WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2457/98 by Leonie van BLADEL , James JANSSEN van RAAY to the Council. Bilateral extradition treaty between the Netherlands and Trinidad and Tobago
Date: 1998-07-30
Institutions: European Parliament, JANSSEN VAN RAAY, VAN BLADEL
Subjects: Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, bilateral agreement, competence of the Member States, drug traffic, extradition

C 118/82

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.4.1999

In view of the wide variety at national level of the causes and characteristics of this phenomenon, any
legislative measures would produce more focused and effective results if they were adopted at national
level. The provision of better education and information for members of the public and businesses on the
financial implications of the situation described above is often regarded as being effective in preventing
usury from spreading further.

However, the Commission is monitoring the matter, primarily from the standpoint of the single market,
and will continue to do so. Lastly, it takes the view that the European Central Bank, which is concerned
essentially with monetary policy, payment systems and, to a lesser degree, credit institutions, does not
have any competence in the matter.

(1999/C 118/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2456/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) and James Janssen van Raay (UPE) to the Council

Subject: Threats against white Dutch nationals in Surinam

(30 July 1998)

1.
Today(cid:146)s edition of (cid:145)Weekkrant Suriname(cid:146) (Suriname Weekly News) carries a report that, when the
ex-dictator and current national adviser of Suriname, Desi Bouterse › a man suspected by the Netherlands
judicial authorities of being a large-scale international drugs dealer › was arrested, it was said that no
white Dutch national was now safe in Suriname. What consequences does the Council expect that threat to
have?

Is the Council aware that that threat, made by a staff member of the NDP, the political party of which

2.
Bouterse is President, might seriously damage relations between Suriname and the European Union?

3.
Is the Council prepared to call on the Commission to carry out a detailed review of relations with
Suriname, with particular regard to aid projects involving funds from the European Union, now that it is
clear that the constitutional state of Suriname is dominated by a man suspected of being a large-scale
international drugs dealer?

Reply

(7 December 1998)

The Council has not discussed the matters raised by the Honourable Member.

(1999/C 118/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2457/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) and James Janssen van Raay (UPE) to the Council

(30 July 1998)

Subject: Bilateral extradition treaty between the Netherlands and Trinidad and Tobago

1.
Is the Council aware of the statements made by Mr Maraj, Minister of Justice of Trinidad and
Tobago, who said, in connection with the refusal of Trinidad to arrest the ex-dictator and current national
adviser of Suriname, Desi Bouterse, a man suspected of being a large-scale international drugs dealer, that
the Netherlands had only itself to blame for the diplomatic breakdown because Trinidad and Tobago had
urged the Netherlands to conclude a bilateral extradition treaty two years ago?

2.
Does not the Council feel that the fact that the Netherlands and Trinidad and Tobago did not
conclude a bilateral extradition treaty constitutes a serious failure in the policy pursued by the Netherlands
Foreign Affairs and Justice Ministers, all the more so since Trinidad and Tobago is said to have proposed
such a treaty to the Netherlands two years ago and since a treaty of that nature was concluded between the
United States and Trinidad and Tobago within two months?