WRITTEN QUESTION E-2229/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Oil revenue, Angola, transparency.
Date: 2003-07-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Angola, administrative transparency, budgetary resources, exploitation of resources, financial management, petroleum

C 88 E/74

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(7 August 2003)

There is no secret agreement on nuclear energy with either China or with Iran.

The Council adopted on 11 June 2003 negotiation directives for a future Euratom-China agreement.
This agreement will be focused on research and its main objective should be to facilitate Chinese research
institutions to have an access to the 6th Euratom Framework Programme (FP6) similar to the one they
have to the overall 6th Framework Programme (EC FP6). The Chinese have always indicated that they are
interested only in a research agreement and this view is shared by Members States who unanimously
approved the directives.

There is no Euratom-Iran agreement and there is no draft for negotiation directives for such an agreement.
Nevertheless, the Commission would like to recall that Iran is party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and
that there is a full scope Safeguards Agreement between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA), which entered into force on 15 May 1974. For the time being, there is no Additional Protocol on
strengthening safeguards between Iran and the IAEA.

The Commission is negotiating a Trade and Co-operation Agreement with Iran linked to parallel
negotiations on an Agreement on political dialogue and fight against terrorism. These negotiations could
lead to the first contractual agreement between the EU and the Islamic Republic, and could pave the way
for closer economic and political ties. The EU pursues a comprehensive dialogue approach in its relations
with Iran, covering bilateral, regional and global issues, including matters of human rights, terrorism and
non-proliferation.

Since 1999, the Commission has been discussing non-nuclear energy issues in a high-level working group.
Detailed information on the last meeting of the EU-Iran energy working group in October 2002 is
available at the web-site of the Commission (1).

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy_transport/en/enlarg_2_en.html

(2004/C 88 E/0081)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2229/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(2 July 2003)

Subject: Oil revenue, Angola, transparency

According to a press release from the NGO Global Witness, issued on 20 June 2003, the Deputy Prime
Minister of Angola, Aguinaldo Jaime, has given significant public commitments regarding the future
transparency of revenue from oil exploration off the Angolan coast.

The relevant excerpt from the press release from Global Witness reads as follows: ‘In the past, we had off-
budget transactions, so the budget lacked credibility,’Angolan Deputy Prime Minister Aguinaldo Jaime said
in a speech at an oil industry conference in London.‘For the first time in Angola’s history, the budget will
encompass all revenue and that will send to the donor community the signal
the Angolan
Government is committed to a fully transparent way of managing the budget.’
‘Jaime clarified that these
figures will include all the country’s oil revenues.’

that

Is the Commission aware of these statements by the Deputy Prime Minister, Aguinaldo Jaime?

Is it aware of other similar undertakings given by the Angolan Government?

Bearing in mind the positions already expressed in this regard by the Council and Commission, as well as
by other international bodies, does the Commission have any firm information that commitments of this
nature given by the Angolan Government are already being acted on or will be put into effect very
shortly? In the Commission’s view, what impact might positive developments in this key political and
financial dossier have on the planned (cid:1) and constantly postponed (cid:1) Donors’ Conference aimed at
supporting the country’s reconstruction?

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/75

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(9 September 2003)

The Commission is aware of the statement made by Angolan Deputy Prime Minister Aguinaldo Jaime and
welcomes the government’s commitment towards more budgetary transparency. The cabinet reshuffle in
December 2002, in which a new economic team moved into government, gave hope for more transparent
economic and financial management. However, experiences in the past have not been positive and it
remains to be seen whether real improvements will actually come about.

The international community, including the Commission, continues to urge the government to embrace
transparent budgetary management, in particular of oil and diamond revenues and provides support for
this. Thus, during his visit to Angola in January 2003 in meetings with government representatives and
President dos Santos, the Member of the Commission in charge of Development and Cooperation explicitly
emphasised the need for a transparent management of the revenues of the country’s vast natural resources
to the benefit of all Angolans. He furthermore underlined that such action would also contribute to a
stable and predictable environment, which is a prerequisite to attract urgently needed foreign investment.

A programme to assist the government in managing public expenditure and improving the management of
oil and tax revenues forms part of the World Bank’s Transitional Support Strategy (TSS) for post-war
Angola. The EC/Angola co-operation strategy 2002-2007, which was signed during the visit of the
Member of the Commission in charge of Development and Cooperation in January, also contains a
component targeting the improvement of financial management.

The Commission and the international community have repeatedly underlined that an improvement of
Angola’s relationship with the International Monetary Union (IMF), which includes progress in trans-
parency and accountability, would be essential
the donors’ conference on the
reconstruction of Angola, a second vital element being a credible poverty reduction strategy. If Angola is
indeed able to honour the commitment made by the Deputy Prime Minister, this will have a positive
bearing on the country’s relationship with the IMF and thus facilitate the holding of the conference.

for the success of

(2004/C 88 E/0082)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2244/03

by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

(7 July 2003)

Subject: Wild birds directive in Malta

Beyond the transition agreement for the trapping of finches, is the Commission satisfied that Malta will be
able to comply with the Wild Birds Directive 79/409/EEC (1) from the date of its accession to the EU? If the
Commission is not satisfied that Malta will be able to comply, what action does it intend to take?

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 2003)

The Commission will continue to monitor legislative progress made by Malta and other Acceding
Countries till 1 May 2004. This analysis will be reflected in the comprehensive monitoring report that will
be published in November 2003.

When Malta becomes a member of the Union, the Commission will verify that Council Directive 79/409/
EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds has been correctly transposed as it does for all
Member States. Should Malta not comply with the Directive then the Commission will consider the action
to be taken on the basis of the EC Treaty provisions.