WRITTEN QUESTION E-0049/03 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Council. Financial Assistance to Belarus and the Ukraine as part of an effort to limit illegal migration flows through those countries to the European Union.
Date: 2003-01-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belarus, EU migration policy, EU relations, Ukraine, aid policy, cooperation policy, financial aid, illegal migration

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/141

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2003)

The Car Free Days concept was initiated in France and is supported by the Commission, Directorate
General for the Environment. It must be noted, however, that the label ‘In town without my car’ is issued
by the national authorities and not by the Commission. Some 50 cities in Belgium participated in the Car
Free Day 2002.

The participating cities do not need to provide a project proposal/report for assessment and/or approval to
the Commission. The national partners and co-ordinators carry out the assessment of the proposals.

The budget for the European Mobility Week adds up to EUR 551 573 by means of a subsidy to Eurocities
for a period of 28 months, which started on 1 January 2002 and covers Mobility Week 2002 and 2003.
The Car Free Day initiatives do not have any repercussion on the Community budget. Local and regional
authorities and other actors cover the costs of their respective event(s).

The Car Free Days never really had a particular theme. However, because 2003 is the European year for
people with a handicap, the theme for the European Mobility Week 2003, which will run from 16 to
22 September 2003, is accessibility.

(2003/C 222 E/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0049/03

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Council

(21 January 2003)

Subject: Financial Assistance to Belarus and the Ukraine as part of an effort to limit illegal migration flows

through those countries to the European Union

Large numbers of illegal migrants are currently detained on the territories of Belarus and the Ukraine,
having attempted to use those countries as a gateway to the European Union.

It is clearly in the interests of the European Union, political differences regarding their internal affairs
notwithstanding, to cooperate with these countries in order to stabilise and subsequently reduce the flow
of illegal immigrants passing through their territories. What plans are there for the European Union to
provide additional financial and technical assistance designed to achieve this objective? In particular, there
have been requests from the governments for funds to improve surveillance and monitoring of their
Eastern border areas with the Russian Federation, to pay for temporary housing of these migrants in
detention camps and to pay for the cost of eventual repatriation to their countries of origin. From 1 May
2004, these two neighbouring states are set to share large common borders with the EU and the Schengen
area.

Does the Council accept that these migratory flows constitute a major burden to the national budgets of
these two states which, if not checked, could result in a major additional flow of illegal migrants to the EU,
and that there is, therefore, a strong common interest in assisting these countries in their efforts to solve
their problems in this area?

Reply

(8 May 2003)

Combating illegal migration is an issue of mutual concern to both the European Union and Belarus and
Ukraine. The Council shares the view of the Honourable Member that it is in the interests of both parties
to seek a solution to the problems of illegal migration.

In the case of Ukraine, instruments to enhance mutual cooperation in the area of Justice and Home Affairs
have been put in place. The Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs of Ukraine and of the EU Troika met

C 222 E/142

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

for the first time in Brussels on 11 November 2002. An EU Action Plan on Justice and Home Affairs was
adopted jointly by the EU and Ukraine in December 2001. Readmission and migration were among the
priorities established by the Ministers.

The plan sets out, inter alia, the following cooperation objectives:

(cid:1) Rendering expert legal assistance to the Ukrainian authorities in drafting or amending its current

legislation on foreigners, asylum, immigration and refugees;

(cid:1) Supporting the efficient management of migration flows, also by rendering consultative, financial and
expert assistance in the establishment of the State Migration Service of Ukraine and promotion of its
activities, in particular to increase the professional level of relevant staff through the study of foreign
experience and internships in relevant services of EU countries dealing with modern migration policy;

(cid:1) Assessing the scale of illegal migration via Ukraine and monitoring of migratory movements and
examination of possible participation of Ukraine in a system of early prevention of illegal migration;

(cid:1) Improving cooperation regarding the readmission of own nationals, persons without nationality and
third country nationals, with a view to concluding a readmission agreement between Ukraine and the
European Community. The EU also encourages all countries in the region to conclude readmission
agreements between themselves.

A scoreboard set up in consultation with Ukraine makes it possible to monitor the implementation of
measures aimed at achieving these objectives.

Under the TACIS Regional Cooperation Programme, Belarus receives funding for the justice and home
affairs sector. Projects to strengthen asylum and border management and to combat drug trafficking and
trafficking in women are being implemented. These initiatives aim to support the creation of the European
Union’s area of freedom, security and justice (cid:1) the territory of Belarus is used by criminal organisations
active in drug trafficking, trafficking in human beings and smuggling of illegal migrants (cid:1) by reinforcing
the future EU’s external borders. Since the EU is already cooperating very closely with Ukraine on justice
and home affairs issues, criminal organisations will most probably circumvent Ukraine by using Belarus’
territory more intensively, with negative consequences
the EU, unless support measures are
implemented. All such projects are therefore clearly in the interests of the EU.

for

The Council is convinced that management of migration questions can be improved and that appropriate
measures can be taken in the areas of border management, readmission and visas, with a view to
preventing the territories of Ukraine and Belarus from being used increasingly for the purposes of illegal
immigration and as transit countries for illegal immigrants intending to enter the European Union.

(2003/C 222 E/165)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0050/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(21 January 2003)

Subject: Byrne-FIA correspondence on tobacco advertising

A copy of a letter dated 13 December 2002 from Max Mosley, President of the International Automobile
Federation, FIA, to David Byrne, the European Commissioner with responsibility for consumer affairs,
shows Mosley putting forward the view that by fixing the introduction of the European ban on tobacco
advertising for 31 July 2005 Byrne failed to take account of motorsport sponsorship considerations. The
1998 directive annulled by the European Court of Justice set 1 October 2006 as the date on which that
ban would come into force. Mosley draws attention to motorsport’s sponsorship needs and hints that
Formula 1 may turn its back on Europe for a considerable period of time. Adopting an aggressive tone at
times, Mosley suggests that Commissioner Byrne bears full, personal responsibility for this state of affairs.