do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2774/98 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN to the Commission. Lower rate of VAT
Date: 1998-09-14
Institutions: European Parliament, MAIJ-WEGGEN
Subjects: VAT, VAT rate, goods and services, provision of services, tax harmonisation

29.4.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 118/137

Given the structural nature of the problems, the Commission has already in 1998 partially shifted
Community assistance away from food aid towards measures designed to improve food security. An
integrated ECU 30 million package combining both food aid (86 000 tonnes of assorted products) and
support for agricultural rehabilitation (30 000 tonnes of fertiliser; technical assistance and pilot projects) is
currently being implemented. The Community has also in the past supported double-cropping initiatives
in North Korea with a view to promoting increased agricultural productivity.

No decision has yet been taken on possible Community food aid or food-security operations in North
Korea for 1999.

(1999/C 118/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2774/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

(14 September 1998)

Subject: Lower rate of VAT

Following the expiry of the existing rules under the sixth VAT directive on 31 December 1998, does the
Commission intend to submit proposals for other › possibly lower › VAT rates for goods and services of
a social nature?

If so, what are the Commission(cid:146)s plans and when can specific proposals be expected?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(19 October 1998)

As regards the VAT regime introduced by the Sixth Directive (1), the Commission presumes that the
Honourable Member is referring to the expiry date of the standard rate of VAT, on which it will present a
proposal in due course.

As far as the new common system of VAT for the single market is concerned, satisfactory progress is
being made on the activities referred to in the programme presented by the Commission in 1996.

As regards the reduced rate of VAT, the Commission envisages re-examining the content of Annex H to
the Sixth Directive. In accordance with the conclusions of the report on VAT rates (2), it would like to see
the reduced rate being applied only to basic necessities or products fulfilling a social need.

(1) Directive 77/388/EEC (OJ L 145, 13.6.1977), as last amended by Directive 96/95/EC.
(2) COM(97) 559 final.

(1999/C 118/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2775/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: Creation of the world(cid:146)s largest nature reserve in Surinam

(14 September 1998)

Is the Commission aware that Surinam, an ACP country, has created a nature reserve › the (cid:145)Central
Surinam Wilderness Nature Reserve(cid:146) › with a total area of 16 million ha, which makes it the largest
tropical rain forest reserve in the world?

Does the Commission know the costs of this welcome project, and is the Commission involved in the
conservation of these rain forests?

Would the Commission be prepared to make a contribution from its budget towards the conservation of
this reserve?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2775/98 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN to the Commission. Creation of the world's largest nature reserve in Surinam
Date: 1998-09-14
Institutions: European Parliament, MAIJ-WEGGEN
Subjects: ACP countries, European Development Fund, Surinam, environmental protection, nature reserve, protected area, sustainable development, tropical forest

29.4.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 118/137

Given the structural nature of the problems, the Commission has already in 1998 partially shifted
Community assistance away from food aid towards measures designed to improve food security. An
integrated ECU 30 million package combining both food aid (86 000 tonnes of assorted products) and
support for agricultural rehabilitation (30 000 tonnes of fertiliser; technical assistance and pilot projects) is
currently being implemented. The Community has also in the past supported double-cropping initiatives
in North Korea with a view to promoting increased agricultural productivity.

No decision has yet been taken on possible Community food aid or food-security operations in North
Korea for 1999.

(1999/C 118/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2774/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

(14 September 1998)

Subject: Lower rate of VAT

Following the expiry of the existing rules under the sixth VAT directive on 31 December 1998, does the
Commission intend to submit proposals for other › possibly lower › VAT rates for goods and services of
a social nature?

If so, what are the Commission(cid:146)s plans and when can specific proposals be expected?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(19 October 1998)

As regards the VAT regime introduced by the Sixth Directive (1), the Commission presumes that the
Honourable Member is referring to the expiry date of the standard rate of VAT, on which it will present a
proposal in due course.

As far as the new common system of VAT for the single market is concerned, satisfactory progress is
being made on the activities referred to in the programme presented by the Commission in 1996.

