WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3673/98 by Gerhard HAGER to the Commission. Financing agreements with the Czech Republic
Date: 1998-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, HAGER
Subjects: Austria, Czechia, Germany, Roma, agreement (EU), democratisation, financial agreement, human rights, protection of minorities

C 207/108

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.7.1999

(1999/C 207/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3673/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(7 December 1998)

Subject: Financing agreements with the Czech Republic

On the occasion of his visit to the Czech Republic in early October Commissioner van den Broek signed three
financing agreements with the Czech Finance Minister, Mr Svoboda, involving payments of ECU 36,9 million
to the Czech Republic from PHARE funds. Part of this money is to be spent on projects concerning
democratisation and the protection of minorities.

Can the Commission answer the following questions:

1. Do these projects include funding for the German-speaking minority?

2.

Is the conclusion of the financing agreements connected with obligations concerning improving the rights
guaranteed in the European Convention on Human Rights (annulment of the Beneš Decrees)?

3. Does the Commission believe that the Beneš Decrees, which are still

in force and which violate
international law and human rights, satisfy the Copenhagen criteria (respect for and compliance with
human rights)?

4. Has the Commission ever raised the question of the Beneš Decrees in the acquis screening?

5.

If not, why not? If so, with what result?

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

(13 January 1999)

1.
On 12 October 1998 the Czech Finance Minister and the responsible member of the Commission signed
documents related to the 1998 national Phare programme for the Czech Republic, which includes a project
supporting the further integration of Roma into Czech society.

2.
Phare assistance is conditional on the Czech Republic’s respect of its commitments under the Europe
agreement, further steps towards satisfying the political and economic criteria established by the Copenhagen
European Council of June 1993 and progress in implementing the accession partnership of March 1998.

The implementation of the European Human Rights Convention (EHRC) is the responsibility of the
3.
Council of Europe. Questions on the compatibility of the Benes decrees with the EHRC can only be answered
by that organisation. Furthermore, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the provisions of
the Czech-German Declaration of January 1997.

4. and 5.
negotiating chapters already examined during the screening exercice.

No questions related to the issues raised by the Honourable Member have arisen under the

(1999/C 207/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3676/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(7 December 1998)

Subject: Daphne programme

In recent years there has been an increase in child abuse and child pornography in Europe together with
violence against women, for example in the form of forced prostitution. The Daphne programme is intended
to deploy coordinated measures Europe-wide to combat violent attacks on women and children in the EU. The
intention is to make the public aware of the sexual abuse of women. Non-governmental organisations have
been chosen to implement the project because they often have better access to the victims.