91997E4027

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4027/97 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Council (15 January 1998)

Subject: Landmines and EU aid

Does the Council welcome the UK decision to review the levels of its development funding to recipient countries which do not 'sign up' to the Ottawa agreement on landmines?

Would it, therefore, not be appropriate for the Council to recommend that the EU should adopt similar discrimination against recipients of EU development assistance which continue to produce and export landmines?

Answer (30 March 1997)

The Council has not to date been apprised of the content of the decision mentioned by the Honourable Member in her question, and has not therefore discussed the issue.

Nevertheless, the Honourable Member will be aware that, in the Joint Action on anti-personnel landmines, adopted on 28 November 1997, the Council recalled its resolution on the fight against anti-personnel landmines of 22 November 1996, which identified certain measures which could be adopted and the criteria which should govern the allocation of funds in support of mine clearance interventions.

At the same time, the European Union welcomed efforts to promote universal accession to the Convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction and indicated that it would focus attention on those third countries which continue the irresponsible supply and indiscriminate use of anti-personnel landmines.