92001E2649

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2649/01

by Frank Vanhecke (NI) to the Council

(3 October 2001)

Subject: Problems in Zimbabwe

At the recent Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa, participants devoted much attention to the Western world's legacy of responsibility for crimes against Africa.

Today in Zimbabwe, thousands of white farmers are falling victim to President Mugabe's racist expropriation policy.

Did European Union representatives at the Durban conference discuss these problems, either formally or informally?

If so, what conclusions were drawn?

Irrespective of the Durban conference, the situation in Zimbabwe remains very much a burning issue. What pressure will the Council bring to bear and what means will it use to put a swift end to the ethnic cleansing which is taking place there?

Reply

(12 February 2002)

EU representatives were very fully occupied at Durban with the very difficult discussion in the Conference itself, as in any case, this Conference was not country specific. They did not discuss the problems related to white farmers in Zimbabwe at the Conference against racism in Durban, South Africa.

The Council on 25 June expressed its concern about recent developments in Zimbabwe and referred to the following areas where substantial progress should be noted over a period of two months: an end to political violence and official encouragement to such violence, an invitation

to the EU to support and observe coming elections, actions to protect the freedom of the media, independence of the judiciary and respect of its decisions and an end to the illegal occupation of properties. The Council undertook to take appropriate measures if no substantial progress had been made in this period.

The Council on 8 October 2001 reiterated its concern over the situation in Zimbabwe and in particular the lack of progress in the five areas identified by the Council. It agreed to return to the question after the ministerial meeting between the EU Troïka led by the Council President, Deputy Prime Minster and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Louis Michel, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Zimbabwe, I. S. G. Mudenge, which took place on 22 October 2001.

On 29 October 2001, the Council discussed developments in the Zimbabwean situation in the light of the principal concerns it had expressed at its meeting on 25 June and noted that no visible progress had been made. It reiterated the EU's readiness to assist Zimbabwe in preparing and holding the elections, by the sending of an exploratory mission. The Council also decided to launch the consultation procedure provided for in Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement with a view to strengthening the ongoing political dialogue. On this same occasion the European Union declared that it will give strong weight to ensuring coordination and complementarity with the efforts of SADC and the Abuja process vis à vis Zimbabwe.