WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1568/98 by Andrea MANZELLA to the Commission. Assassination of Bishop Juan Gerardi
Date: 1998-05-20
Institutions: European Parliament, MANZELLA
Subjects: EU financing, Guatemala, homicide, judicial inquiry, police, police cooperation, political violence, rule of law, settlement of disputes, the EU's international role

C 31/58

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.2.1999

(1999/C 31/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1568/98

by Andrea Manzella (PSE) to the Commission

(20 May 1998)

Subject: Assassination of Bishop Juan Gerardi

With reference to the assassination of Bishop Juan Gerardi, would the Commission state what urgent measures it
considers the European Union should take to urge the Government of Guatemala to conduct an efficient and
searching investigation to identify both those who carried out the crime and those who commissioned it for
political reasons, as the bishop(cid:146)s murder confronts Guatemala with the terrible prospect of a return to civil war?

Answer given by Mr Mar(cid:237)n on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 1998)

The Commission welcomes the Guatemalan Government(cid:146)s statement that it will do all within its power to identify
and bring to justice those responsible for the assassination of Bishop Juan Gerardi. It will also monitor closely the
work of the high-level committee set up to keep under constant review the ongoing proceedings of the judicial
enquiry.

The Commission is well aware that the deficient structure and functioning of the legal system, particularly where
the security forces and administration of justice are concerned, may seriously jeopardise a satisfactory conclusion
of the enquiry.

The Honourable Member may rest assured that, while respecting the sovereignty of Guatemala and the spirit of
the peace agreements, the Commission will do all it can to see these deficiencies overcome and ensure that
effective instruments are available to the Guatemalan authorities with a view to enforcing the Government(cid:146)s
expressed intention to pinpoint those responsible for the commission and the commitment of the crime and to
create the right conditions so that community life can carry on peacefully.

It is with this objective that the Commission recently signed an important financing agreement involving support
for the constitution of a new national civil police force. This operation, which is an integral part of the peace
programme and will be the largest cooperation project ever financed by the Community in Latin America (almost
ECU 32 million), will be followed this year by a substantial contribution towards reforming and consolidating the
legal system.

(1999/C 31/076)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1577/98

by Robin Teverson (ELDR) to the Council

(25 May 1998)

Subject: Funding for the elderly

A Commission proposal for a new Action Programme for the Elderly has been languishing in the Council with no
immediate prospects for approval due to objections from one Member State › Germany.

In marked contrast, the UN Year of the Elderly will be launched in a few months time and the European
Parliament is sponsoring its own Senior Citizens Conference in October.

What message does this send to the citizens of Europe, whose population is ageing rapidly? What are the
objections of this Member State? If the Council cannot accept the Commission(cid:146)s proposal, what alternative action
does the Council intend to take?