WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1888/98 by Gianni TAMINO , Fausto BERTINOTTI , Carlos CARNERO GONZÁLEZ , Luciana CASTELLINA , Lucio MANISCO , Luciano PETTINARI , Luciano VECCHI , Luigi VINCI to the Commission. Human rights in Mexico
Date: 1998-06-16
Institutions: BERTINOTTI, CARNERO GONZALEZ, CASTELLINA, European Parliament, MANISCO, PETTINARI, TAMINO, VECCHI, VINCI
Subjects: EU national, Italy, Mexico, democracy, free movement of persons, human rights, observer, protection of privacy, trade agreement

C 31/96

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.2.1999

As regards the goods and services covered by the interim indices of consumer prices (IICPs) the Commission is
forwarding direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat the detailed information (No 15 of
Eurostat news release (cid:145)New way of comparing EU inflation(cid:146) of 29 February 1996).

(1999/C 31/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1888/98

by Gianni Tamino (V), Fausto Bertinotti (GUE/NGL),
Carlos Carnero GonzÆlez (GUE/NGL), Luciana Castellina (GUE/NGL),
Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL), Luciano Pettinari (PSE), Luciano Vecchi (PSE)
and Luigi Vinci (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 June 1998)

Subject: Human rights in Mexico

In the past few days more than a hundred Italian citizens forming part of a delegation made up inter alia of
members of Parliament, journalists and members of the (cid:145)Ya Basta(cid:146) organization have been expelled from Mexico
( 40 for life and the rest for ten years ), as have other European citizens in the past, for having established, in their
capacity as observers in Chiapas, that the human rights situation there was serious ( particularly in Taniperlas,
where the lives of 140 women and children are in danger ).This fact has been noted many times in resolutions
adopted by the European Parliament.

Does the Commission believe that a trade agreement with Mexico is appropriate when measures of this kind are
being taken which, on the one hand, infringe the civil rights of Mexicans and on the other, preclude European
citizens from free movement within that state, especially since the trade agreement contains a clause providing
for the safeguarding of democracy?

What measures does it intend to adopt to guarantee freedom of movement for European citizens in Mexico and
thus to ensure the revocation of the expulsion orders, some of them for life, adopted by the Mexican Government?

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

(22 July 1998)

The Commission has taken note of the recent decisions by the Mexican government to expel Italian nationals and
other Community citizens. Though disquieting, these decisions were adopted in accordance with Mexican law.

The Commission and the Member States(cid:146) ambassadors to Mexico have conveyed their concern to the relevant
authorities in an effort to establish the grounds for these expulsion orders. Contacts will be pursued to verify, in
the event of further incidents of this nature, that such measures are well-founded and see that the rights of
European citizens are respected.

As for the new agreements signed by the Community and the Member States with Mexico on 8 December,
including the interim agreement to which Parliament gave its assent in May, they, like every other agreement
concluded by the Community with a non-member country, are based on respect for the democratic principles and
human rights that inspire the parties(cid:146) policies and constitute an essential element of their relations.

The Commission considers the entry into force of these agreements important because their clauses on respect for
human rights provide a legal framework for the Community to exercise a more effective and constructive
influence on the situation in Mexico.