Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2004
6 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the procedures in place for the transfer of persons and goods to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, now surrounded by European Union countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14531/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraArrangements regarding the transit of persons to and from Kaliningrad were agreed at the tenth EU-Russia Summit in Brussels on 11 November 2002. Both the EU and Russia consider that these arrangements have operated smoothly to date.
In light of the enlargement of the European Union on 1 May 2004, a detailed customs arrangement for the transit of goods to and from Kaliningrad was agreed in December 2003. Until a formal agreement is concluded, this arrangement will implement the principle of freedom of transit of goods between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of Russia.
The Joint Statement on EU Enlargement and EU-Russia Relations, adopted at the first EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council on 27 April 2004, commits the EU and Russia, as soon as they are ready from legal and practical points of view, to conclude a comprehensive agreement on the interconnection of the EU and Russian customs transit regimes. This agreement would also be applicable to the transit of goods to and from Kaliningrad.
In view of the very obvious tensions that have existed between the region in question and Russia in recent years, including tensions over the transfer of goods, people and services to Kaliningrad, will the Minister ensure that steps are taken during the Presidency to bring about a healing of the differences that exist and which could cause serious problems?
As I stated, I attended the first EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council on 27 April last. This is a very significant development in that it mirrors the idea of sectoral councils in which meetings take place between justice and home affairs Ministers, transport Ministers and finance Ministers. In other words, there is now an institutional framework for a far greater degree of co-operation and dialogue between Russia and the EU to deal with some of the problems that have arisen in the aftermath of enlargement.
One of the important objectives of our Presidency was to ensure the Permanent Partnership Council agreements were signed prior to enlargement. As one knows, these negotiations went right up to the wire and were concluded very successfully to the satisfaction of all the applicant countries.
Will the Minister indicate what he considers to be the status of Kaliningrad? Is it a governorship, an autonomous trading area or a special trading area with the European Union? In other words, do its relationships, as referred to in the question, require the assent of the Russian Government on every occasion?
Before the Minister replies, I will allow a very brief question from Deputy Durkan.
Will the Minister in his reply, refer to the 300,000 stateless Russians in Latvia, which, as he knows, have caused problems in the past? Under the new conditions that prevail——
I ask the Deputy to allow the Minister to reply. We are running out of time.
Under the new conditions that prevail, it is important to deal with the associated tensions earlier rather than later.
On that point, we are absolutely satisfied that the newly acceded countries meet the Copenhagen criteria, which involve respect for minorities. The Commission is engaged with the Governments of the relevant countries in promoting programmes that will enable the rights of minorities to be vindicated and validated in every way possible, consistent with the territorial independence and integrity of the countries in which they live.
Kaliningrad is an integral part of the Russian Federation. Given Kaliningrad's strategic location, any potential prospects for its development should obviously be explored by both Russia and the European Union in the years ahead.
