91996E0882

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0882/96 by Maartje van Putten (PSE) to the Commission (17 April 1996)

Subject: Involvement of politicians in the illegal trade in timber in Cambodia and Thailand

Is the Commission aware of reports ((The Times, 1 March 1996. )) asserting that politicians in Bangkok and Phnom Penh are involved in the authorization of logging activities by foreign enterprises to such an extent that virtually all valuable tropical timber in Cambodia (a large proportion of which is still unfelled) is already sold?

Is the Commission also aware of the fact that the authorization of such logging is not the result of a democratic decision-making process but rather of extra-parliamentary procedures on the basis of decisions taken by individual politicians who themselves obtain large financial benefits from such decisions?

In view of the high level of European Union development aid to Cambodia (nearly US$ 93 million),

1. Has the Commission investigated the reports of illegal logging further or is it still in the process of doing so?

2. In the event that such an investigation were to confirm these reports, would the Commission be prepared to remind the governments of Cambodia and Thailand of their responsibilities and to urge them to put a stop to these illegal activities, if necessary on pain of a reduction in financial aid?

Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (30 April 1996)

The Commission is aware of the recent report by Global witness on illegal logging in Cambodia. The alleged involvement of Thai companies in illegal logging in Cambodia has been touched on before by the Commission.

The Commission has contacted the governments concerned and received the assurance that they were not involved in any kind of illegal activities. The Commission will continue to express its concern, and is prepared to raise this issue again in the course of normal exchanges with these governments.