WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2623/97 by Christine ODDY to the Commission. Mordechai Vanunu
Date: 1997-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, ODDY
Subjects: State secret, association agreement (EU), dissemination of information, freedom of expression, human rights, prisoner, the EU's international role

17. 3. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 82/117

From the point of view of environmental protection (protection of groundwater, muck-spreading plans), there are
no specific Community rules regarding trade in chicken droppings. National rules therefore apply, subject to the
general Community rules on the matter.

The Commission has just learned of the main points of this case, which it will not fail to examine, if necessary,
under the procedure provided for in Article 169 of the EC treaty.

(1)  OJ L 62 of 15.3.1993.

(98/C 82/192)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2623/97

by Christine Oddy (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1997)

Subject: Mordechai Vanunu

Mordechai Vanunu has been in solitary confinement in an Israeli prison for over ten years. His abduction in Italy
in 1986 by the Israel secret police is widely condemned and his subsequent treatment is out of all proportion to
any threat that he poses to Israeli national security.

What  does  the  Commission  propose  to  do  to  encourage  the  Israeli  Government  to  recognize  that  ten  years(cid:146)
solitary  confinement  is  cruel  and  inhuman  punishment,  amounting  to  torture,  and  that  his  release  is  long
overdue?

Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission

(30 September 1997)

The Commission is aware that Mr. Vanunu’s imprisonment conditions have not changed since he was sentenced
and would certainly view favourably any change aiming at a more ordinary prison regime. In this regard, the
Commission shares the view that Mr. Vanunu’s imprisonment in solitary confinement no longer seems to serve
the purpose of preventing him from publicizing information which is sensitive for Israel.

The issue of human rights in Israel is regularly raised by the Community for discussion as appropriate during
contacts with Israeli authorities.

The completion of the process of ratification of the Euro-Mediterranean association agreement establishing a
framework of political dialogue with Israel will enable the Community as a whole, and the Commission as such,
to exercise a higher degree of positive influence regarding all human rights-related issues, including that of the
imprisonment of Mr. Vanunu. In this regard, it should be noted that the agreement includes a human rights clause
that stipulates that respect for human rights constitutes an essential element of the agreement.

(98/C 82/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2628/97

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(22 July 1997)

Subject: (cid:145)Development mission(cid:146) organized by Rome City Council in Corviale

In 1995 Rome City Council, after consulting (cid:145)IG Societa‘ per l(cid:146)Imprenditorialita‘ Giovanile spa(cid:146) (a consultancy
firm  dealing  with  the  establishment  of  businesses  by  young  people)  launched  a  research  project  designed  to
promote new business activity in a poor outlying district of Rome called Corviale. This project, referred to as a
(cid:145)development mission(cid:146), should of course have resulted in the financing of the best business projects put forward
by local young people, with the aid of advice from IG.