WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1180/98 by Edith MÜLLER to the Commission. The international football matches between Germany and Nigeria on 22 April 1998 and between the Netherlands and Nigeria on 5 June 1998
Date: 1998-04-06
Institutions: European Parliament, MUELLER EDITH
Subjects: Netherlands, Nigeria, democracy, international sanctions, presidential election, professional sport













EUR-Lex - 91998E1180 - EN






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91998E1180

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1180/98 by Edith MÜLLER to the Commission. The international football matches between Germany and Nigeria on 22 April 1998 and between the Netherlands and Nigeria on 5 June 1998  


Official Journal C 354 , 19/11/1998 P. 0076 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-1180/98 by Edith Müller (V) to the Commission (6 April 1998)Subject: The international football matches between Germany and Nigeria on 22 April 1998 and between the Netherlands and Nigeria on 5 June 19981. Can the European Commission confirm or deny that the Netherlands Foreign Minister, Mr Hans van Mierlo, has objected publicly to a football match scheduled to be played between the Netherlands and Nigeria in June, on the grounds that this match would breach the European Union's sports boycott, and that the Netherlands Minister for Development Aid, Mr Jan Pronk, said it would be 'disgraceful if a sanction of this nature were violated'?2. What is the European Commission's assessment of the Netherlands Foreign Minister's view that the scheduled football match between the Netherlands and Nigeria would breach the EU's sports boycott, given that Germany is due to play Nigeria in Cologne on 22 April 1998?3. Can the European Commission confirm or deny a report dated 27 March 1998 from the AFP press agency that the US President, Bill Clinton, said in Cape Town on 27 March 1998 that he would accept the nomination of the Nigerian military dictator, Sami Abacha, for the presidential elections scheduled for August, provided that Abacha stood as a 'civilian' candidate?4. What is the European Commission's assessment of the US President's statement, and would it accept the nomination of the Nigerian military dictator, Sami Abacha, for the presidential elections scheduled for August, provided that Abacha stood as a 'civilian' candidate?Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (20 May 1998)The Commission is not in a position to comment on the views of ministers van Mierlo and Pronk concerning the position of the Dutch authorities on a football match between Nigeria and Netherlands, nor their implications for any football match between Nigeria and Germany.The Commission has always taken the position that a ban on official sporting links with Nigeria, agreed by Community ministers in November 1995, constitutes one of the strongest elements of the Community common position on Nigeria, and has been reluctant to see a dilution in this measure without any discernible improvement in the human rights position in Nigeria nor a credible, free and fair transition to democracy.As regards the possible presidential candidature of General Abacha, the Commission is of the opinion that there already exists an elected President of Nigeria, who was placed in jail by the Nigerian authorities on grounds of treason almost four years ago. The Commission is currently examining various criteria for judging the credibility of the present three year democratic transition process announced by General Abacha on 1st October 1995. The freedom of individuals to stand for the presidency is one such criterion. Ultimately of course, it will be for the Nigerian people to decide the appropriateness of one or other candidate.