# CE2004084EN.01083301.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/833 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/833

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(2004/C 84 E/0927)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0655/04

by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject:   Human rights in Algeria

Subject:

In light of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Algeria and in particular Article 2, can the Commission inform me what continuing action it is taking and will take in relation to human rights in Algeria?

| 1. | What is the Commission doing to ensure that the Algerian authorities have at their disposal relevant expertise and equipment in dealing with the crimes against humanity committed throughout the last decade and that they respect recommended procedures in exhuming mortal remains from mass graves? |
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1.

What is the Commission doing to ensure that the Algerian authorities have at their disposal relevant expertise and equipment in dealing with the crimes against humanity committed throughout the last decade and that they respect recommended procedures in exhuming mortal remains from mass graves?

| 2. | What is the Commission doing to ensure that families of the ‘disappeared’ in Algeria are able to carry out their campaigning work as legally registered organisations? |
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2.

What is the Commission doing to ensure that families of the ‘disappeared’ in Algeria are able to carry out their campaigning work as legally registered organisations?

| 3. | Has the Commission asked the Algerian authorities to extend an invitation to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture (who has asked to gain entry to Algeria since 1997)? |
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3.

Has the Commission asked the Algerian authorities to extend an invitation to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture (who has asked to gain entry to Algeria since 1997)?

| 4. | Will the Commission press the Algerian authorities for concrete information on the alleged trials of some 20 security officers following the killing of dozens of unarmed protesters in Kabylia and to make public the information on these and similar trials? |
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4.

Will the Commission press the Algerian authorities for concrete information on the alleged trials of some 20 security officers following the killing of dozens of unarmed protesters in Kabylia and to make public the information on these and similar trials?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(13 April 2004)

(13 April 2004)

| 1. | The Honourable Member rightly mentions Article 2 of the Association Agreement as an important legal basis on which to build dialogue and cooperation in the human rights field.
  The Association Agreement which was signed in April 2002 has so far not been ratified and is not in force. Nonetheless, human rights and democracy form an integral part of the EU's political dialogue with all third countries. |
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1.

The Honourable Member rightly mentions Article 2 of the Association Agreement as an important legal basis on which to build dialogue and cooperation in the human rights field.

The Association Agreement which was signed in April 2002 has so far not been ratified and is not in force. Nonetheless, human rights and democracy form an integral part of the EU's political dialogue with all third countries.

| 2. | Regarding assistance to the Algerian authorities to help them properly and concretely deal with these issues, MEDA cooperation for the period 2004-2006 focuses on ‘third generation’ programmes, that is projects that support good governance, and in particular justice, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and media. This is in line with the 2003 Commission Communication on Human Rights which aims at maximising the effectiveness of the instruments at the disposal of the EU and its Mediterranean partners in the field of human rights and democracy. Algeria is also a focus country under the 2003-2004 European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. This Programme aims at supporting NGOs through micro projects directed towards civil society.
  Furthermore, pending ratification of the Association Agreement, the Commission has continued to raise the issue of human rights and in particular that of the ‘disappeared’ and ‘mass graves’ in various fora and most notably at the last Troïka meeting which took place in Rome in November 2003. In its talks with the Algerian authorities, the Commission has in particular highlighted the need to grant families' associations legal recognition if proper interaction with those directly concerned is to be guaranteed in this process.
  It is the Commission's intention, with active support from the Council, to raise this issue again following the 8 April 2004 presidential election. |
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2.

Regarding assistance to the Algerian authorities to help them properly and concretely deal with these issues, MEDA cooperation for the period 2004-2006 focuses on ‘third generation’ programmes, that is projects that support good governance, and in particular justice, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and media. This is in line with the 2003 Commission Communication on Human Rights which aims at maximising the effectiveness of the instruments at the disposal of the EU and its Mediterranean partners in the field of human rights and democracy. Algeria is also a focus country under the 2003-2004 European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. This Programme aims at supporting NGOs through micro projects directed towards civil society.

Furthermore, pending ratification of the Association Agreement, the Commission has continued to raise the issue of human rights and in particular that of the ‘disappeared’ and ‘mass graves’ in various fora and most notably at the last Troïka meeting which took place in Rome in November 2003. In its talks with the Algerian authorities, the Commission has in particular highlighted the need to grant families' associations legal recognition if proper interaction with those directly concerned is to be guaranteed in this process.

It is the Commission's intention, with active support from the Council, to raise this issue again following the 8 April 2004 presidential election.

| 3. | The EU has repeatedly raised with Algeria the issue of the fight against torture as well as cooperation with the human rights Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations, including the pending request by the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on torture, ‘inter alia’ in its speeches before the UN Commission on Human Rights. The principle of promoting full cooperation by all States with the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations forms a central part of EU human rights policy.
  The Commission will raise the issue of the killing of protesters in Kabylia, in its forthcoming talks with the Algerian authorities.
  Furthermore, the Commission would like to underline the utmost importance it attaches to another human rights issue, namely the revision of the Family code's which defines equality between men and women within the family. This and other issues will be raised in its next meetings with the Algerian authorities. |
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3.

The EU has repeatedly raised with Algeria the issue of the fight against torture as well as cooperation with the human rights Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations, including the pending request by the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on torture, ‘inter alia’ in its speeches before the UN Commission on Human Rights. The principle of promoting full cooperation by all States with the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations forms a central part of EU human rights policy.

The Commission will raise the issue of the killing of protesters in Kabylia, in its forthcoming talks with the Algerian authorities.

Furthermore, the Commission would like to underline the utmost importance it attaches to another human rights issue, namely the revision of the Family code's which defines equality between men and women within the family. This and other issues will be raised in its next meetings with the Algerian authorities.

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