WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3192/97 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Human rights in Turkey
Date: 1997-10-16
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: Türkiye, human rights, non-governmental organisation

C 134/112

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

(98/C 134/144)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3192/97

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(16 October 1997)

Subject: Human rights in Turkey

Is  the  Commission  aware  of  the  Turkish  Interior  Ministry  document  (number  BO50HID0000073/472),  dated
January 1997, which sets forth a programme for impeding the activities of NGOs reporting on human rights?

This  document  suggests:  (cid:145)Parliamentarians,  men  of  religion,  representatives  of  the  press  and  in  particular
members of NGOs such as International Human Rights and Amnesty International who may come from abroad
with the aim of collecting progaganda material should be steered appropriately and followed, and advantage
should be taken of the Diyarbakir Press Office to this end.(cid:146)

In the light of its recent communication calling for cooperation with Turkish NGOs working for improvements in
human  rights,  what  assurances  does  the  Commission  have  that  this  is  no  longer  the  policy  of  the  Turkish
government?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 1997)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to his Written Question E-2998/97 (1).

(1)  OJ C 117, 16.4.1998, p. 124.

(98/C 134/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3193/97

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(16 October 1997)

Subject: Harmonization of traffic regulations

In the light of the large number of pedestrians killed in road accidents every year, does the Commission have any
plans to introduce legislation that will have a significant effect in reducing this number?

In  particular,  does  the  Commission  have  any  plans  to  introduce  harmonization  legislation  as  regards  the
guidelines used to prosecute drivers guilty of killing pedestrians?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 1997)

The Commission has prepared an Action Programme, including legislative measures, with the aim of trying to
reduce  the  numbers  killed  and  injured  on  Europe(cid:146)s  roads.  The  Honourable  Member  is  referred  to  the
Communication entitled (cid:145)Promoting road safety in the EU: the programme for 1997-2001 (1)(cid:146), which lays out in
detail the Commission(cid:146)s approach.

The Commission currently has no plans to introduce legislation to harmonise criteria for prosecuting drivers
killing pedestrians since this is an area that, in accordance with the subsidiarity principle, has to be left to the
criminal justice systems of the Member States.

Work is going on in the Council, with the Commission(cid:146)s participation, to establish a Convention between all
Member States to ensure that traffic offences leading to disqualification from driving (withdrawal of licence or
right to drive) committed in a Member State other than the Member State where the offender is residing, will be
given effect by the Member State of residence when the offender returns there.

(1)  Doc. COM(97) 131 final.