WRITTEN QUESTION E-0041/03 by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission. European In Town Without My Car Day.
Date: 2003-01-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, EU environmental policy, EU financing, motor vehicle pollution, public awareness campaign, report, town traffic

C 222 E/140

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

Projects to strengthen asylum management valued at EUR 5 million for the period 2000-2003 are being
implemented and about EUR 20 million has been allocated for border infrastructure at the western borders.

Given the open border to Russia and the lack of normal relations with Belarus, the perspectives of
increasing funding are limited.
In any event this would only contribute to solving the problem of
migratory flows at Belarus western border.

Burden sharing will be taken into consideration in the co-operation agreement with Ukraine.

(2003/C 222 E/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0038/03

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Council

(21 January 2003)

Subject: Presence in the Italian Embassy in Moscow of an individual sought by Interpol

On 7 January 2002 the Italian newspaper ‘La Repubblica’ published an article according to which the
financier Mark Garber,
‘Director of Fleming Family and Partners’ and ‘holding a senior position in the
Russian bank UCB’ was present at a fashion show and reception held in the Italian Embassy in Moscow.
According to ‘La Repubblica’ the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office and the entire Interpol network had been
trying to find Mark Garber in November 2001 (entered in the computer system as early as 28 May 2001)
under an international arrest warrant on charges of criminal conspiracy for the purposes of arms
trafficking. The warrant was subsequently revoked.

In the context of its competence for judicial and penal cooperation between the EU countries and vis-à-vis
third countries, can the Council ascertain from the Italian Government and Europol whether the report in
‘La Repubblica’ is true and, if possible (cid:1) if it is true (cid:1) explain what prompted Italy not to enforce an
international arrest warrant?

Reply

(5 and 6 May 2003)

The Council never comment on Press articles and is not in a position to intervene in individual criminal
cases. The Council can thus not meet the request by the Honourable Member of the European Parliament.

(2003/C 222 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0041/03

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: European ‘In Town Without My Car’ Day

(21 January 2003)

On Sunday, 22 September 2002 many European towns and cities organised European ‘In Town Without
My Car’ Day.

Which towns and cities in Belgium ultimately received the ‘In Town Without My Car’ quality label?

From which Belgian towns and cities did the Commission receive an assessment report?

How does the Commission itself assess the results of ‘In Town Without My Car’ Day in towns and cities in
Belgium?

How does the Commission assess the results of ‘In Town Without My Car’ Day in Antwerp?

How much did the 2002 campaign cost?

What is the focal point of the 2003 campaign? What budget has the Commission set aside for the
organisation of the campaign in 2003?

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