WRITTEN QUESTION E-3348/02

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Council

(26 November 2002)

Subject: Crime in South Africa another Portuguese citizen murdered

In its reply of 21 November 2001 to Written Question P-1662/01(1) on the same subject tabled on 1 June 2001 the Council said that it considered that the escalation of violent crime in South Africa is a general problem that is affecting all races, nationalities and social strata present in the country and not only the resident Portuguese community going on to say that South Africa is however an independent country with a democratically elected government which has of course never been called into question and the Council remains convinced that the South African authorities are doing their outmost to control this unfortunate situation in the country and to respect the human rights situation. The Council also refers to the European Programme for Reconstruction and Development (EPRD), described as among the largest development programmes that the EU is financing to an individual country and the Council considers that through these positive actions, the EU aims at improving the quality of life in South Africa and thereby also reducing the level of violence. However, the Council says that only one of the specific programmes was aimed at strengthening the capacities and institutional development for the services of the South African police.

Around the same time, on 5 July 2001, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the situation in South Africa(2) which expresses much less optimism about the problem and probable developments. It points out that South Africa would have serious difficulties in overcoming these problems without the support and solidarity of the international community, in which the role of the European Union is crucial in so far as the Union and its Member States account for 70 % of international aid to the country.

Unfortunately, violent crime in South Africa shows no signs of abating and a large number of EU citizens, especially Portuguese, are still being murdered. A person murdered a few days ago was the twenty-fifth Portuguese victim since the beginning of the year.

This is obviously an unacceptable situation and calls for more determined measures on the part of the competent South African authorities, as well as more intensive international support.

Does the Council still have the same confidence and the optimistic feeling that the problem of violent crime against European residents in South Africa will be solved by improving the quality of life in South Africa, which is of course a desirable aim for this and for other countries? Or does it rather intend to include crime prevention, especially prevention of violent crime and murder, as a central issue in the whole policy of cooperation and development between the EU and South Africa? What are the main indicators and conclusions emerging from the programme which, in the context of the EPRD, focused on the capacity and institutional development of the South African police?

(1) OJ C 81 E, 4.4.2002, p. 48.

(2) OJ C 65 E, 14.3.2002, p. 371.

Reply

(3 March 2003)

The Council is still of the opinion that the problem of violent crime in South Africa will be reduced by improving the quality of life in South Africa. The Council is furthermore of the opinion that the problem of violent crimes should be addressed in general terms and not only in relation to European residents. In particular since South African citizens themselves, in particular the poor ones, are probably the worst affected by this kind of crime. To incorporate crime prevention in the policy of cooperation and development between the EU and South Africa is not a new idea as the Honourable Parliamentarian himself points out in his question. To make crime prevention a central issue in this cooperation would however, completely change the overall development focus of the EU, away from poverty alleviation as stated in the common and comprehensive strategy in the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement.

The Council therefore considers that the question of crime prevention is comprehensively addressed in the context of the EPRD.

Finally as regards the program the Council recalls that it is administrated by the Commission and consequently the Honourable Parliamentarian should refer to the competent institution.