WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3444/97 by Olivier DUPUIS to the Commission. Nepal
Date: 1997-10-21
Institutions: DUPUIS, European Parliament
Subjects: Nepal, Tibetan question, aid to refugees, human rights, refugee, the EU's international role

C 117/178

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16. 4. 98

(98/C 117/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3413/97

by Joaquim Miranda (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 October 1997)

Subject: Visit by the President of the Commission to Portugal

The President of the Commission travelled to Portugal on 7 October 1997 to take part in a seminar, organized by
the Jacques Delors Information Centre, on (cid:145)Europe(cid:146)s future › a model for the 21st century(cid:146).

As  was  widely  reported  in  the  media,  meetings  took  place  with  the  Portuguese  Prime  Minister  (who  is  also
Secretary-General of the Socialist Party) and the chairman of the Social-Democratic Party.

Does the Commission not consider that it would have been a basic courtesy to arrange for its President to meet all
the Portuguese political parties represented in the European Parliament?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(13 November 1997)

The President of the Commission takes pleasure in meeting a wide range of people, including members of the
Parliament, but is not able to meet all political parties on the occasion of all his journeys.

(98/C 117/244)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3444/97

by Olivier Dupuis (ARE) to the Commission

(21 October 1997)

Subject: Nepal

As part of the 1997 budgetary procedure, Parliament inserted remarks under Budgetary Lines B7-300 (cid:145)Financial
and  technical  cooperation  with  Asian  developing  countries(cid:146)  and  B7-301  (cid:145)Economic  cooperation  with  Asian
developing countries(cid:146) which stipulate that the appropriations earmarked for Nepal must be subject to guarantees
from the Nepalese authorities not to expel Tibetan refugees. What action has the Commission taken in respect of
these remarks?

Has  the  Commission  initiated  discussions  with  the  Nepalese  Government?  Has  it  obtained  the  guarantees
demanded by the European Parliament? If not, what initiatives does it intend to take to obtain these guarantees?
Does it have specific information about the situation of Tibetan refugees in Nepal, on fresh influxes of refugees
and on the manner in which they are treated by the Nepalese authorities?

Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission

(4 November 1997)

The problem of refugees in general was examined with the Nepalese Government at the first EC-Nepal Joint
Committee  meeting  in  November  as  part  of  the  discussions  on  human  rights.  On  that  occasion  the  Nepalese
Government  gave  precise  assurances  about  its  commitment  to  upholding  human  rights.  Since  then  the
Commission has continued its dialogue with the Government on this matter via its delegation in Nepal and is
keeping a weather eye on developments.

There seem to be a decline in the influx of refugees and indications are that the situation has not deteriorated,
either in the form of fresh expulsions or in the Nepalese authorities’ handling of Tibetan refugees. It goes without
saying  that  should  any  deterioration  occur  the  Commission  will  draw  this  to  the  attention  of  the  Nepalese
Government and take the appropriate steps.

Last year the Commission helped improve the situation for Tibetan refugees coming through Nepal by funding a
project to expand and restructure the reception centres in the Kathmandu valley and at Pokhara.