WRITTEN QUESTION P-3697/03 by Luigi Vinci (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Return to Turkey of refugees of Turkish origin.
Date: 2003-12-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Kurdistan question, Türkiye, UNHCR, aid to refugees, return migration, the EU's international role

C 78 E/630

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Can the Commission say whether the projects submitted actually received funding and, if not, why they
were not considered suitable?

Have any other projects been submitted in the meantime?

(1) OJ C 51 E, 26.2.2004, p. 62.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3690/03, E-3691/03 and E-3692/03
given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(19 January 2004)

In 2003 the Daphne programme received the following proposals from the municipalities in question:

(cid:1) two proposals from the municipality of Florence: Education and Youth Policy Department, Education

Unit;

(cid:1) one proposal for the municipality of Pesaro: Social Services;

(cid:1) one proposal from the municipality of Siena: Equal Opportunities Committee.

The Commission did not accept these proposals for Community funding because they were not of the
required quality.

The applicants were duly informed of this decision as well as of the reasons why the proposals were
rejected. Moreover, in its correspondence, the Commission indicated which aspects of the proposal needed
to be improved.

It also stated that new proposals could, of course, be submitted under the next call for proposals in 2004.

Since there was no further call for proposals in 2003, the Commission did not receive any other proposal.

(2004/C 78 E/0666)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3697/03

by Luigi Vinci (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(3 December 2003)

Subject: Return to Turkey of refugees of Turkish origin

The government in Ankara and the UNHCR have reached an agreement on the repatriation to Turkey of
around 9,500 refugees of Kurdish origin, who have been living in the camp at Mahmur in northern Iraq
since 1998.

Is the Commission involved in this issue? If not, does it not consider that proper financial involvement is
needed to guarantee that the refugees from Mahmur return voluntarily and to ensure that they are safe
from any repressive action on the part of the Turkish security forces, who are known for their anti-Kurdish
attitude?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(20 January 2004)

The Commission is aware of the ongoing discussions between the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR), the Turkish government and the United States government regarding the return to
Turkey of refugees of Kurdish origin, living in the camp at Mahmur in Northern Iraq.

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/631

The UNHCR has informed the Commission that the next round of high level discussions on a tripartite
agreement is due to take place in Ankara on 21 January.

As far as financial involvement is concerned, the UNHCR has expressed its intention to establish a project
to ensure the successful repatriation of these people and has suggested that one source of funding be the
Union. This will be subject to consideration once the parties have reached an agreement.

(2004/C 78 E/0667)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3699/03

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 December 2003)

Subject: Objective 1 areas in Connacht/Ulster (Ireland)

My Connacht/Ulster constituency at present comprises 8 ‘Objective 1’ counties. After the 2004 European
elections, the constituency of Connacht/Ulster will be renamed and enlarged. One county will be added,
which, at present, has ‘Objective 1 in transition’ status. This county is County Clare, at present in the
Munster constituency.

Can the European Commission inform me if the enlarged constituency will then comprise 8 ‘Objective 1
in transition’ counties and can you also inform me of the proposed status of County Clare?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2004)

The regions eligible under Objective 1 of the Structural Funds, including the regions in transition, are those
that were decided by the Commission on 1 July 1999 (1) in accordance with the procedure foreseen in
Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) no. 1260/1999. This decision is unaffected by subsequent changes in
administrative boundaries in the Member States. The eight counties of Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim,
Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon and Sligo remain eligible for Objective 1 until 31 December 2006 while
Clare will remain eligible for Objective 1 in transition.

(1) 1999/502/CE.

(2004/C 78 E/0668)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3702/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(10 December 2003)

Subject: EC-Macau Joint Committee (cid:1) tenth meeting

Under the terms of the EU-Macau cooperation agreement, in force since 1 January 1993, an EC-Macau
Joint Committee was established, to meet annually, on the territory of each signatory year about.

To date there is no news of the scheduling or holding of the tenth meeting, which should take place in
2003.

No official specifically responsible for EU cooperation with Macau has yet been appointed, capable of
getting bilateral cooperation moving on the ground in Macau.