WRITTEN QUESTION E-2562/03 by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Council. Compatibility between the violence perpetrated by the Sudanese dictatorial regime and the agreement initialled by the European Union and Sudan.
Date: 2003-08-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Sudan, agreement (EU), cease-fire, dictatorship, establishment of peace, government violence, peace, the EU's international role

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/31

(2004/C 84 E/0034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2562/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Council

(4 August 2003)

Subject: Compatibility between the violence perpetrated by the Sudanese dictatorial regime and the

agreement initialled by the European Union and Sudan

According to the press agency MISNA, during the clashes of the last few weeks between rebel forces and
the Sudanese government, Antonov aircraft of the Sudanese airforce have hit 25 villages in the north-west
of the western state of Darfur, using unspecified ‘toxic gases’ which are said to have killed 300 people and
injured more than 200 others.

The government of the President General Hassan Al Bashir has not yet responded to the accusation that he
wants to hit the population of Darfur, made by the Sudanese people’s liberation army (SPLM/A). Peace
talks between the Sudanese government and SPLM/A have been suspended yet again and the start of
discussions, scheduled for this week, has been postponed until 3 August.

On 11 July the government delegation refused to accept as a basis for the future talks the framework
agreement put forward by IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development), the regional organisation
of the countries of the Horn of Africa which is directing the negotiations, after the SPLM/A delegation had
publicly expressed its satisfaction with the document. Since it was signed in July last year no action has
been taken on the preliminary protocol of understanding between the two sides and the Khartoum
government seems to have no intention of giving up or sharing control over the oil-producing areas in the
south, the revenue produced or the new armed forces, which the dictator Al-Bashir has been employing to
murder people in Sudan for many years.

Can the Council say:

(cid:1) whether, in the light of these events, it intends to denounce the agreement initialled on 10 December
last year with the Sudanese government, since the latter is indiscriminately using its military arsenal
and does not seem to have any intention of implementing the Machakos protocol of July last year;

(cid:1) whether it considers that Al Bashir’s dictatorial regime, responsible for what amounts to genocide of

the non-Muslim population, can ensure peace, prosperity and security in Sudan;

(cid:1) whether it intends to take unified action on behalf of the European Union in all multilateral fora,
starting with the United Nations, to step up international pressure on the Sudanese government to
isolate its murderous dictator?

Reply

(8 March 2004)

Following the European Union’s decision to initiate a renewed political dialogue with the Government of
Sudan (GoS) in 1999, meetings take place in Khartoum to assess the progress in the areas of the dialogue
(human rights, democracy, the rule of law and the peace process). Recent focus has been on the peace
process. The outcome of these discussions is reflected in a joint EU-Sudan communiqué referred to by the
Honourable Member of Parliament in his question as the agreement of 10 December 2002.

On 3 September the GoS and the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), under the auspices of the Chadian
President, agreed on a cease-fire in Darfur. As regards the clashes between rebel forces and the GoS armed
forces in Darfur the Council has no information on the use of ‘toxic gases’. Nonetheless, the Council is
aware that the fighting in this region resulted in humanitarian disaster.

Despite interruptions during summer, the peace negotiations have moved forward meanwhile and an
agreement on security arrangements was reached between the GoS and the SPLM/A on 24 September.
Both parties also agreed to extend the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the cessation of hostilities
up to 30 November 2003. The EU encouraged both parties not to lose momentum in order to reach a
final and comprehensive agreement as soon as possible.

C 84 E/32

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

The EU is coordinating its diplomatic activities in particular with IGAD, within the IGAD Partner Forum,
the UN and the US according to its approach towards Sudan that all international actors should work
together in order to maximise the chances for a comprehensive peace agreement.

The Council believes that negotiating a comprehensive peace deal between the GoS and the SPLM/A is the
only way to stop the 20-year conflict. It will continue to accompany Sudan on the path of peace building,
respect of human rights, democracy and development.

(2004/C 84 E/0035)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2609/03

by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 August 2003)

Subject: Products in respect of which payment of premiums is directly linked to per-hectare yield

The consequences of the persistent drought in Europe are becoming increasingly clear. As a result of the
drought, European agricultural yields are well below the annual average. In anticipation of the decoupling
scheduled for 2004 in respect of those products where payment of premiums is directly linked to per-
hectare yield (such as starch potatoes), is the Commission prepared to make payment of the premium not
dependent on per-hectare yield but to make payments on the basis of average harvests in previous years?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2003)

The reform of the common agricultural policy adopted by the Council in June 2003 will enter into force
in 2005.

Therefore, the specific provisions on decoupling, the detailed rules for the application of which are
currently being drawn up so that the Commission can adopt a decision in the near future, may not be
applied before then.

It should be pointed out that, with the exception of starch potatoes, all arable crops already qualify for per-
hectare aid decoupled from actual yield.

The Honourable Member’s suggestion to anticipate the decisions on decoupling in the case of starch
potatoes cannot be followed. On the one hand, farmers would receive higher premiums but on the other,
farmers with few or no historical reference amounts would be heavily penalised.

It should also be pointed out that the Commission proposed that the reform should apply from 2004.
However, the Council insisted on postponing it by one year, with the possibility of extending this to 2007.

(2004/C 84 E/0036)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2624/03

by Michel-Ange Scarbonchi (GUE/NGL) to the Council

Subject: Establishment of a European civil protection corps

(2 September 2003)

The fires which recently swept through Europe, destroying several thousand hectares of vegetation,
highlighted the chronic lack of forest fire prevention and control resources. The Commission must respond
to such disasters with the utmost urgency.

While the existence of a European civil protection centre in which the EU Member States plus Iceland,
Norway and Liechtenstein are involved and the setting up on 18 August 2002 of a European Solidarity
Fund are a cause for some hope, given the devastating impact which fires have on the communities and