WRITTEN QUESTION No. 533/98 by Marjo MATIKAINEN-KALLSTRÖM to the Commission. Aid to the Mexican Government to investigate the Acteal massacre
Date: 1998-03-02
Institutions: European Parliament, MATIKAINEN-KALLSTROEM
Subjects: EU aid, Germany, Mexico, Red Cross, Spain, crime against individuals, food aid, homicide, humanitarian aid, non-governmental organisation

2. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 304/127

›  Action 3 › Further training and mobility of professionals in the field of cultural heritage preservation; 14

projects selected out of 92 submissions with a budgetary allocation of 742.000 ECU;

›  Action 4 › Study, preservation and enhancement of decorated facades in Europe; 10 projects selected out of

65 submissions with a budgetary allocation of 1.74 MECU;

›  Action  5  ›  Study,  preservation  and  enhancement  of  the  European  pre-industrial  heritage:  12  projects

selected out of 70 submissions with a budgetary allocation of 2.66 MECU.

The Community financial support for the selected projects is shared between all the partners involved in the
implementation of each project through the coordinator or leader of the project, who receives the Community
grant. In this context, and as the European dimension is evident, the projects do not really come under nationality
headings.

As to the financial contribution allocated per project, the Commission is sending a comprehensive list to the
Honourable Member and to the Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat which indicates the partners involved in each project
(the first being the coordinator), the objectives to be attained and the amounts granted.

(98/C 304/192)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0533/98

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstro¤m (PPE) to the Commission

(2 March 1998)

Subject: Aid to the Mexican Government to investigate the Acteal massacre

On 22 December 1997 a massacre was committed in the village of Acteal, in the province of Chiapas, Mexico,
which shocked the whole world. To find the perpetrators of this act and ascertain the reasons for it, the Mexican
Government  has  launched  large-scale  investigations  throughout  the  country.  Efforts  have  also  been  made  to
organize aid for the inhabitants of Acteal.

In view of the above, what measures has the Commission taken to organize humanitarian aid to those suffering as
a result of the disaster and to offer expert aid to the Mexican Government to clear up the crime?

Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 1998)

After the tragic events of Acteal in December 1997 and in line with the resolution adopted by the Parliament on
this subject in January 1998, the Commission examined the possibility of providing humanitarian aid for the
population  uprooted  as  a  result  of  the  massacre.  On  19 February  1998,  the  Commission  approved  an
humanitarian aid package totalling 1.45 MECU.

The aid will be channelled through the German and Spanish Red Cross and the non governmental organisation
(NGO)  Medicos  del  Mundo,  in  collaboration  with  local  NGOs  (Mexican  Red  Cross  and  Caritas  Mexico).
Activities  envisaged  under  this  decision  include  food  and  medical  aid  as  well  as  provisional  shelter  for  the
affected population.

(98/C 304/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0534/98

by Raimo Ilaskivi (PPE) to the Commission

(2 March 1998)

Subject: Uniform pricing of postal services (continued)

Commissioner Bangemann has replied to my question on this topic (E-3942/97) (1), stating that the practice of the
Finnish post office is not in conflict with the proposal for a directive on common rules for the development of the
internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service, on the grounds that the
amount charged is in proportion to the additional costs incurred.