91998E2205

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2205/98

by Kirsten Jensen (PSE) to the Commission

(10 July 1998)

Subject: Cooperation with the Mafia in Uzbekistan

1. According to a series of articles in Potitiken of 18 and 19 March 1998 Carlsberg, the large Danish brewery, is cooperating with Gafur Rakhimov, an Uzbek who is involved in the drugs trade and has close connections with the Mafia in Uzbekistan. Gafur Rakhimov is allegedly blacklisted in all Schengen countries and therefore prevented from obtaining a visa in the EU. Does the Commission consider it to be a problem that European companies are cooperating in this way with people blacklisted under the Schengen agreement?

2. There are reports that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is participating as an investor in the project and therefore also cooperating with Gafur Rakhimov. Can the Commission confirm this?

3. Is there any possibility of the Community intervening in this and similar cases?

4. Is the Commission considering taking the initiative to intervene either in this specific case or in similar cases?

5. Will the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty in any way change the answer to these questions?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 1998)

The Commission would point out that this question is exactly the same as the Honourable Member's Written Question E-1075/98.

The Commission would therefore refer the Honourable Member to the answer it has already given to that question(1).

(1) OJ C 386, 11.12.1998, p. 78.