WRITTEN QUESTION E-1559/03 by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission. The situation in Somalia.
Date: 2003-05-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Somalia, aid programme, cooperation policy, establishment of peace, international affairs, political situation

C 88 E/36

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

The exercise is limited to the replacement costs of physical infrastructure (construction and equipment),
excluding indirect losses such as project delays or suspensions. Moreover the list does not make reference
to a number of EU-funded projects which are unable to funtion properly due to Israeli military actions, for
instance access to the European hospital
in Gaza or delays (as a result of closures of access to raw
materials) to infrastructure projects.

This matter has been raised with the Israeli authorities on several occasions, most notably by the
Presidency of the Union in January 2002, and also at the Association Council with Israel on 21 October
2002.

(2004/C 88 E/0039)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1559/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(7 May 2003)

Subject: The situation in Somalia

Can the Commission please give its view on the current political situation in Somalia?

Can the Commission please give the latest details of both its aid and trade packages to Somalia?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 2003)

The national reconciliation process being held in Mbagathi, Kenya, under the auspices of the Intergovern-
mental Authority on Development
(IGAD) and with Union and international community support,
is entering a crucial stage. The discussions may soon lead to the adoption of a draft charter as well as an
action plan for a post-conference interim period including the definition of national governance structures.
However, with the country having disintegrated into clan centred fiefdoms for the past twelve years,
Somalia’s political future is still uncertain.

Solutions in Somalia will depend on the conjunction of several elements:

(cid:1) the capacity of Somali stakeholders,

including the fragmented Hawye and Darod clans, gathered
around heterogeneous political poles such as the Transitional National Government (TNG) and the
Somali Restoration and Reconciliation Council (SRRC) to overcome their many differences;

(cid:1) the commitment of stakeholders in the region to use their political influence inside Somalia in favour

of peace and reconciliation;

(cid:1) an adequate monitoring by the international community of

the current cessation of hostilities
agreement as well as of the United Nation Security Council resolutions establishing an arms embargo
for Somalia. In addition, there is agreement that any solution reached by the Somalis will require
prompt financial, technical and political support from the international community.

The Union has, several
to IGAD’s peace initiative on Somalia and its
commitment to contribute to Somalia’s development. The EU’s political line on Somalia is set out in the
General Affairs Council conclusions on Somalia of July 2002.

times, reiterated its support

The most notable absence in the Mbagathi conference is Somaliland, which unilaterally declared
independence in 1991 and succeeded in establishing its own institutions and relative stability in its
territory.

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/37

in Somalia.
Community co-operation, despite the difficult
In December 2001, the European Union-African, Caribbean and Pacific (EU-ACP) joint Council decided
on a special European Development Fund (EDF) financial allocation (EUR 199 million) to Somalia for the
period 2002-2007. This
from the
Commission’s budget, in particular humanitarian aid (EUR 6 million in 2003).

financial envelope is complemented by yearly contributions

situation, has been constantly present

Based on the EU-ACP Council decision, a first programme (EUR 50 million) was approved by the
Commission in June 2002 and is being implemented while a new rehabilitation programme (estimated
EUR 75 to EUR 100 million) is being appraised and should be submitted to the Commission for approval
by end 2003.

The current Community co-operation in Somalia is defined by the ‘Strategy for special aid to Somalia’
(April 2002). (1) Given the Somali context, flexibility, strict neutrality and contacts at local level have been
key elements for Community intervention. Community programmes are based on the ‘peace dividend
approach’ and imply multi-sectoral capacity delivery, covering the whole spectrum from humanitarian aid
to relief through rehabilitation to development. Given the ‘peace dividend’ approach and the priority given
to contacts at local level, most Community interventions are implemented by European non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) and United Nations (UN) Agencies.

Given the prevailing circumstances, trade flows between Somalia and the Union are practically non-
existent.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/csp_rsp/csp_en.cfm

(2004/C 88 E/0040)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1630/03

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Subject: Forced sterilisation of Roma women

With reference to questions E-0575/03 (1) and E-0434/03 (2) by Nelly Maes and Erik Meijer on coerced
sterilisation of Roma women in Slovakia, I am astonished at the answers given.

In the answer to Mr Meijer, the Commission says: The Member of the Commission responsible for
Enlargement has immediately addressed this issue in a letter to Slovak Prime Minister Dzurinda,
underlining that these allegations are a matter of serious concern and if proved to be true, would
constitute a serious breach of human rights.

In its answer to Nelly, the Commission adds the following at phrase the end of the above sentence (cid:1)
‘provided the public authorities have supported, tolerated or not taken proper legal actions in this respect’.

One has to conclude from the above answer that a serious breach of human rights cannot exist unless the
government was aware of it and did not react appropriately.

Reports by the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) provide ample evidence that the government was
aware of this problem, which existed even before the creation of the Slovak State, still exists today and has
been the focus of continuous attention.

Does the Commission recognise that there are serious breaches of human rights in Slovakia and, if so,
what consequences are attached to these violations?

(1) OJ C 33 E, 6.2.2004, p. 55.
(2) See page 12.