financial and human resources, especially in view of the events that took place
in the Balkans in 1999. The magnitude of that crisis and the urgency of the response have reverberated to
this day. This, and the financial structures decided in Berlin, have to a large extent disrupted the planned
allocation of the scarce resources available to the External Service of the Commission.

Since then, in deciding where to open new delegations, the Commission had to take a hard look at its
most pressing priorities. An analysis was undertaken of those regions where it is still underrepresented
politically taking into account both the importance of the trade component and the implementation of
external assistance.

Moreover, the resulting programme set out in the Commission Communication of 3 July 2001 was to be
budget neutral. What this has meant is that in order to open new external representations, the Commission
has had to rationalise elsewhere, either by slimming down some delegations or by closing a number of
offices. In the meantime other factors came to play to further complicate the financial situation such as the
equally pressing need to open in Afghanistan earlier this year and, until recently, the adverse exchange
position of the single currency. This has forced the Commission to stagger out the foreseen openings over
the period up to the end of 2002.

The Commission is aware of the increased need of cooperation with the Swiss authorities and an efficient
monitoring of Swiss policies. With the start of bilateral negotiations in several areas, the follow up of

C 192 E/34

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

existing agreements and the deconcentration of the Commission’s information policy, a Commission
delegation that will help defend the Union’s interests within Switzerland becomes even more important.

However, while the Commission has the matter under review it can give at this stage no undertaking as to
the timing of the opening of a Delegation to Switzerland.

(2003/C 192 E/030)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1937/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 July 2002)

Subject: Greeks of Albania

Commissioner Patten’s answer to my question No E-1135/02 (1) contains the bizarre information that the
Greek minority numbers only 50 000, when it is well known that this is not the case as entire regions and
towns in southern Albania are inhabited by a purely Greek population. The same answer also refers to
preparations for an ‘Observatory for inter-ethnic relations’ and the fact that Community funding for the
projects carried out in Albania was also approved by the Greek Government.

On what statistics does the Commissioner base his assertion that the Greek minority numbers only
50 000? Who will finance the Observatory and will its objective be to protect the hundreds of thousands
belonging to the Greek minority in Albania? Does the Commission know of any international conventions
(which the Albania authorities have also signed) which recognise an autonomous regime in southern
Albania? Exactly which Community-funded projects has the Greek Government also approved?

(1) OJ C 110 E, 8.5.2003, p. 12.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(9 September 2002)

At present, there are not up-to-date data on the size of minorities in Albania. The most recent official
Albanian statistics set the size of the Greek minority at around 50 000. The Commission is aware that this
figure is controversial. The Council and the Commission have jointly invited Albania to provide accurate
data on the size of minorities before the end of 2003. The Albanian Government has expressed its
commitment to meet this requirement.

Inter-Ethnic Relationships in Southern Albania’

The Community supports, with a Tirana-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), the activities of the
‘Socio-economic Observatory of
in Gjirokastra. This
observatory aims to become a permanent actor in the field of the inter-ethnic relations in the region, with
the objective of monitoring the respect of minority rights, promoting the participation of minority
organisations in the social and political
life of the country and contributing to smooth inter-ethnic
relations. The observatory’s activities are expected to benefit all minorities in Albania, including the Greek
one. In this context, the Commission would also like to recall that, in the course of contacts with Albania
in the framework of the EU/Albania Consultative Task Force, the Albanian government has undertaken to
step up its efforts so that minority rights are respected throughout the country and to ensure that no
limitation is applied on the exercise of minority rights based on geographical criteria.

The Commission is not aware of international commitments undertaken by Albania and which would
imply an autonomous regime for its southern regions. On the other hand, there is every indication that
there is a considerable participation of the Greek minority in Albania’s social, economic and political life,
notably in that part of the country.

As already indicated in the Commission’s reply to the Honourable Member’s written question E-1135/
02 (1), Greece participates (cid:1) as all other Member States (cid:1) in the committee responsible for the allocation
and management of Community assistance to the Western Balkans. It gives, therefore, its opinion on every
assistance programme proposed for the countries of the region, including Albania.

(1) OJ C 110 E, 8.5.2003, p. 12.