WRITTEN QUESTION P-3246/03 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Council. Somalia: internal situation, refugees and terrorism.
Date: 2003-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, Somalia, democratisation, establishment of peace, humanitarian aid, international negotiations, refugee, religious fundamentalism, terrorism

C 84 E/226

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3.4.2004

The Council understands that the legislation which was given final approval by Congress on 12 November
2003 does not contain the provisions which would have been potentially harmful for the EU industry.

(2004/C 84 E/0271)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3246/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Council

(27 October 2003)

Subject: Somalia: internal situation, refugees and terrorism

The deaths (through hunger, poverty and drowning) of a number of Somali refugees (mostly from
Mogadishu) which have occurred off the Italian coast are a reminder of the thousands of Somalis who have
died since 1991 in the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea whilst desperately fleeing a
dictatorial regime linked to the Islamic fundamentalism which is responsible for the deaths of the lay
missionary Tonelli and of two UK citizens belonging to the SOS organisation and which is represented by
terrorist organisations such as Al-Ittihad and Al-Islah.

Knowing that:

(cid:1) the interim president, Salad Hassan (who, according to the list of international terrorist organisations,
was some months ago deposed as head of Al-Islah), has walked out of the Nairobi Conference (which
has been going on for over a year) and is allegedly calling for annulment of all that the Somali
representatives have agreed at Nairobi under the eyes of international observers and (once again) for a
Reconciliation Conference to be held in Mogadishu (cid:1) a city from which Somalis are escaping even if
in so doing they are putting their own lives at risk;

(cid:1) the leader of the Transitional National Government has denounced Somali leaders who report ‘Muslim
brothers’ accused of terrorism to the Kenyans and to the Americans and has requested the release of
the USD 8,5 million belonging to the Al-Barakat financial network on the grounds that the funds are
private ones and include money which is his;

(cid:1) in Somalia, militiamen who rebel against fundamentalism and terrorism continue to be murdered or
executed and it appears that Mogadishu’s ‘new coalition’ includes Jumale, the Al-Barakat leader who
has already been expelled from the United Arab Emirates.

In the light of the above information, can the Council:

1.

galvanise diplomatic circles in order to bring the Nairobi Conference to an end and to provide Somalia
with a federal government which will take the action required in order to enable democratic elections
to be held?

2. make active efforts with a view to eradicating terrorism and isolating those who, in recent years, have
more or less openly accepted and protected the terrorist groupings which have links with Al-Qaeda
and which are responsible,
inter alia, for the attacks carried out in Nairobi, Dar-es-Salaam and
Mombasa?

3.

launch (either on its own or in conjunction with the UN) a humanitarian-aid programme for the local
people?

Reply

(9 March 2004)

1.
The Council believes that a comprehensive and broad-based peace agreement between the different
factions is the most effective way to achieve sustainable peace and to establish a federal
Somali
government. The EU has been actively supporting the IGAD sponsored peace and reconciliation process by
making its position clear in public conclusions and declarations and by diplomatic démarches with the
main players. The EU as part of the international observer group attending the Conference is determined to
help bring the Nairobi Conference to a successful end. Despite recurrent setbacks in the talks it will
continue with its efforts and impress upon all Somali leaders the need to maintain the momentum in the

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peace process and to abstain from any action that may disrupt the Conference. Substantial financial
support has been provided by the EU, apart from Member States’ bilateral contributions, the Commission
has provided EUR 5,6 million to the peace process.

As to the fight against terrorism the EU is closely following the situation in Somalia. EU measures to
2.
facilitate police and judicial co-operation within the EU,
including a European arrest warrant and a
common definition of terrorism will also make it easier to combat terrorism with connections to Somalia.

In addition the EU has been playing an active role in the fight against the funding of terrorism, in particular
through the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 1373/2001 on the freezing of assets. The
Council recalls that the EU strictly abides by the Security Council stipulations regarding the list established
under resolutions 1267/1999 and 1333/2000 and referring to individuals and organizations belonging to
or associated with the Taliban and Al-Qaida including in Somalia.

3.
Despite the difficult situation in Somalia, the EU has been active in providing humanitarian assistance
to the Somali people. The European Commission in particular has been continuously present in the
country where it plays a central role in the donor community. An amount of EUR 25 million in
disbursements is being foreseen in 2003. The special aid package of EUR 199 million decided for the
period 2002-2007 will provide for this level to be sustained in the years to come.

(2004/C 84 E/0272)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3248/03

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(3 November 2003)

Subject: Possibility of tracking cellphone users

Information has recently come to light regarding the commercial possibilities offered by mobile telephony
networks which are being exploited by at least six companies in Great Britain, making it possible to
pinpoint the location of a cellphone user at a very low monthly cost (EUR 7,5). Clearly this opens the door
to the exploitation of sensitive personal information, for example by employers wishing to know where
their employees are at any given moment. A number of ideas were also put forward regarding a code of
conduct on the part of these companies which in theory, offer protection to cellphone users who do not
wish their whereabouts to be divulged. The arguments put forward however were singularly unconvincing,
given the danger of the emergence of a surveillance mentality with unforeseeable consequences.

What action does the Council
telephony to track their movements?

intend to take to protect European citizens from the use of mobile

Reply

(9 March 2004)

1.
Agreements between network operators, service providers and customers of mobile telephone
communications are to be negotiated between them, in respect of existing provisions, especially those for
data protection.

As concerns lawful interception of telecommunications, the Council has adopted a Resolution which

2.
reaffirms the need to observe the right of individuals to respect for their privacy (1).

(1) OJ C 329, 4.11.1996, p. 1.