WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3102/97 by Roberto MEZZAROMA to the Council. Catholic church in Russia
Date: 1997-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, MEZZAROMA
Subjects: Catholicism, Council of Europe, Orthodoxy, Russia, equal treatment, freedom of religious beliefs, human rights, international agreement, national law, religious sect

25. 5. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 158/31

(98/C 158/39)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3102/97

by Roberto Mezzaroma (UPE) to the Council

(9 October 1997)

Subject: Catholic church in Russia

I have learnt from reliable sources that Russian President Boris Yeltsin is about to sign a law approved by the
Duma on 23 June and by the Council senators on 4 July 1997 which will reduce the Catholic church to a simple
sect with very limited rights.

Not only would the oecumenical dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic churches be compromised, but a
fundamental human right, freedom of religion enshrined in Article 18, would be violated.

What is the Council doing to stop this serious and unjust act?

Should  not  the  Council,  the  Commission  and  the  EP  take  joint  action  and  set  up  a  committee  of  inquiry  to
safeguard the rights of Russian Catholics who have embraced the Catholic faith and protect the Catholic church?

The Catholic religion can never be regarded as equivalent to a sect like so many in the world that have often been
created for purely financial ends.

Answer

(19 January 1998)

In  common  with  other  countries  sharing  the  same  concerns,  the  European  Union  (cid:150)  in  particular  by  making
appropriate  representations  (cid:150)  firmly  requested  the  Russian  authorities  not  to  adopt  the  law  in  question,
emphasizing the central importance attached by the Union to equitable treatment of all religions in accordance
with internationally recognized principles, which Russia has undertaken to comply with.

Now that this law has been adopted, the Council will keep a close watch to see that it is applied in accordance
with Russia(cid:146)s international commitments, including those undertaken within the Council of Europe.

The Council has not learnt of the occurrence of any cases of persecution of Russian nationals of the Christian or
other faiths, following adoption of this law.

(98/C 158/40)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3109/97

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(13 October 1997)

Subject: Roma-Pantona line at Tor Bella Monaca

The residents of Tor Bella Monaca, a densely populated Roman suburb, have recently made representations to
the commune of Rome to stop construction work on the Rome-Pantano light metro and revise the plans. The
present  plan  for  this  project,  which  would  pass  overground  through  the  built-up  area  of  Tor  Bella  Monaca,
involves the construction of a railway line enclosed between two concrete walls several metres high. The local
residents point out that, if the railway followed the planned route, the walls would be built almost directly in front
of people(cid:146)s homes, and the impact on the environment would be disruptive to say the least. It appears that the
official plans for the project fail to indicate a large number of homes situated right next to the proposed high
concrete walls.

In view of the foregoing,

1. 

Is this project covered by Annex II of Directive 85/337/EEC (1) on environmental impact assessment?

2.  Does  the  failure  to  involve  local  residents  in  the  environmental  impact  assessment  study  for  the  Rome-

Pantano light metro project constitute a breach of Directive 85/337/EEC?