Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 7

Written Answers. - EU Enlargement.

John Deasy

Question:

14 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on current discussions concerning access to the Kaliningrad region by Russian Federation citizens and businesses after EU enlargement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14873/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The EU-Russia Summit on 11 November 2002 agreed on transit arrangements for Russian citizens to and from Kaliningrad, the autonomous Russian region located between Lithuania and Poland. The agreement is due to take effect on 1 July 2003. This change to the current transit arrangements was necessary because, after enlargement, the provisions of the Schengen Convention will apply to Poland and Lithuania.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council on 14-15 April 2003, in implementation of the agreement of last November, adopted a regulation which establishes a specific facilitated transit document and facilitated rail transit document as well as a regulation on the uniform format of these documents. The new regulations have been prepared and adopted in close consultation with Lithuania and before the signature of the accession treaty so that the new arrangements can be referred to in the Kaliningrad Protocol attached to the accession treaty.

The EU has also expressed its interest in further assisting the economic development of the Kaliningrad territory. Since 1991, the European Union has committed nearly €40 million in TACIS assistance under the Russia national programme. EU support has focused on a number of key sectors including border crossings, port development, waste management and human health.

Kaliningrad will continue to be a priority region under the TACIS national programme for Russia and future priorities include environment, administration and law enforcement and public health. To support the effective implementation of these projects and programmes, a new TACIS office was opened in Kaliningrad at the beginning of 2001.