WRITTEN QUESTION E-3395/03 by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission. Freedom of movement for Kosovo citizens in the EU and the final status of Kosovo.
Date: 2003-11-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU visa policy, Kosovo, admission of aliens, foreign national, free movement of persons, political status, residence permit, work permit

C 78 E/278

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Up until 2012 a common competitive scheme with tendering procedures will be fully implemented. NCBs
with in-house/public printing works will be allowed to opt out from this scheme.

Community legislation, notably Council Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 (1), among others provides
7.
for a number of responsibilities at National and Community levels. National authorities have been
designated in each of the Member States, among others National Central Banks. These authorities have
been assigned with specific responsibilities with respect to the fight against euro counterfeiting and co-
operate closely with each other and with the European institutions (ECB, Commission and Europol).
Particularly, ensuring continued public confidence in circulating euro banknotes is a crucial part of the
public task entrusted to the Eurosystem. There is no intention to share this with private cash service
companies.

8.
The Commission is collaborating with Member States in the preparation of legislation aimed at the
timely detection of counterfeits, so as to maximise the protection of the public and ensure the authenticity
of the circulating euro banknotes and coins. Some Member States have initiated specific legislative
measures aimed at detecting counterfeit banknotes before they enter into circulation, to complement the
Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001, and a number of National Central Banks have issued legal acts
which clarify the obligations of and provide guidance to professional cash handlers on acceptable standards
for the sorting of euro banknotes. In addition, the National Central Banks have all (cid:1) depending on the
situation in their respective Member States (cid:1) taken other appropriate measures, such as providing training
for the staff of professional cash handlers.

The ECB has issued Terms of Reference for customer-operated cash recycling machines requiring that such
machines be able to register/identify counterfeit and suspect counterfeit banknotes, as well as the respective
account holder to help with retraceability of attempted deposits of counterfeits. In line with these, National
Central Banks have taken appropriate measures aimed at ensuring that such dispensing machines check
each banknote for authenticity and fitness, thus contributing to the detection of euro counterfeits before
they reach the public.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 of 28 June 2001 laying down measures necessary for the protection of the

euro against counterfeiting, OJ L 181, 4.7.2001.

(2004/C 78 E/0279)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3395/03

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(17 November 2003)

Subject: Freedom of movement for Kosovo citizens in the EU and the final status of Kosovo

Under EU legislation, Kosovo citizens have no legal means of moving, whether short term or long term,
within the territory of the Union’s Member States in search of employment. (The Western Balkans and the
European Union: Liberalising Movement of Persons’, ILPA, Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association, UK,
March 2003). This means that there is no short-term prospect of resolving the problem of the powder keg
represented by mass unemployment in Kosovo.

In this connection, the former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General
in Kosovo, Michael
Steiner, has stated that the astronomical unemployment rate and devastating poverty in Kosovo are
obstacles to lasting peace in the region. (SRSG, 2002).

The distinguished Balkan specialist, Misha Glenny, wrote in the Guardian of 9 September 2003 that unless
we find a way, as a matter of extreme urgency, of achieving controlled release of the pressure which has
been building in Kosovo since 1999, we will be facing a very real danger of explosion in the near future.

While the final constitutional status of Kosovo remains, unfortunately, in suspense, no outside investment
in the Kosovo economy is possible. (From this point of view, the impasse in which the EU and the UN find
themselves with regard to the chaotic situation of legislation on property rights is only the most recent
in
example of these difficulties (Institute of War and Peace Reporting, October 2003). These factors,

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Official Journal of the European Union

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combination with the drastic reduction in opportunities of finding employment in the EU, condemn
Kosovo to destitution on an indefinite basis. Under these circumstances, the EP resolution of 5 June 2003,
expressing Parliament’s lively concern regarding the economic and social situation in the Western Balkans,
and calling for maximum priority to be given to eliminating the visa obligations for the EU, is quite
particularly urgent in the case of Kosovo.

What are the Commission’s proposals with regard to getting rid of visa obligations for the citizens of
Kosovo, a small country devastated by war? What are the Commission’s proposals with regard to Kosovo’s
final constitutional status?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2004)

Since June 1999, Kosovo is under interim United Nation administration pursuant to the United Nation
Security Council Resolution 1244.

As regards (short-term) Schengen-visas nationals of all countries in the region except Croatia are subject to
the visa obligation in accordance with Council Regulation 539/2001. It should be underlined that short-
term-Schengen-visas are not issued for immigration purposes in the Schengen States. Kosovar citizens,
who hold travel documents issued by the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (which is a travel document
recognised by all Schengen states) can apply for a Schengen visa for a short stay visit. In order to obtain a
Schengen visa, they have to fulfil all the relevant conditions laid down in the ‘acquis’ (in particular in the
Common Consular Instructions part III).

As regards the possibility to move ‘to take up employment in the Member States’, this requires a work
permit. The Commission has made a proposal (directive) on the conditions of entry and residence of third-
country nationals for the purpose of paid employment and self-employed activities (cid:1) this draft is still
being discussed in the Council. At present, Member States decide alone about the conditions to grant a
work permit to third country nationals (except in specific cases: e.g. third country national is a member of
the family of an Union citizen exercising his/her right of family reunification).

As regards the ‘final constitutional status of Kosovo’, the strategy followed by the international community
is the United Nations ‘standards before status’ policy, according to which no discussion for the settlement
of the final status can start unless Kosovo has attained a number of standards (e.g.
functioning of
democratic institutions, rule of law, freedom of movement, sustainable return of displaced people and
minority rights).

Currently, the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (Unmik) is trying (cid:1) with the
support of the international community, including the Union (cid:1) to establish a work plan and a timetable
for the implementation and close monitoring of the standards. The Contact Group has made it clear that
final status discussions could begin by mid 2005 provided sufficient progress has been made on this work
plan by then.

(2004/C 78 E/0280)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3397/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(17 November 2003)

Subject: Dental instruments and risk of infections

Numerous studies carried out in Italy and worldwide have shown that infections, including those of a
severe nature, can be caused by dental instruments. The water and air tubes often go unchanged for years:
a biofilm forms inside them which creates a favourable breeding-ground for bacterial and viral colonies.
The tubes which hold an aspirator a few centimetres away from an open cavity are infected throughout