WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1938/98 by Jaak VANDEMEULEBROUCKE to the Council. Situation of conscientious objectors in Greece
Date: 1998-06-17
Institutions: European Parliament, VANDEMEULEBROUCKE
Subjects: Greece, alternative service, conscientious objection, human rights

C 13/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.1.1999

on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant
products and against their spread within the Community (2). The (cid:145)plant health provisions(cid:146) seek to provide
protection against (cid:145)quarantine organisms(cid:146), specifically in association with materials for planting and certain
materials intended for use which impinge particularly on plant health, such as wood, potatoes and citrus fruits, as
well as parts of certain species used for decoration (e.g. cut flowers and branches).

Member States have to check consignments to ensure compliance with the provisions. If consignments or parts of
consignments do not comply with the provisions of the Directive, e.g. due to the presence of harmful organisms,
they are intercepted by the Member States in order to avoid the introduction of harmful organisms into the
Community. The Member States and the Commission are notified of the interceptions. Thus,
in 1995,
11 interceptions of consignments of plant products from South America containing harmful organisms were
notified. There were 8 interceptions both in 1996 and 1997, and 3 consignments of plant products from South
America were intercepted during the first half of this year.

The Commission checks the effectiveness of plant health controls carried out by the Member States at the points
of entry into the Community, and has not detected any instances of negligence during the controls on imports
from South America.

(1) OJ L 26, 31.1.1977.
(2) OJ L 15, 21.1.1998.

(1999/C 13/169)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1938/98

by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARE) to the Council

(17 June 1998)

Subject: Situation of conscientious objectors in Greece

Is the Council aware that in Greece, contrary to its own legislation and against all opinions including that of the
European Parliament, conscientious objectors are still being hindered in their quest to have their status recognized
and for the right to perform alternative civilian service. Apparently some have even been imprisoned.

What measures does the Council propose to take to bring to the Greek Government(cid:146)s attention the unacceptable
nature of these activities? Does the Council agree that in acting in this way Greece is seriously infringing human
rights and thereby risks no longer fulfilling the requirements for membership of the European Union?

Reply

(24 September 1998)

The Council is unable to adopt a position on the questions raised by the Honourable Member, which fall entirely
within the purview of the Member State concerned.

(1999/C 13/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1943/98

by Viviane Reding (PPE) to the Commission

(18 June 1998)

Subject: Therapy to combat the recurrence of drink-driving offences

As drink-driving is one of the main causes of fatal road accidents, as the European Union actively promotes
accident prevention and road safety, as (cid:145)Dr German H(cid:246)cher(cid:146)s individual psychological therapy for drivers
(IVT-H(cid:246))(cid:146), which was developed and tested in Germany, has been very successful in preventing the recurrence of
drink-driving offences after the withdrawal of driving licences and as only 6.4 % of drivers in North Rhine-
Westphalia have reoffended after completing a course of IVT-H(cid:246), the Commission is asked whether its
appropriate services are aware of this kind of therapy and the very successful results achieved with it.