WRITTEN QUESTION No. 362/99 by Esko SEPPÄNEN Human rights in Latvia
Date: 1999-03-01
Institutions: European Parliament, SEPPAENEN
Subjects: Communist Party, Latvia, accession to the European Union, application of EU law, civil law, human rights, organisation of elections, parliamentary election, political militant, political rights

C 325/112

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.11.1999

As the legislator has made chambers of commerce responsible for determining the criteria used for calculating
this charge the Commission can only give its views on whether the charge is compatible with Article 10 of the
directive if it is informed of the decisions taken in that regard by the various chambers of commerce have

(1999/C 325/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0357/99

by Antonio Tajani (PPE) to the Commission

(12 February 1999)

Subject: Privatisation of the Rome milk marketing board

What information can the Commission provide to Parliament on the infringement proceedings initiated
against Italy on the privatisation of the Rome milk marketing board?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 1999)

On 25 March 1998 the Commission opened the procedure indicated in Article 93(2) of the EC Treaty
concerning aid granted by the Commune of Rome in connection with operation and privatisation of the
Centrale del Latte di Roma. Its decision to do so was notified in the Official Journal. (1)

The Commission is analysing the observations and comments received under the procedure. On completion of
this examination it will take a final decision on the aid in question.

(1) OJ C 206, 2.7.1998.

(1999/C 325/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0362/99

by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 March 1999)

Subject: Human rights in Latvia

I have been informed that, on 15 February 1999, the civil rights activist Tatyana Zhdanok of Riga, Latvia, will
be prosecuted in the Riga Appeal Court on the grounds of her membership of the Communist Party and that
she may well be dismissed from her post of City Councillor in Riga. Will the Commission study the case and
draw the Latvian Government’s attention to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and, in
particular, Article 25 thereof?

In the Commission’s opinion, can such a country be allowed to accede to the European Union when it cannot
guarantee respect for the human rights of all the people living on its territory?

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

(18 March 1999)

The Commission has studied the case of Riga city council deputy Ms Tatyana Zhdanok.

On 15 February 1999, the Riga regional court concluded that Ms Shdanok was active in the Communist party
after 13 January 1991. Since people active in the Communist party after this date are not eligible accoding to
Latvian election laws, Ms.Shdanok’s mandate will be revoked.

The Office for democratic institutions and human rights (ODIHR) of Organisation for security and
cooperation in Europe (OSCE) expressed concern at the parliamentary elections in 1995 that ‘aspects of
the election contravene Article 7.5 guaranteeing to respect the right of citizens to seek political or public
office, individually or as representatives of political parties or organisations, without discrimination’ of the