WRITTEN QUESTION P-2352/01

by Carlos Carnero González (PSE) to the Council

(3 August 2001)

Subject: Events in Genoa in connection with the G8 summit

The events that occurred in Genoa during the G8 summit which resulted in the terrible and tragic death of one person, numerous injuries and material damage have sent shockwaves throughout Europe and caused justifiable concern. While strongly condemning the unacceptable attitude of those violent elements that took part in the demonstrations (both in Genoa and, previously, in Gothenburg), the fact remains that European democracy must find suitable ways of ensuring that people are able to express themselves freely and peacefully, and avoid handling these events with the kind of negative approach adopted by the government of Silvio Berlusconi.

Does the Council plan to discuss the matter and, if appropriate, adopt joint measures concerning the management of public demonstrations at future European or international summits, with a view to guaranteeing the right to demonstrate while ensuring that violent elements are isolated and avoiding disproportionate and indiscriminate action by security forces?

Reply

(29 November 2001)

1. The Council deplores the events that occurred in Genoa during the G8 summit and condemns the actions of those who abuse the democratic rights to express opinions and to assemble in a peaceful manner.

2. The Council is fully aware of the problems raised by the Honourable Member of the Parliament. Following the Göteborg European Council of June 2001 the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States adopted conclusions, on 13 July 2001, on security at meetings of the European Council and other comparable events (10608/01 Presse 281).

3. These conclusions underline that in an area of freedom, security and justice, citizens must enjoy the right freely to express their opinions, to assemble in a peaceful manner and to do so in conditions where there is not a threat to their own security or to that of other citizens or properties.

Having recalled the importance of a constructive dialogue between the organizers of public demonstrations and the authorities of the host country and the importance of close international contacts to ensure that demonstrations are not exploited or abused by other elements for the purpose of committing acts of individual or collective violence, the conclusions stress the possibilities offered by existing legal instruments and bodies set up within the European Union, particularly the Schengen Convention of 1990(1), the Joint Action of 1997 with regard to cooperation on law and order and security(2) and the Decision of 2001 setting up a European crime prevention network(3).

4. While recognising that the host country is responsible for maintaining public order and safety, the Council and the representatives of the Governments of the Member States stated, in their conclusions of 13 July 2001, that the following measures may help to reduce the risk of serious disturbances of law and order:

(a) Police cooperation (permanent national contact points, use of the liaison officers and the Police Chiefs' Task Force, possible increase of the powers of Europol, training by the European Police College);

(b) Exchange of information, respecting the right to the protection of personal data;

(c) Measures relating to the crossing of borders;

(d) Judicial cooperation (facilitation of direct cooperation in the European Judicial Network);

(e) Organisational measures (common approach to communication with organisers of demonstrations to ensure that legitimate demonstrations are not exploited by groups with a violent agenda).

5. In view of the next European Council in Laeken in December 2001 and the future European or international summits, the Council is convinced that the implementation of the existing legal instruments and of the above measures concerning the management of public demonstrations will guarantee the right to demonstrate while reducing the risk of serious disturbances of law and order.

(1) OJ L 239, 22.9.2000, p. 19.

(2) OJ L 147, 5.6.1997, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 153, 8.6.2001, p. 1.