As regards the reduced rate of VAT, the Commission envisages re-examining the content of Annex H to
the Sixth Directive. In accordance with the conclusions of the report on VAT rates (2), it would like to see
the reduced rate being applied only to basic necessities or products fulfilling a social need.

(1) Directive 77/388/EEC (OJ L 145, 13.6.1977), as last amended by Directive 96/95/EC.
(2) COM(97) 559 final.

(1999/C 118/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2775/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: Creation of the world(cid:146)s largest nature reserve in Surinam

(14 September 1998)

Is the Commission aware that Surinam, an ACP country, has created a nature reserve › the (cid:145)Central
Surinam Wilderness Nature Reserve(cid:146) › with a total area of 16 million ha, which makes it the largest
tropical rain forest reserve in the world?

Does the Commission know the costs of this welcome project, and is the Commission involved in the
conservation of these rain forests?

Would the Commission be prepared to make a contribution from its budget towards the conservation of
this reserve?
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2776/98 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN to the Commission. The imprisonment of Petrus Hariyanto in Indonesia
Date: 1998-09-14
Institutions: European Parliament, MAIJ-WEGGEN
Subjects: Indonesia, human rights, political prisoner, political rights, student, the EU's international role

C 135/114

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.5.1999

Is there any form of cooperation at European level which ensures a fair trial and reasonable treatment
1.
in prison for these people, or is there any form of consultation between the EU Member States with regard
to prisoners jailed in the same country?

Does the Commission play a coordinating role in this respect, for example through the local EU

2.
ambassadors?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of Commission

(22 October 1998)

The Union is concerned with the situation in prisons throughout the world, particularly where the
detention conditions of nationals of its Member States are involved. Where it considers that the situation
justifies action under the common foreign and security policy (CFSP), it can make representations to the
authorities of the countries concerned.

Furthermore, under Article 8c of the Treaty on European Union and a Council Decision of 19 December
1995, every citizen of the European Union living or staying in a non-member country is entitled to the
consular protection of any Member State’s diplomatic or consular representation in that country.

The Council’s group on consular matters closely monitors the issue of EU citizens imprisoned in non-
member countries.

(1999/C 135/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2776/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: The imprisonment of Petrus Hariyanto in Indonesia

(14 September 1998)

Amnesty International has drawn attention to the Indonesian student Petrus Hariyanto who is serving an
eight-year sentence in Cipinang prison in Indonesia because he was one of the co-founders of the political
party PRD.

As far as is known, he has never been guilty of violence; nor has he ever propagated it.

Will the Commission ask the Indonesian authorities if this political detainee can be released, now that the
government has adopted a more democratic stance?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 1998)

The Commission regularly calls on the Indonesian authorities to release all political prisoners in Indonesia
and will continue to do so. So far, only a limited number of political prisoners have been released, with
many still remaining in prison.

Petrus Hariyanto, one of the leaders of the political party PRD, was sentenced to eight years in jail in 1997
under the anti-subversion law. Although PRD is no longer a prohibited political party, Mr Hariyanto and
the other imprisoned PRD leaders have not yet been released.

The Commission will continue to include Petrus Hariyanto among the list of political prisoners whose
release is urged upon the Indonesian government.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2772/98 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN to the Commission. Mrs Ben Salem, a prisoner of conscience in Tunisia
Date: 1998-09-14
Institutions: European Parliament, MAIJ-WEGGEN
Subjects: Tunisia, association agreement (EU), democratisation, diplomatic relations, human rights, political prisoner

C 96/146

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.4.1999

(1999/C 96/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2772/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

(14 September 1998)

Subject: Mrs Ben Salem, a prisoner of conscience in Tunisia

Amnesty International has drawn attention to the sentence handed down in Tunisia on Mrs Ben Salem, the wife of
Mr M. Barek, a refugee granted asylum in the Netherlands.

Last November Mrs Ben Salem was sentenced to two years and three months imprisonment, accused of being a
member of an organisation inciting hatred and violence and of illegally attempting to leave Tunisia. On appeal the
sentence was extended to two years and nine months.

