WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2891/98 by Johanna MAIJ-WEGGEN to the Commission. Human rights violation in Colombia
Date: 1998-09-28
Institutions: European Parliament, MAIJ-WEGGEN
Subjects: Colombia, EU aid, EU financing, human rights, humanitarian aid, war

14.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 135/135

(1999/C 135/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2891/98

by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission

(28 September 1998)

Subject: Human rights violation in Colombia

According to human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, there are still widespread
violations of human rights in Colombia. The situation in San José de Apartade is, apparently, particularly
serious.

Is the Commission aware of the situation in San José de Apartade, and what action has it taken to bring this
matter to the attention of the Colombian authorities?

Does the Commission provide financial aid of any sort for refugee groups in Colombia?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 1998)

The Commission is closely monitoring the human rights situation in Colombia, whose generally
unsatisfactory development continues to give cause for concern. It has repeatedly expressed concern to
the Colombian authorities about the seriousness of the situation regarding human rights and humanitarian
issues and asked them to show firmer commitment to improving the situation.

The Commission is aware of the situation in San José de Apartade, which is one of the many examples of
the situation referred to above. The Member State Ambassadors to Bogota and the Head of the
Commission Delegation regularly visit the areas affected by armed conflict to demonstrate their support
for the victims of violence and extorsion and to bear witness to the international community.

The Commission gives high priority to initiatives designed to protect human rights and monitor human
rights violations in Colombia in three main ways:

− by increasing the presence of the international community in the country (renewing financing for
international observers made available to the UN Commission for Human Rights for monitoring the
human rights situation throughout the country);

− by financing initiatives for local non-governmental organisation (NGO) active in the field of

democracy and human rights;

− by mobilising ECU 11 million of humanitarian aid specifically for displaced persons and victims of

violence between 1997 and 1998.

(1999/C 135/165)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2898/98

by Ursula Schleicher (PPE) to the Commission

(28 September 1998)

Subject: Access to universities in Portugal

Is it the case that students completing their studies at the European Schools enjoy preferential and
significantly easier access to universities in Portugal if one of their parents is employed by the European
Union, while these privileges are not extended even to Portuguese school-leavers from the European
Schools if neither of their parents is employed by the European Union, and what view does the
Commission take of this situation bearing in mind the principles of equality and equal opportunities,
which also apply to the general recognition of the leaving certificates awarded by the European Schools?