WRITTEN QUESTION E-0096/04 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Israeli arms for Turkey in exchange for water.
Date: 2004-01-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Israel, Türkiye, accession to the European Union, arms trade, bilateral agreement, military equipment, water resources

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/679

The Commission is of the opinion that there are no loopholes in EU legislation but recognises
4. 5. & 6.
that there is a problem of control and enforcement of payment of duties and taxes on tobacco products
offered to final consumers via the internet and sent directly to them in postal consignments from third
countries or from another Member State. This problem is being actively investigated by the Commission’s
European Anti-Fraud Office and by the appropriate authorities in the Member States, with a view to
developing measures to combat this type of fraud.

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 918/83 of 28 March 1983 setting up a Community system of reliefs from customs
duty, OJ L 105, 23.4.1983. Regulation as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 355/94 of 14 February
1994, OJ L 46, 18.2.1994.

(2) Council Directive 78/1035/EEC of 19 December 1978 on the exemption from taxes of

imports of small
consignments of goods of a non-commercial character from third countries, OJ L 366, 28.12.1978. Directive as last
amended by Council Directive 85/576/EEC of 20 December 1985, OJ L 372, 31.12.1985.

(3) See page 146.

(2004/C 88 E/0697)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0085/04

by Matti Wuori (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(20 January 2004)

Subject: Missing NGO legal framework in Malta

Malta, which will become a member of the EU on 1 May next, has no legal framework for the regulation
of non-governmental organisations. This is hindering established NGOs,
including non-governmental
development organisations with an excellent track record, from developing their full capacities. Such a
framework would enable them to participate meaningfully in partnerships with other European NGOs.

Should not the Commission put pressure on the Maltese government to set up the necessary legal
framework without further delay? This would be a step in the right direction in recognising the expertise
and mandate of all established NGOs, including NGDOs working in the international development field,
and offering all the necessary support for NGOs and NGDOs to continue and further their global solidarity
work.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2004)

Community legislation does not oblige Member States to set up a legal framework for Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGOs). This is left to the discretion of Member States. This is, therefore, not an issue where
the Commission is entitled to ‘put pressure on the Maltese Government’.

The Commission has, throughout the pre-accession period, and whenever relevant and possible insisted
that Community-funded projects include participation from non-governmental organisations (NGOs). In
the framework of its support for NGOs, the Commission is prepared to consider specific projects related to
the implementation of Community legislation and policies in Malta.

(2004/C 88 E/0698)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0096/04

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Israeli arms for Turkey in exchange for water

(21 January 2004)

According to reports published on Monday, 5 January 2003, the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, and
the Turkish Energy Minister, Zeki Cakan, met in Jerusalem to finalise agreements between the two
countries whereby Turkey will be supplied with a large quantity of state-of-the-art Israeli tanks and ultra-

C 88 E/680

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

modern technology for its airforce. In exchange, Israel will receive 50 million cubic metres of water for a
period of twenty years from the River Manavgat in Anatolia, which will be transported by a fleet of
gigantic tankers currently being built in Israel, which is encountering serious problems with salinisation of
its water resources.

Since Turkey is a candidate for accession to the European Union, will the Commission say what it knows
about the content of the abovementioned agreements? Will it inform the European Parliament thereof?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2004)

The Commission does not have any specific knowledge nor has it been officially informed about the
contents of the agreements mentioned by the Honourable Member.

As the 1993 Copenhagen European Council stated,
‘membership requires that a candidate country has
achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and the respect of
and protection of minorities’. It is in particular against these criteria that the Commission will assess
Turkey’s progress towards accession in its next Regular Report.

(2004/C 88 E/0699)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0104/04

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Namibia (cid:1) Farms threatened with occupation

(22 January 2004)

Following the deadlock in negotiations between the Namibian Farmworkers Union (NAFU) and the
Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), which comprises most of the country’s farm-owners, NAFU has
announced that it intends to occupy certain farms, giving rise to fears of a re-run, although without official
support, of what has been happening in Zimbabwe. This situation has been reported in The Namibian
newspaper and some international media.

Tension continues to rise, with NAFU announcing that these actions could begin this month.

Since independence, Namibia has sought to establish a certain degree of equity with regard to land
ownership, by adopting the ‘willing seller, willing buyer’ programme, with the right of preference reserved
to those cases where the owner is seeking to sell, without taking or advocating any kind of violent or
forced expropriation measures.

With the next presidential election campaign drawing near, to appoint Sam Nujoma’s successor after
14 years in power, there are forecasts that this issue may be used as a way of stirring up the population,
and fears that people and property could, as a result, suffer greatly.

The Commission:

(cid:1) does it have any reliable information on this issue, and how does it see future developments;

(cid:1) has it established contacts, or will it do so, with the authorities, or the trade union headquarters or the
bosses’ unions in Namibia in this connection? What measures has it taken or will it take to try to
prevent the confrontation from worsening and dragging in other applicant countries;

(cid:1) does it believe that European interests are in any way threatened in Namibia? Has it obtained safety

guarantees from the Namibian Government? Will it do so;

(cid:1) would it be prepared to collaborate with the Namibian Government, should this be requested? Does it
believe the European Union could have a role in this issue as a potential means of reconciliation
between the parties at dispute?