WRITTEN QUESTION E-2002/99 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council. Iran Aid.
Date: 1999-11-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Council of the European Union, Iran, United Kingdom, judicial inquiry, powers of the institutions (EU), terrorism, voluntary organisation

C 203 E/110

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2000

(2000/C 203 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2001/99

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission

(9 November 1999)

Subject: Dumping of polish coal

It is estimated that Polish coal producers are exporting one million tonnes of subsidised coal to the United
Kingdom every year, which has a knock-on effect on Britain(cid:146)s domestic coal market. Indeed, the UK
Minister for Trade and Industry has lodged a complaint with the Polish authorities to halt the dumping of
coal on the UK market.

What action, if any, has the Commission taken to prevent the dumping of subsidised Polish coal? Will the
Commission be taking any anti-dumping measures against Polish coal producers in the future?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(1 December 1999)

So far, the Commission has not undertaken any action against the imports of coal originating in Poland.

The initiation of an anti-dumping or anti-subsidy investigation is only possible after receipt of clear and
documented evidence of injurious dumping or subsidisation, which normally takes the form of a duly
substantiated complaint from the Community industry. Measures can only be imposed after an investiga-
tion has confirmed the existence of injurious dumping or subsidisation, and when the Community interest
calls for intervention.

To this date, the Commission has received no complaint regarding the importation of this product from
Poland.

Should any complaint or relevant evidence of injurious dumping or subsidisation be presented, the
Commission will analyse it with the utmost consideration.

(2000/C 203 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2002/99

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council

(9 November 1999)

Subject: Iran Aid

Iran Aid is a UK charity established in 1983 that provides humanitarian relief to oppressed or destitute
people in Iran, particularly orphaned children, from any ethnic, religious or political background and with
priority being given to the children of persons executed by the regime as mohareb or dissidents. Most
recently, they have been cared for within Iran itself. This kind of assistance contravenes a fatwa (religious
edict) and puts those who do so into the category of mohareb, with the concomitant penalties. For this
reason, Iran Aid(cid:146)s operative network, along with the identities and location of the beneficiaries, must
remain secret. Over the years, many volunteers have been imprisoned, tortured and even killed in the
course of their work for the organisation.

Since May 1998, Iran Aid has been placed under investigation because of allegations of links with a
terrorist organisation, its activities have been suspended and all the documents belonging to the Charity
have been seized. The senior officials of the charity fear that the most sensitive files contained details of the
beneficiaries will become public and known to the Iranian government. According to reports in the media
and from activists working for the charity, the Iranian Security Service and police have already discovered
the names of some of the volunteers inside Iran, and a ferocious campaign of repression has recently been
launched.

What information can the Council give concerning this case?

18.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 203 E/111

Answer

(24 January 2000)

Iran Aid is currently under investigation by the UK Charity Commission. The Council does not make
statements about ongoing investigations in Member States.

(2000/C 203 E/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2004/99

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(9 November 1999)

Subject: State aid to the Terra M(cid:237)tica theme park in Benidorm (Alicante) and its compatibility with the

common market

In 1997 an organisation known as the European Theme Park Association, of which the company which
runs Port Aventura was a principal member, lodged a complaint against the construction of the Terra
M(cid:237)tica theme park in Benidorm on the basis that the project was receiving state aid from the Valencian
government.

Despite the fact that a considerable period of time has elapsed, no notice of any decision has been
received.

Does the Commission believe that state aid incompatible with the common market has been granted to the
Terra M(cid:237)tica project in Benidorm?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(30 November 1999)

The Commission has examined closely the complaint referred to by the Honourable Member. It has held
several meetings with the complainant,
the Spanish authorities and representatives of Terra Mitica.
In addition, it has written eleven letters to the Spanish authorities and the complainant and has received
twenty-eight replies. This extensive correspondence and the considerable period of time that has elapsed
are attributable, on the one hand, to the number of objections notified and the complexity of some of
them (valuation of capital contributions and promotion of the theme park, for example) and, on the other,
to the fact that the objections have been notified by the complainant over time.

The Commission has not yet come to the conclusion that aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) (former
Article 92(1)) of the EC Treaty has been granted by the Valencian government and the municipality of
Benidorm to the Terra Mitica association. A final decision on this matter will be taken as soon as possible.

(2000/C 203 E/142)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2006/99

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) and Rosa D(cid:237)ez GonzÆlez (PSE) to the Council

Subject: Replacement of drift nets

(9 November 1999)

Council Regulation 1239/98 (1) prohibiting the use of drift nets from 2002 states that there must be a
gradual reduction in the use of these nets by fleets currently using them. No more than 60 % of fishing
boats which used one or more drift nets during the period 1995 to 1997 would be allowed to use them in
1998. The regulation also obliged Member States to provide the Commission with a list of those boats
authorised to fish with drift nets by 31 July 1998.