WRITTEN QUESTION E-3027/02 by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. EU-Sudan relations.
Date: 2002-10-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Sudan, approximation of policies, bilateral relations, governance, peacekeeping, political cooperation, the EU's international role

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/37

2. More than 20 years of war and a prolonged drought, the latter still hitting parts of the country,
caused a major humanitarian crisis, which still persists. Consequently, the Afghan population still requires
emergency assistance. In response to this the Humanitarian Aid office (ECHO) provided EUR 73 million for
humanitarian aid and another EUR 15 million has been provided in support of
the World Food
Programme of the United Nations. However, the Commission has a clear focus on reconstruction. Out of
the EUR 277 million the Commission will provide in total in 2002, almost two-thirds will be spent on
physical and institutional reconstruction. The majority of projects have been started already. A table
mentioning EC assistance to Afghanistan in 2002 is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to
Parliament’s Secretariat.

3.
Financial support is an important element to stimulate economic recovery but other forms of
assistance are equally important, such as institutional capacity building as well as political and legal
stability. Consequently,
the Commission is composed of different
instruments aiming to address the above issues in a complementary manner so as to encourage a self
sustaining recovery/development process.

the reconstruction programme of

that

It is evident

4.
the Afghan authorities have so far only limited control over aid funds for
reconstruction. This is very much influenced by the fact that the relevant institutions have been created
only a few months ago and basic capacities are still lacking. However, the Commission supports the new
governmental authorities’ efforts to gain more control of aid funds. For this reason the Commission shares
all information about Community funded projects with the competent Afghan authorities and implicates
them more and more in the decision making process. Further to this the Commission provides assistance
to create the necessary capacity to manage aid contributions.

5.
The Commission has no mandate to support the national army. The international peace keeping
forces (ISAF), which have a limited mandate only (Kabul and surroundings) are considered as a temporary
solution to improve the security situation of the country. In the most recent security update of the United
Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mr L. Brahimi, it was confirmed that
France and the United States have started to provide military training. However, the progress made so far
towards the constitution of a national army is slow, which is very much linked to internal politics.

(2003/C 222 E/042)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3027/02

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 October 2002)

Subject: EU-Sudan relations

Would the Commission give details of the current status of its dialogue with Sudan, and the purpose of it?
This should include details of the personnel involved, the structure of the dialogue, progress made and the
role of the Commission.

Would it also give details of the current position and immediate and long-term objectives of the dialogue
with Sudan?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2002)

As development cooperation could not be implemented in the Sudan since March 1990, due to human
rights violations and the resumption of hostilities in the South of the country, the Commission suspended
direct dialogue with the Government. In November 1999, the Union and the Sudan began a formal
political dialogue in order to support a strengthened peace process and to encourage progress in
governance in which the Commission was fully associated. In December 2001, during a visit by an EU
Troika mission of senior officials, including Commission representatives, the two parties agreed on the
need to pursue and intensify the dialogue in the perspective of a gradual normalisation of relations.

C 222 E/38

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

Since February 2002, and after the 9th EDF Notification letter to the Government of the Sudan on
the Commission started the policy dialogue with the Sudanese partners for the
22 January 2002,
preparation of
the Country Strategy Paper (CSP). On 21 October the CSP received an unanimous
favourable opinion of the EDF Committee. A Commission decision on the CSP is expected during
November 2002.

In 2002 the Union-Sudan dialogue has been based on monthly meetings between the Union Heads of
Mission based in Khartoum and the Government of Sudan, in which the Commissions’ Head of Delegation
to the Sudan participates. At this stage, the progress achieved in the dialogue is being evaluated by the
Union Missions in Khartoum and in Union capitals. The conclusions of this assessment will be made
public in due course.

The Union is also preparing a Troïka mission to Khartoum planned for December 2002, to which the
Commission will be fully associated. During this mission, an assessment of progress achieved in the 2002
commitments in the areas of democracy and rule of law, human rights and the peace process will be made
together with the Government.

(2003/C 222 E/043)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3030/02

by Jaime Valdivielso de Cué (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Overpriced mobile-telephone roaming services

(23 October 2002)

For some time now the Commission has been investigating the roaming services which telephone
companies offer their clients when the latter travel abroad.

In particular, it is suspected that those companies are engaging in collusive practices in order to keep
charges for such services artificially high.

What action is the Commission intending to take in order to outlaw such practices?

How can the Commission’s investigations be speeded up with a view to ensuring that users no longer
incur excessive expense?

How soon will the people of Europe be able to enjoy fairly-priced roaming services?

What compensation can be made available to the users affected?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2002)

The Commission began its investigations into mobile international roaming markets at the end of 1999
and carried out an in-depth inquiry into the sector. In the Working Document on the Sector Inquiry,
published in December 2000 on Directorate General Competition’s website (1), it was found that market
concentration was high, both wholesale and retail prices were high and rising and these prices appeared to
bear no relation to cost. The likely competition concerns identified were excessive pricing and collusion.

As part of the Commission’s actions, it conducted in July 2001, surprise inspections at the premises of the
mobile operators in Germany and the United Kingdom, where the situation appeared to be particularly
serious. Since then, it has been analysing the information collected and has requested detailed information
from operators and others. The Commission is looking to take concrete action in the near future but does
not want at this stage to anticipate the outcome of the investigation nor the companies involved.

Since the Commission opened its inquiry, some operators have begun to offer single rate schemes, but
these have been at price levels which are very high.
there is still
considerable scope for operators to reduce their prices significantly.

It would therefore appear that