WRITTEN QUESTION P-2697/99 by Rosa Díez González (PSE) to the Council. Information on European Union citizens condemned to death.
Date: 2000-01-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU national, EU relations, death penalty, diplomatic relations, third country

8.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 225 E/195

explained that the link could potentially transport power equivalent to the output of a major power
station, to wit some 750 Megawatts (Mw). The Commission stressed that the link made the construction of
a nuclear power station unlikely: by carrying electricity from Spain to Morocco it rendered the construc-
tion of a nuclear power station with an equivalent capacity uneconomic.

Nuclear power stations normally have a capacity of at least 600 Mw. The largest have a capacity of
1000 Mw or more.

A nuclear power station naturally has to offer every possible guarantee that safety requirements have been
satisfied. This is the province of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). France(cid:146)s department of
nuclear safety is quite probably sharing its know-how too. The link permits more effective use of the
capacity available. Were Morocco to build a nuclear power station, it would not be for the Commission to
carry out checks incumbent on other bodies.

As for the use of gas, Morocco and Algeria would appear to be negotiating the supply of gas to cover
Morocco(cid:146)s future energy needs.

The French government would indeed appear to be involved with the Moroccan government in this
project. The Ma(cid:226)moura nuclear research centre is not a secret project. Construction started last August,
and the centre is to be devoted exclusively to civil applications, primarily in the fields of health and food-
processing. Since the project lies outside the Commission(cid:146)s sphere of competence, it cannot provide the
Honourable Member with detailed answers.

The Commission has consistently supported UN efforts to organise a referendum on the future of the
Western Sahara. It intends to pursue this policy or any other course of action decided by the UN with a
view to settling the question of the Western Sahara peacefully.

(1) Debates of the European Parliament (November 1999).

(2000/C 225 E/220)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2697/99

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

(3 January 2000)

Subject: Information on European Union citizens condemned to death

Is the Council
in possession of information on the numbers, the identities, the legal situations, the
conditions of detention and the personal and family situations of nationals of Member States of the
European Union condemned to death in other countries? Has it attempted to obtain this information, and,
if so, will it forward it to the author of this question and to the European Parliament?

If the Council is not in possession of such information, does it not agree that steps need to be taken to
establish a system for keeping proper records of these cases? What action does it intend to take to remedy
this lack of information?

Reply

(28 February 2000)

The Council is not in possession of the information requested concerning the number of European Union
citizens condemned to death in third countries.

The European Union, which is campaigning resolutely for the universal abolition of the death penalty,
regularly intervenes to prevent third countries concerned from imposing or executing the death penalty, in
particular following initiatives taken along such lines within the Council, by its members and/or its
Presidency.