WRITTEN QUESTION E-3369/02 by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission. Forced repatriation and the safety of humanitarian workers in Chechnya.
Date: 2002-11-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Russia, forced migration, human rights, humanitarian aid, public safety, return migration, war of independence

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/145

(2003/C 155 E/161)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3369/02

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(27 November 2002)

Subject: Forced repatriation and the safety of humanitarian workers in Chechnya

In an interview with Reuters broadcast on Radio Liberty, the European Commissioner for Development
and Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielson, stated that ‘the Russian authorities must put an end to the practice of
the forced repatriation of refugees to Chechnya’. During the interview, the Commissioner also emphasised
the ‘need to take measures to guarantee the safety of the staff of the humanitarian organisations working
in the Northern Caucuses, who risk their lives and face enormous difficulties every day.’

Can these statements be interpreted as a U-turn in the approach adopted by Commissioner Nielson and the
Commission as a whole to the Chechen tragedy, and as indicating a new desire to take action to put a stop
to the extremely serious violations of fundamental rights being committed in Chechnya?

Moreover,
is Commissioner Nielson aware that the Geneva Convention categorically prohibits forced
repatriation, and that if the Russian authorities do not put an end to this practice it will be the
Commission’s duty to bring proceedings against them before the competent international courts?

As regards the safety of the staff of humanitarian organisations operating in Chechnya, the Commissioner
for Humanitarian Aid has not visited Chechnya in person since the outbreak of the second Chechen war
three years ago. Does he not feel that this might be interpreted as reflecting a lack of will on the part of
the Commission to ensure the safety of the staff of humanitarian organisations operating there, and that
the only way to remedy this would be for him to make an extensive visit (and not one orchestrated by the
authorities in Moscow) to Chechnya as soon as possible, so that he can see the situation at first hand?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2003)

The Commissioner responsible for Development and Humanitarian Aid has recently expressed his deep
concern regarding the threat to close the camps for displaced people in Ingushetia on two separate
occasions. He gave an interview to Reuters on 14 November 2002 and released a statement to the press
on 27 November 2002.

These statements can in no way be interpreted as a U-turn in the approach adopted by Commissioner
Nielson or the Commission as a whole. Through its humanitarian aid office (ECHO), the Commission has
always paid close attention to the Chechen conflict and the resulting humanitarian tragedy.

It should not be forgotten that the Commission remains the biggest humanitarian aid donor in the
Northern Caucasus. Through ECHO, it has allocated more than EUR 90 million in aid for the victims of
the fighting since the onset of the latest conflict in the autumn of 1999.

The Commission is extremely concerned about the scale of the human rights violations in Chechnya and
the continual violation of international humanitarian law for the protection of civilians. It is clear that
there is no political justification for the current situation, and all states are bound by international law to
respect fundamental humanitarian rights laid down in the Geneva Conventions and their additional
protocols, of which Russia is a party.

This is why Commissioner Nielson spoke for a second time to ask the Russian authorities not to close the
Aki Yurt camp, which houses more than 1 700 people, and to remind them that forced repatriation
constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law. Unfortunately, representations made by the
European Union and the Commission to the Russian authorities have come to nothing. The Commission
will, however, continue in its efforts to prevent the Russian authorities from closing other camps. A very
clear message to this effect has been relayed to Mr Igor Ivanov, minister for foreign affairs and Mr Vladimir
Chizov, deputy foreign minister. On 16 December 2002 the Troika of the EU met the Russian federal
minister, Mr Stanislav Iiyasov, who is in charge of reconstruction in Chechnya, in order to raise this issue.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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3.7.2003

is central to the problem of humanitarian aid in
The issue of the safety of humanitarian personnel
Chechnya and is an issue constantly raised by the Commission. The Commissioner in charge of
Development and Humanitarian Aid travelled to Chechnya twice in 2000 to underline the importance of
this issue to the Commission. Since that time, the question of access and the multiple obstacles the Russian
authorities put in the path of humanitarian organisations on the ground has been at the centre of
discussions between the EU and Russia. The Director of ECHO raised the question during her mission to
Chechnya in March 2001, as did the Head of Unit responsible for Chechnya at ECHO who also went to
Grozny in May 2002, accompanied by the head of delegation. These problems were also discussed more
recently at the EU-Russia summit, the meeting in Moscow between the EU Commissioner in charge of
External Relations and Russia’s foreign affairs minister in October 2002, and the latest Cooperation
Committee meeting with Russia held in Brussels. The issue is constantly raised by the Head of Delegation
to the Commission in Moscow and by ECHO.

It is also clear that this situation calls for adoption of a political position by the European Union. In
addition to the action that can be taken at Commission level, the Council and Parliament also have an
important role to play in denouncing the large-scale and repeated violations of international humanitarian
law and human rights.

Meanwhile, the Commission will ensure that the European Union will continue to monitor the issue of
human rights in Chechnya and will raise the problem in all appropriate forums, such as the bilateral
political dialogue with the Russian Federation, and the discussions and initiatives concerning Chechnya
within the Council of Europe and the OECD.

(2003/C 155 E/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3377/02

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 November 2002)

Subject: Deductions from farming subsidies by the Agricultural Bank of Greece

In its answers to my previous questions E-3807/00 (1) and E-3376/01 (2), the Commission recognises that
there are problems concerning the failure to pay EU subsidies in full to Greek farmers. According to a
recent complaint, which has just come to my knowledge, the Agricultural Bank of Greece in the prefecture
of Rodopis does not pay the subsidies in full to Greek farmers but deducts an amount to offset farmers’
debts to the bank.

What view does the Commission take of the deductions made by the Agricultural Bank of Greece from
subsidies intended for Greek farmers?

What developments have there been as a result of the Commission’s representations to the Greek
authorities concerning deductions made by the cooperatives from Community subsidies for Greek farmers?

(1) OJ C 174 E, 19.6.2001, p. 148.
(2) OJ C 134 E, 6.6.2002, p. 225.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2003)

Following the Commission’s investigations the Greek authorities have for most sectors introduced with
effect from 2002 for payment of aid amounts directly into the recipient’s bank account.

The Commission’s checks show that the problem appears to have been resolved as far as the integrated
administration and control system is concerned, all payments are now being made in full direct to the
recipient. For the other sectors the Commission is monitoring the situation closely.