WRITTEN QUESTION E-3604/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. East Timor — Emergency aid.
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: ECHO, East Timor, aid policy, emergency aid, food aid, humanitarian aid, use of aid

C 78 E/608

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Given the seriousness of ‘hidden’ illnesses, the category which can be said to include Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder, what specific steps does the Commission think could be taken both to remedy the lack of
information about the causes, symptoms, and consequences of this form of disability and to rehabilitate
and integrate the sufferers? Will it take any action in this area?

(1) OJ C 175, 24.7.2003, p. 1.

Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2004)

The specific issue of the integration of people disabled as a result of their participation in military action is
the responsibility of the Member States.

However, the Commission has a long tradition of promoting the rights and the inclusion of disabled
people in social and economic life. To quote just a few examples: the European Social Fund contributes to
the integration of disabled people in the labour market. Other Community funds (1) are used to improve
health infrastructures, promote the social inclusion of disabled people in society, combat discrimination,
etc. Moreover, on the basis of a proposal from the Commission, the Council has adopted Directive 2000/
78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and
occupation (2). This Directive prohibits any discrimination, direct or indirect, based on belief, disability, age
or sexual orientation. It is also to be hoped that it will help to improve the low employment rate among
disabled people who can work. In the context of its external and development aid policy, the Commission
supports projects contributing to the reintegration of disabled people in active life, the improvement of
rehabilitation systems, etc.

As part of the European Year of People with Disabilities in 2003, and to keep disability high on the
European political agenda, the Commission adopted a Communication entitled ‘Equal opportunities for
people with disabilities: A European Action Plan’ (3), with the aim of establishing a long-term, operational
approach to disability for the future, taking into account the forthcoming enlargement of the EU. The
Communication provides for a multiannual Action Plan to mainstream disability issues into relevant
Community policies and develop concrete actions in crucial areas to enhance the full integration of people
with disabilities in society and the economy by 2010.

In implementing the health information and knowledge strand of the Public Health Programme, the
Commission has set up a working party on mental health to improve the information available in the area
of mental disorders, develop relevant mental health indicators and make them operational. The working
party on mental health met for the first time in November 2003. A specific task force for mental health
indicators has been established. Research into and the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are not
covered by the Public Health Programme.

(1)

FEDER, Community programmes in the area of education, training and youth, the EQUAL initiative, the Anti-
discrimination programme, the programme to combat social exclusion, etc.

(2) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000.
(3) COM(2003) 650.

(2004/C 78 E/0643)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3604/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject: East Timor (cid:1) Emergency aid

The Commission has announced its intention to grant EUR 2 million in humanitarian aid to the
population of East Timor to help combat drought and the food shortage.

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C 78 E/609

According to the Commission, although the reconstruction effort is now under way, 110 000 people will
need emergency food aid between November 2003 and March 2004.

Can the Commission answer the following:

(cid:1) for what specific measures will this humanitarian aid be used;

(cid:1) has any timetable been approved for the operation;

(cid:1) in what regions will the operation be carried out;

(cid:1) who in the Timorese Government will be chiefly responsible for implementation of the aid;

(cid:1) how will the Commission oversee delivery and use of the aid;

(cid:1) will it agree to increase the aid if it proves insufficient?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2004)

The objective of the approved humanitarian aid is to enable affected families of East Timor to meet their
most immediate food security needs following the floods and drought of 2003.

The main components of the aid are the following:

(cid:1) Food aid distribution to 110 000 victims in the highland areas in Alieu, Ainaro, Ermera, Bobonaro,
Covalima, Baucau, and in the remote and more isolated areas such as Oecussi, Lautem and Atauro
Island.

(cid:1) Emergency agricultural assistance (well-adapted certified quality seed, fertilizer and simple hand tools)
for 8 200 drought- and flood-affected farming households to restart crop production in the
forthcoming planting season.

(cid:1) Therapeutic and supplementary feeding for an acute by malnourished population and seed distribution

in the Districts of Bobonaro, Cova Lima and Liquica.

