WRITTEN QUESTION E-0601/02

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 March 2002)

Subject: Compliance on the part of the Maghreb countries with their human rights obligations as defined in the EU Association agreements

Last year the Tunisian intellectual Mohammed Mouda was put on trial. In Algeria, the difficulties faced by the government in resisting violent and extremist Islamicist groups notwithstanding, there are frequent reports that the security forces are involved in the killing and abduction of individuals with no involvement with such groups.

Is the Commission concerned that the Maghreb countries are failing to abide by their human rights commitments as defined in the EU Association agreements, and, if so, will it give greater priority to this issue in the future? In particular, will the Commission ensure that the most serious human rights abuses are raised at the Association Council meetings? Can the Commission also indicate how frequently these meetings take place?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 April 2002)

The Commission is indeed aware that the human rights situation in the Maghreb region (though differing according to each country's circumstances and problems) is unsatisfactory and leaves much room for improvement. It shares the Honourable Member's view that the legitimate and necessary struggle against terrorism cannot be allowed to justify or cloak unjustified attacks on fundamental freedoms.

The Commission defends human rights both in the political dialogue with the countries concerned and through cooperation schemes.

Human rights issues, including individual cases, are raised at association council meetings with Moroccan and Tunisian ministers, which normally take place every year. They also figure on the agenda of the association committees, which normally also meet every year. The association agreement with Algeria was only initialled on 19 December 2001 and has yet to enter into force, so human rights issues are raised by the Union's troika at its regular normally twice-yearly meetings with that country. In the communication it sent the Council in preparation for April's Valencia conference of Euro-Mediterranean foreign ministers(1), the Commission suggested stepping up the political dialogue with the Mediterranean countries, including the Maghreb countries; it recommended that the ministers agree that questions related to human rights and democracy be raised systematically in all contacts between the EU and the partners with a view to promoting a structured approach to progress.

In December 2001 the Commission adopted the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) Programming Document 2002-2004, which covers all non-member countries, including those of the Mediterranean. The chief beneficiaries of this initiative are non-governmental and international organisations. The 29 target countries selected for the EIDHR in the period 2002-2004 include Algeria, Tunisia, Israel and the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Activities in these countries should focus on democratisation, good governance and the rule of law.

The MEDA Programme, for which Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia are eligible, provides for cooperation on judicial reform and women's issues.

(1) SEC(2002) 159 final.