WRITTEN QUESTION E-3227/03 by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Indonesia.
Date: 2003-10-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Indonesia, fact-finding mission, human rights, humanitarian aid, international affairs, state of emergency, the EU's international role

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/495

The proposed reform will begin with the transfer of all or part of the current tobacco premium into
entitlements for the single farm payment. This transfer will be complete for producers who have up to
3,5 tons of production, and are the most vulnerable producers with limited possibilities to shift to other
crops. For the tranche between 3,5 tons up to 10 tons, 75 % of the current tobacco premium would be
incorporated into the single farm payment. The remaining 25 % would feed the proposed restructuring
envelope.

When implementing the reform for larger tobacco farms, the current tobacco premium, corresponding to
the tranche above 10 tons, will be decreased by one third at each of the first two one-year steps and will at
the third step be reduced to 45 % and incorporated into the single payment. In order to avoid major
changes in income at agricultural holding level
the remaining 55 % would be transferred to the
restructuring envelope. Those larger producers will have a partial reduction in aid, but their size has
better possibilities for a shift to other crops, and if this is the case they can in their reconversion benefit
from the structural envelope.

The budget allocations to the tobacco sector will remain the same and the part which is not distributed as
single payments will be transferred to a restructuring envelope. This will be utilised to contribute to
improve the infrastructure and support to tobacco producers in particular who want to shift to other
crops. In this respect, it should be noted that the funding in the envelope will be used in the tobacco
growing regions in those Member States where they are collected.

The foremost justification for the Commission when presenting this reform has been to seek a long term
perspective for the tobacco sector within the context of a sustainable agriculture. The 2003 Common
agricultural policy (CAP) Reform approach effectively breaks the link between product and support, such
that the single farm payment becomes a direct income support tool. On this basis, tobacco aid will be
included into the single farm payment along with the premiums for other crops such as hops, olive oil and
cotton. However, in addition, the Commission believes that greater coherence is needed, between the CAP
and the Union’s consumer, and public health policies. While the removal of product-related subsidies may
not directly influence the short term prevalence of cigarette smoking, as was the finding of a recent
Commission Extended Impact Assessment report (2), it is clear that a better coherence with public health
policies is essential to maintain the confidence and trust of Union citizens.

On the question of the possible introduction of tariff measures for tobacco, the Commission has no
intention and sees no reason to restrict imports of tobacco to the European Union.

(1) COM(2003) 698 final.
(2) COM(2003) 554 final also available on http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/capreform

(2004/C 78 E/0516)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3227/03

by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 October 2003)

Subject: Indonesia

Will the Commission press the Indonesian Government to ensure access to national and international
observers to allow the UN Special Representative of Human Rights Defenders and the Special UN
Rapporteur on Torture access to Aceh, to investigate the disappearance of Abdussalam Muhmad Deli, a
volunteer of PB-HAM East Aceh (Pos Bantuan Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia, Human Rights and Legal
Aid Post) who has been missing since Sunday 11 May 2003, and the killing of Raja Ismail, working in
Aceh Tamiang district as a volunteer of PB-HAM East Aceh, and to protect the security of human rights
defenders in Aceh and ensure that they can carry out their legitimate and important work free from fear of
human rights violations?

C 78 E/496

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 2003)

The situation in Aceh province is a matter of concern for the Union. In a recent statement, the Union and
the Community as ‘Co-Chairs’ of the ‘Tokyo preparatory Conference on Peace and Reconstruction in Aceh’
have expressed their concern for the extension of the state of military emergency in the province, hoping
that it will be ended as soon as possible.

The Union position is to encourage the Government during the state of military emergency to carry out its
activities with the minimum possible impact on the well-being of the people of Aceh and in an approach
that includes humanitarian aid, restoration of civil institutions and upholding the law.

The Commission also hopes that human suffering is minimized and that the transparency of the situation
in Aceh is improved. In this regard, the Commission continues to call for access to Aceh by international
agencies and relevant non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating for humanitarian purposes.

While the Community reiterates the commitment to the territorial integrity of Indonesia the Commission
is also firmly convinced that the conflict in Aceh can only be ended with a political solution.

In the field, the Commission’s Delegation in Jakarta is closely monitoring the evolution of the situation in
the Aceh province,
in co-ordination with the Member State missions in Indonesia, and despite the
difficulties to obtain reliable and verifiable information. In this framework, the Commission has received
from PB Ham Aceh Timur and from Kontras,
information about the disappearance of Abdussalam
Muhamad Deli and the killing of Raja Ismail, after his abduction in May 2003.

Unfortunately, a recently planned mission of political counsellors of several embassies to Aceh was
postponed at the last moment by the Indonesian authorities.

The Commission expressed its concern both to the Indonesian Foreign Minister and to President Megawati
Soekarnoputri on the occasion of recent meetings in Indonesia, insisting on the need to guarantee a proper
humanitarian assistance to the civilian population affected by the conflict. The Commission considers the
presence of human rights monitors equally important.

The Commission can assure the Honourable Member that it will continue following very closely the
situation. It will keep insisting with the Indonesian authorities to return to the negotiating table as soon as
possible and, meanwhile, to allow independent humanitarian aid to operate on the ground.

(2004/C 78 E/0517)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3230/03

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission

(31 October 2003)

Subject: Allocation of subsidies under the Interreg and Urban programmes

The projects funded with help from the Interreg and Urban programmes are generally held in high esteem.
They are often innovative and the mere requirement that the partners/bodies working together must come
from several different countries generates positive synergy which can help to create Community value.

Unfortunately, reports of problems have also come to my attention, problems which, in some cases, are so
serious as to undermine the positive impact of programmes and projects. In many cases, these problems
lead to disillusionment and a reluctance to submit fresh proposals.