WRITTEN QUESTION P-2796/02 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. East Timor — assessing aid.
Date: 2002-09-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, East Timor, aid evaluation, aid for restructuring, aid policy, humanitarian aid

C 192 E/76

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

3. What measures is the Commission taking to protect the financial interests of the Union as effectively
as possible in relation to Kaliningrad?

4.
Can the Commission guarantee that in its negotiations with the Russian authorities on Kaliningrad
the protection of the financial interests of the Union will not be undermined and that it is proceeding on
the basis of the principle that the level of protection of financial interests should be at least as high as in
the current EU15?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2002)

to be in the general

the Union (cid:1) financial, economic,
The Commission considers it
environmental, and security (cid:1) to ensure that the problems of Kaliningrad do not threaten the stability,
prosperity or security of an enlarged Union. For this reason, the Commission is actively providing, in
cooperation with the Russian authorities, assistance to promote the economic and social development of
including assistance targeted at areas including improved border management, combatting
Kaliningrad,
environmental pollution and tackling human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/aquired immunodeficiency
syndrom(AIDs).

interests of

The Commission also considers that enhanced Union/Russia cooperation in the field of Justice and Home
Affairs, particularly joint work to prevent trans-border crime, smuggling and illegal migration, will be
important to ensure that the management of the future common border will pose no threat to the Union’s
interests.

In recent discussions on the subject of Kaliningrad, the Russian Federation has focussed on the issue of
visas. The Commission submitted a Communication on 18 September 2002 stating that any solution to
the issue of transit of persons and goods to and from Kaliningrad must fully respect the acquis and the
sovereignty of the new Member States.

(2003/C 192 E/076)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2796/02

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(30 September 2002)

Subject: East Timor (cid:1) assessing aid

The EU has for some years been granting East Timor aid, with a view to help consolidate self-
determination and democracy and assist the new country in its reconstruction process.

The international community, and especially the EU, can only salute the progress East Timor has achieved
since the Timorese, with international help, took full charge of their own destiny. The role of the EU has
been and still is of capital importance.

What are the total EU aid figures for East Timor for 1999, 2000 and 2001? How does the Commission
rate the impact of this aid? Does it deem policy with regard to the young country at European level a
success?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2002)

A table giving the total amounts of the aid to East Timor mobilised through the available Community
instruments in 1999, 2000 and 2001 (both in terms of commitments and payments) is sent direct to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat. In total, more than EUR 110 million were committed
and more than EUR 90 million disbursed over the period.

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/77

The Commission is of the opinion that the Community aid has contributed positively to meet the primary
needs of the population since the breaking out of the crisis in 1999 and has helped the country either to
restore structures and capacities that disappeared during the crisis or to create new ones. Insofar as it has
helped East Timor reach Independence, the Community aid can be considered successful.

The actions financed to date have been mainly aimed at addressing the situation of crisis/post-crisis.

They can be classified in three main categories:

(a)

emergency humanitarian aid;

(b)

strengthening of democracy and civil society;

(c)

rehabilitation and institution building.

After the initial direct and extensive involvement of the European Community Humanitarian Office
(ECHO), before, during and after the clashes, it is worth mentioning that the most recent Commission
operations are taking place through Community contributions to the Trust Fund for East Timor managed
by the World Bank, which will total EUR 56 million at the end of 2002. The Commission is taking the
initiative of preparing, in agreement with other contributors and the World Bank, a complete evaluation
exercise of this major investment, the results of which will be available in the course of 2003.

The proclamation of the independence of the country and the formation of a Government this year
allowed the approval of a Country Strategy Paper and National Indicative Programme for co-operation
between the Community and East Timor. This will be the framework of a development-oriented approach
for Community Aid in the coming years.

(2003/C 192 E/077)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2821/02

by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 October 2002)

Subject: Radiation from cordless telephones

1.
Has the Commission read the article ‘Test Schnurlose Telefone. Ganz schön sendebewusst’ in the
German consumer magazine ‘Öko Test’? It establishes that none of the cordless telephones tested meets the
100 µW/m2 limit value specified by the European Parliament (Directorate-General
for Research). The
telephones tested emit as much as 8 800 to 18 400 µW/m2.

Is the Commission aware that recent studies have established that such radiation is potentially
this can promote

to the nervous and hormone system? Studies have also established that

2.
harmful
hereditary problems and cancer.

3.

Does the Commission plan to do something about this dangerous situation?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(25 November 2002)

As indicated in the reply to written question E-2900/02 from Ms. Breyer (1) on 12 July 1999 the Council
adopted Recommendation 1999/519/EEC to Member States limiting the exposure of the general public to
electromagnetic fields from 0 Herz (Hz) to 300 Gigaherz (Ghz) (2). The full adherence to the basic
restrictions and reference levels included in the Recommendation ensures users a high level of protection
against acute and long-term effects of non-ionising radiation for the whole spectrum. The recommended
restrictions for cordless and cellular telephones use the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) as the measure to
adhere. The power density, referred to by the Honourable Member is used only as a measure for exposure