WRITTEN QUESTION E-3253/03 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Somalia: internal situation, refugees and terrorism.
Date: 2003-11-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Somalia, aid policy, economic sanctions, humanitarian aid, political situation, terrorism

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/457

2. Does this project potentially infringe the human rights and minority rights of the people living along
the pipeline route in Turkey, such as through the expropriation of land without proper compensation?

3. What is the potential environmental impact of the project, and has a proper environmental impact

assessment been carried out?

Joint answer
to Written Questions P-3247/03 and E-3249/03
given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(19 November 2003)

In its regular report on Turkey’s progress towards accession published on 5 November 2003 (1), the
Commission sets out its assessment of developments over the last year and the overall situation with
regard to human rights and the protection of minorities.

As regards the specific questions raised by the Honourable Member concerning the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline project, any potential violations as regards human rights or the protection of minorities arising
from the implementation of the pipeline project would have to be considered in the context of the
Copenhagen political criteria. Turkey is at this stage not bound by the environmental ‘acquis’, but the
Commission is aware that environmental impact assessments have been carried out for this project, for
example, to meet the conditions of international lending organisations.

(1) COM(2003) 676 final.

(2004/C 88 E/0469)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3253/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Somalia: internal situation, refugees and terrorism

(3 November 2003)

The deaths of various Somali refugees, mostly from Mogadishu, close to the Italian coast, due to hunger,
fatigue and drowning, reminds us of the thousands of Somalis who have died since 1991 in the Indian
Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. All of them were desperately fleeing a dictatorial system linked
to the Islamic fundamentalism which was responsible for the deaths of lay missionary Annalena Tonelli
and two British nationals working for SOS and is represented by terrorist organisations such as Al-Ittihad
and Al-Islah.

Interim President Salad Hassan, whose term of office expired several months ago and who, according to
the list of international terrorist organisations, is leader of Al-Islah, has left the Nairobi Conference, which
was convened over a year ago, and asked for the decisions agreed to in Nairobi by representatives of the
Somali state in the presence of
international observers to be annulled in order to hold a new
Reconciliation Conference in Mogadishu, a city which Somalis are fleeing, at the cost of their own lives.

The President of the Transitional National Government (TNG) has issued a proclamation against the Somali
leaders, who denounce ‘Muslim brothers’ accused of terrorism to the Kenyans and Americans, and has
called for the USD 8,5 million of the Al-Barakat financial network to be frozen, claiming that they are
private funds, including his own.

In Somalia there are regular murders and executions of militiamen involved in fighting fundamentalism
and terrorism. It would seem that the ‘new coalition’ in Mogadishu includes Jumale, the chairman of Al-
Barakat, who was expelled from the Arab Emirates.

C 88 E/458

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

1. Will the Commission take vigorous diplomatic action to ensure that the Nairobi Conference is
brought to a successful conclusion and that Somalia is given a federal government to take the necessary
measures to hold democratic elections?

2. Will the Commission take real steps to root out terrorism and isolate those who have, in recent
years, openly or indirectly accepted or protected terrorist groups linked to Al Qaeda which have been
responsible for bomb attacks in Nairobi, Dar-el-Salam and Mombasa?

Can the Commission launch (cid:1) independently or in cooperation with the United Nations (cid:1) a plan of

3.
humanitarian aid for the local population?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2003)

The Commission has been actively supporting the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
peace conference held in Kenya since it started in October 2002. The Commission has provided a
substantial financial contribution to the process (EUR 5,6 million) and is part of the international observer
group attending the Conference.

The Commission has also participated in several Union troika missions, at different levels, aimed at
drawing the attention of key international stakeholders to the Somali situation and urging them to support
the IGAD peace talks.

The legal basis for the European fight against terrorism, a priority policy objective for the Union, is to be
found in the so-called ‘third pillar’, namely in the provisions on police and judicial co-operation in criminal
matters. In this context the Commission has tabled several proposals to facilitate police and judicial co-
operation including a European arrest warrant and a common definition of terrorism. In addition the
Commission, together with Member States, has been playing an active role in the combat against the
funding of terrorism including the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions
1373/2001, freezing of assets, and 1390/2002 on the Taliban sanctions regime.

The Commission further recalls that it 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.

Despite the difficult situation in Somalia, the Commission has been continuously present in the country
where it plays a central role in the donor community. EUR 25 million in disbursements are foreseen in
2003 in the full continuum ranging from humanitarian aid, to relief, rehabilitation and development. This
will be sustained in the years to come with the implementation of the special aid package to Somalia
which made available EUR 199 million for the period 2002-2007. In addition, the Commission will
including humanitarian aid through its
continue to mobilise funds
Humanitarian Aid Office.

from its own budget

lines,

(2004/C 88 E/0470)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3270/03

by Baroness Sarah Ludford (ELDR) to the Commission

(4 November 2003)

Subject: Progress in Cameroon

In the context of the donors’ meeting on Cameroon scheduled for 29 October 2003, what reports has the
Commission received on progress towards democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Cameroon? In
particular, is the Commission satisfied that the necessary reforms are being implemented to enable a free
and fair Presidential election to be held in October 2004?