(2004/C 70 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1930/03

by Lennart Sacrédeus (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 June 2003)

Subject:   Population movements in the oil-rich areas of Sudan

The bloody civil war in Sudan has claimed two million lives. Four million people have fled their homes. European Coalition on Oil in Sudan (ECOS), a network of 70 European organisations, predominantly church-based and other Christian bodies, notes that tens of thousands of Sudanese nationals have been forced to flee from Reweng County in the West Upper Nile region as a result of conflicts over oil extraction, and with the knowledge of the oil companies. A large proportion of the revenue which oil brings into Sudan goes on military expenditure. Only 2 % of the Sudanese budget is spent on health care, while 48 % goes for military and police purposes, e.g. the purchase of Russian Mig 29 fighters, Mig 24 helicopter gunships and Τ 72 tanks.

What measures is the EU taking through the Commission to influence the Sudanese government and the oil companies to halt this deliberate movement of population from the oil-rich areas? What is the EU doing to persuade countries not to sell expensive high-technology weaponry to the warring parties in Sudan?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2003)

The Union has always been concerned with the situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the different areas of the civil conflict, but in particular from those areas in which oil is extracted. This issue was raised in the Union/Sudan Political Dialogue that took place in December 2002 in Khartoum.

The signature by the parties in the context of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Peace Negotiations of the two Memoranda of Understanding, which concern the cessation of hostilities and protection of civilians, constitute a major step forward. According to Commission's information IDPs are returning to their areas of origin.

The Commission has no competence as regards the behaviour of oil companies, in particular those that are active in Southern Sudan, since their countries of origin are not within the Union (China, Malaysia, India, etc.). The only European company present there, Lundin, suspended its operations for the last 18 months.

As regards the trade in arms the Union fully applies and complies with the United Nations resolution that forbids the sale of arms to Sudan. However, the Commission is aware that both parties are buying arms from countries outside the Union.