Gay Mitchell
Ceist:58 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the EU General Affairs Council has considered the situation in Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27735/98]
Written Answers. - Russian Affairs.
The General Affairs Council considered the situation in Russia at its meeting on 6-7 December 1998. The council agreed on a progress report developing a comprehensive EU policy towards Russia which covers economic, trade, and political issues. The report also identifies a number of priority areas for EU assistance to Russia, including food and humanitarian assistance, banking reform, tax collection, WTO accession, agriculture, nuclear safety and nuclear waste management. The report was welcomed by the Vienna European Council which reaffirmed Russia's importance as strategic partner as demonstrated by the EU-Russia summit in Vienna on 27 October. The European Council also decided that Russia should be one of the first subjects for a common strategy of the European Union, under Article J3 of the Amsterdam Treaty, when that Treaty enters into effect.
The General Affairs Council looked forward to receiving the proposal on EU food aid for Russia which the Commission subsequently delivered to the council on 9 December. It welcomed the intention of the Commission to submit the draft Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on the modalities and conditions for such aid negotiated with the Russian authorities on the basis of the mandate provided by the council of 24 November. The council underlined the importance of adequate control mechanisms for the delivery of aid and the subsequent use of revenues accruing from the sale of such aid, including detailed monthly reports by the Russian authorities on implementation of the MoU; transparency of Russian operations; independent third party monitoring; possible checks at any stage by the Court of Auditors; and delivery of the aid in tranches with a possibility of suspension of the aid in case of irregularities.
The General Affairs Council also stressed the need for close co-ordination with the United States on the issue. It decided to review the implementation of food aid at forthcoming sessions on the basis of reports by the Commission. The council noted the Commission's intention to put aside some 20 MECUs from TACIS 1999 to alleviate consequences of the Russian crisis on neighbouring countries, on the basis that this would be consistent with the long-term priorities of EU assistance programmes for Russia. It invited the Commission to provide further information on this issue. The European Council urged the General Affairs Council to decide as soon as possible on food aid to Russia, accompanied by adequate control mechanisms.