Assembly Committee hearing on the future of Kaliningrad

Strasbourg, 23.04.2002 - The need for European support to ensure a prosperous future for Kaliningrad − a Russian exclave soon to be surrounded by the European Union − was discussed during a hearing of the Economic Affairs Committee. Helle Degn, Commissioner for Democratic Development of the Council of Baltic Sea States, joined parliamentarians from Russia, Lithuania and Poland to discuss visa arrangements, transport links, and how to promote economic improvement and democratic change in the region.

Mrs Degn stressed that “fair solutions” – involving the EU and neighbouring countries as well as Russia − were needed for the people of Kaliningrad, and said signals from Russia, particularly on what kind of decentralised institutions might work for the region, were awaited. All sides agreed that the designation of the region as a “Special Economic Zone” was a necessary step − though Nikolay Tulaev (Russia, EDG) took issue with the possibility raised by rapporteur Sigita Burbiene (Lithuania, SOC) of “an international identity” for the region. “A change in Kaliningrad’s political status is not the wish of either government or people,” he said. “It should never be less than a full part of the Russian Federation.” Andrzej Wielowieyski (Poland, EPP/CD) suggested that the arrangements for Hong Kong could provide an inspiration.

The costs of visas for Kaliningrad residents transiting neighbouring countries should be kept low – as should foreign travel Russian passports − and air transport links needed urgent improvement, it was agreed. Mr Tulaev proposed five-year instead of one-year visas to keep costs down. Tatiana Yarygina (Russia, SOC) stressed that “corruption loopholes” in Kaliningrad needed to be closed.

Mrs Burbiene continues to prepare her report for presentation to the committee at a later date.