Olivia Mitchell
Question:122 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the EU GAERC receives regular reports on progress with mine clearance in former areas of conflict. [9980/03]
Written Answers. - Mine Clearance.
Mine clearance activities on the part of the European Union are directly related to the goals set by the international community in the context of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Ottawa Convention) of 1999.
In July 2001 the Council and the European Parliament adopted two regulations on action against anti-personnel landmines, the first one covering developing countries and the second one covering other countries. The regulations require the Commission to submit an overall assessment of all Community mine actions, together with suggestions for the future of the regulations, to the European Parliament and the Council every three years. The first report is expected in the second half of 2004.
The regulations also request the Commission to prepare an anti-personnel landmines multi-annual strategy. In December 2002 the Commission adopted the EU Mine Action Strategy for 2002-04 and detailed multi-annual indicative programming which will mobilise approximately €105 million over the period 2002-04 to support mine action activities and the economic and social rehabilitation of the de-mined regions and the resettled populations. In formulating this strategy the Commission consulted EU member states in various Council fora.
The Commission has also established a mine action co-ordination group which produces an annual report on mine actions by the European Commission and EU member states. The report which is normally issued prior to the annual meeting of states parties to the Ottawa Convention gives information on assistance by EU members states to mine affected countries. The fourth edition of the report is currently in preparation.
In 2000 Ireland Aid donated €1,809,536 towards mine clearance, assistance and rehabilitation in Cambodia, Kosovo, Angola, Somalia, Sudan and Afghanistan. In 2001 Ireland Aid donated €1,438,653 towards mine clearance assistance and rehabilitation in Angola, Cambodia, Afghanistan, and Vietnam. In 2002 it donated €1,416,500 towards mine clearance assistance and rehabilitation in Afghanistan, Angola and Eritrea. In 2003 Ireland Aid entered into a strategic relationship with Ireland's largest demining partner, Halo Trust. An annual block grant of €1 million has been allocated to the organisation for its activities in four countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Eritrea and Somalia.