WRITTEN QUESTION No. 112/99 by José BARROS MOURA Fundamental freedoms in Macao
Date: 1999-02-02
Institutions: BARROS MOURA, European Parliament
Subjects: China, Macao, Portugal, constitution, freedom of association, freedom of religious beliefs, fundamental rights, political parties, right to strike, trade union freedom

C 320/128

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.11.1999

(1999/C 320/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0101/99

by Carmen Díez de Rivera Icaza (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: EU structural funding for the Spanish company Boliden

(20 January 1999)

Following the disaster in Doñana and in view of the NGOs’ concerns about it, can the Commission say:

- what its intentions are as regards granting structural funding to the company Boliden, which was

suspended after the environmental disaster last April;

- how much funding would be given to the company, when it would be paid and to what environmental

requirements the subsidy would be subject?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(24 February 1999)

Part-finance for the Boliden firm to carry out a project at the Aznalcóllar mine was included in the ‘Regional
incentives’ operational programme for 1994-1999. Public assistance for this project was set at EUR 20,75
million, of which EUR 9,71 million was paid in the period 1995 to 1997.

When the Commission was informed of the state of implementation of the project, at the last meeting of the
programme Monitoring Committee in July 1998, it immediately asked the Spanish authorities to suspend
payment of the remaining balance. That amount is still blocked.

It should be noted that the firm in question could be required to repay the aid already granted if it is found to
have had responsibility for the disaster. The Commission is awaiting information from the Spanish authorities
on this point.

(1999/C 320/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0112/99

by José Barros Moura (PSE) to the Commission

(2 February 1999)

Subject: Fundamental freedoms in Macao

Negotiations are taking place in the Sino-Portuguese Joint Liaison Group (JLG) on the legal regulation to be
applied to the established fundamental freedoms recognised both under Macao’s existing constitutional system
and in the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Legislation is required in order to ‘localise’ rights and freedoms already established under the Constitution, that
is to say, to entrench them and provide safeguards for the future.

The Religious Freedom Act has already been adopted by the Legislative Assembly, with the prior consent of the
Chinese authorities. Other laws, however, are still being blocked by the Chinese representatives in the JLG.

The Commission:

1. How does it view the fact that the Freedom of Association Act has not yet been adopted, a worrying

failure, given that the law in force does not provide for or regulate political parties?

2. How does it view the fact that the Strike and Trade-Union Freedom Act has likewise not been passed?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 1999)

The joint declaration adopted on 26 March 1987 and the provisions of the Basic law of Macau both negotiated
and agreed by the Portuguese and the Chinese authorities explicitly state that the rights and freedoms currently
guaranteed in Macau will continue without change for 50 years after the handover.