Amnesty International regards Mrs Ben Salem, who has never used violence or encouraged others to use
violence, as a prisoner of conscience.

Is the Commission prepared to seek information about Mrs Ben Salem from the Tunisian authorities and to urge
her release so that she can join her husband in the Netherlands?

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

(15 October 1998)

In its usual diplomatic contacts with the Tunisian authorities the Commission will continue to raise allegations of
individual cases of human rights violations, including that brought to its attention by the Honourable Member.
Such contacts are held jointly with the Member States, and governed by the Barcelona Declaration and the
Association Agreement between the Community and Tunisia.

It should also be pointed out that inter-parliamentary meetings between the Parliament and the Tunisian
parliament play a crucial role, in the light of growing contacts between the two on issues relating to
democratisation and the promotion of human rights.

(1999/C 96/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2782/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

(14 September 1998)

Subject: Implementation of the European Parliament(cid:146)s resolution on freedom of religion and human rights in

Pakistan

Can the Commission state what action has been taken to implement the resolution on the blasphemy laws in
Pakistan (resolution B4-0614/98 of 18 June 1998)?

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

(20 October 1998)

The Honourable Member will be aware that the Community-Pakistan cooperation agreement mentioned in the
Parliament Resolution B4-0614 of 18 June 1998 has not yet been concluded.

Nevertheless, the Commission, with the agreement of the Pakistan government, will send an expert mission to
Pakistan in late 1998 to assess elements of the human rights situation in the country with a view to proposing a
programme of projects in the areas of democratisation, civil society and the promotion of human rights issues.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2778/98 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN to the Commission. The execution by hanging of Mr Ruhu'llah Rawhani in Iran
Date: 1998-09-14
Institutions: European Parliament, MAIJ-WEGGEN
Subjects: Iran, human rights, legal aid, penalty, religious discrimination













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91998E2778

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2778/98 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN to the Commission. The execution by hanging of Mr Ruhu'llah Rawhani in Iran  


Official Journal C 118 , 29/04/1999 P. 0138 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2778/98by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission(14 September 1998)Subject: The execution by hanging of Mr Ruhu'llah Rawhani in IranIs the Commission aware that Mr Ruhu'llah Rawhani was hanged on 21 July in Mashad in Iran on the grounds of having converted a young woman to the Bahá'i religion?Is the Commission aware that this charge has been refuted by the young woman herself, who has apparently stated that her mother was a Bahá'i and that she herself was raised as a Bahá'i, and is the Commission aware that the young woman herself has not been detained?Is the Commission aware that Mr Rawhani was denied all visits after his detention, that he was refused legal assistance and that all the indications are that he did not have a proper trial and that no sentence was formally pronounced against him?Is the Commission aware that no Bahá'is have been executed since 1992 and that there are a further 15 Bahá'is in prison, four of whom have also been sentenced to death?Will the Commission ask the Iranian government for clarification of the execution of Mr Rawhani and of the fate of the 15 other Bahá'is in prison?Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission(22 October 1998)The Commission regrets the execution of Mr Ruhu'llah Rawhani in Mashad, Iran, on 21 July 1998. A Troika demarche to the Iranian government in Teheran was made on this matter on 5 August 1998.The Commission has no delegation in Teheran and has no first-hand information on the circumstances surrounding the trial and sentence of Mr Rawhani. The Iranian authorities maintain that he was provided with legal assistance throughout his trial and that he was not sentenced to death because of his religious beliefs since, although not recognised as a religious minority, Baha'i members are free to practise Bahai'sm as long as their activities do not endanger Iran's national security. The Iranian authorities also maintain that Mr Rawhani was judged and condemned previously in 1984 and 1985 for crimes against state security.The Commission is aware that three other members of Iran's Baha'i community (Mr Ataullah Hamid Nasirizadih, Mr Sirus Dhabihi Muqaddam, and Mr Hidayat Kashifi Najafabadi) are imprisoned and also face the death sentence. The Commission, in coordination with Member States, is very concerned by these cases and will continue to keep the human rights situation in Iran under close and careful review.