The operations started in October 2003 (agricultural assistance) and November 2003 (food and nutritional
aid). Each operation will last six months.

According to the European Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) regulations, only ECHO partners can be
responsible for the implementation of aid approved by ECHO. National Governments are not eligible as
ECHO partners.

In the current case, the organisations responsible for the implementation of the aid are:

(cid:1) World Food Programme: Food aid;

(cid:1) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): Agricultural assistance; and

(cid:1) CARE Austria: Nutritional care and seed distribution.

In addition, World Vision Germany is finalizing a project proposal for food aid, which is likely to be
approved in January 2004.

Although not directly responsible for implementation, the Government of East Timor is fully involved. The
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Labour and Solidarity, the Territorial Administration
and Local Development (ALDG), the Ministry of State Administration and the National Management
Disaster Office will oversee the implementation and participate to different degrees. To this end, various
agreements between the Government and ECHO partners have been signed or are in the process of being
signed.

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ECHO will monitor the implementation of the project through its Technical Assistant in charge of Laos,
Indonesia and East Timor, who is based in Bangkok but will undertake several field monitoring visits
during project implementation. A mission of the Desk Officer in charge in Brussels is also foreseen for the
first quarter of 2004.

The allocation of ECHO funds is based on existing humanitarian needs. Should urgent humanitarian needs
persist at the end of the implementation of the ongoing projects, ECHO could consider increasing the aid
allocated to East Timor. However, this is unlikely at this stage.

(2004/C 78 E/0644)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3608/03

by Marco Pannella (NI), Maurizio Turco (NI),
Marco Cappato (NI), Gianfranco Dell’Alba (NI),
Benedetto Della Vedova (NI)
and Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject: Violation of the rights of the Çam minority

In June 1944, 44 000 Albanians of Muslim origin were forcibly driven out of Çameria after being accused
of collaborating with the Nazi occupying forces. This was the final stage in a process of genocide against
these people, whose movable and immovable property was also confiscated (land, houses, livestock and
household equipment).

The Çam population belonging to the Orthodox faith who remained in Çameria do not enjoy the rights
recognised by the European Union, in particular the rights of ethnic and linguistic minorities and the right
to learn Albanian in Albanian schools, which are banned by the Greek government.

Only if these two minorities are granted political and legal equality in Greece and Albania can relations of
sincere and stable friendship be established between the different peoples and countries.

Can the Commission say what steps it will take to ensure that the Albanian population of Muslim origin
forcibly removed from Çameria may return to their land of origin and be entitled to reacquire their
property and be compensated for damage to their assets?

And can it say what steps it will take to ensure that the Albanian population belonging to the Orthodox
faith remaining in Çameria are allowed to use the Albanian language in official transactions and to enjoy
full civil rights in Greece, in the same way as the Greek minority in Albania?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(3 February 2004)

The Commission is aware of the claims of a part of Albanian population that their rights are not fully
respected in Greece, notably as regards the properties confiscated at the end of World War II.

this issue is mainly a bilateral

The Commission considers that
issue between Albania and Greece.
Nonetheless, the Commission would like to point out that some positive developments have been observed
during 2003. High level meetings (i.e. between Prime Minister Nano and Prime Minister Simitis) have taken
place with the objective, amongst others, of addressing issues such as the validity of the so-called ‘Law of
War’ (established by Greece and allegedly applied to Albanians), the access of the Albania population to
Greek Courts to claim their rights, and the response of these Courts. The Commission noted that Mr Nano,
during a session of the Albanian Parliament (15/05/03), has stated that the Albanian government considers
that the ‘State of War’ does not exist anymore since the two countries have signed on 21 March 1996 a
Friendship and Co-operation Agreement. The ‘State of War’ belongs to the past, concluded Mr Nano. At the
same time the Chief of the Democratic Party, Mr Sali Berisha (main opposition Party) has also declared that
actually there is no ‘State of War’ between Greece and Albania. While the matter of confiscated properties
remains controversial, this can be considered progress in the right direction.