WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1866/98 by Peter CRAMPTON to the Commission. Democratic rights in Estonia
Date: 1998-06-16
Institutions: CRAMPTON, European Parliament
Subjects: Estonia, accession to the European Union, language teaching, nationality, non-government bill, stateless person

C 13/108

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.1.1999

Strict control provisions have been laid down by Council Decision 98/256/EC of 16 March 1998 concerning
emergency measures to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) amending Decision 94/474/EC
and repealing Decision 96/239/EC (1) for the export certified herd scheme. Their implementation in Northern
Ireland was inspected by the Commission(cid:146)s food and veterinary office from 20 to 22 April 1998. Only after this
inspection did the Commission set 1 June 1998 as the date from which dispatch could resume. Under the
Commission proposal for a date-based export scheme, similarly strict controls would apply. An inspection will be
carried out by the Commission(cid:146)s food and veterinary office along with experts from the Member States, before
the Commission sets a date from which dispatch of the relevant products may resume.

It should also be noted that the decline in the BSE epidemic in the United Kingdom follows scientific
expectations.

(1) OJ L 113, 15.4.1998.

(1999/C 13/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1866/98

by Peter Crampton (PSE) to the Commission

(16 June 1998)

Subject: Democratic rights in Estonia

In view of the fact that Estonia is in the first tranche of states being considered for European Union membership,
is the Commission satisfied with the progress so far towards the achievement of democratic rights for the large
percentage of the Estonian population who were not born in Estonia, or whose parents and grandparents were not
born in Estonia?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 1998)

With reference to the Commission(cid:146)s opinion on Estonia(cid:146)s application for Community membership, the Accession
Partnership, adopted by the Commission in March 1998, underlines the need to take measures to facilitate the
naturalisation process and better to integrate non-Estonian citizens, including stateless children. Also, Estonian
language training for non-Estonian speakers has to be enhanced. With a view to implementing the recommenda-
tions by the Organization for security and cooperation in Europe (OSCE) High commissioner for national
minorities, the Estonian government has tabled legislative proposals which are presently under consideration by
the Estonian Parliament. Developments on these issues are monitored closely.

(1999/C 13/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1867/98

by Luigi Caligaris (ELDR) to the Council

(17 June 1998)

Subject: Integration of the WEU into the EU

Since, as the Amsterdam Treaty states, the European Union is to (cid:145)foster closer institutional relations with the
WEU with a view to the possibility of the integration of the WEU into the Union, should the European Council so
decide(cid:146), appropriate steps should be taken to prepare for that eventuality. It would therefore seem to be a good
idea to go beyond the consolidated practice of setting up ad hoc delegations involving both sides and create a
context in which issues of mutual interest connected with the eventual integration of the WEU into the EU can be
constantly examined. It would be an idea to provide the EU with an institute dealing with security matters similar
to the WEU one, not only for the purpose stated but also to provide intellectual support for the activities of the
European institutions in the difficult sphere of the common foreign and security policy. Should the integration of
the WEU into the EU become a reality, the two institutes would fuse.

What is the Council(cid:146)s opinion?