WRITTEN QUESTION E-0015/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Projects for the restoration of Kosovo's cultural heritage.
Date: 2000-01-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro, heritage protection, war damage

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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24.10.2000

situation in all of these areas. This dialogue has just begun and it is therefore too early to draw
conclusions, all the more so in the light of recent developments with regard to Sudan(cid:146)s internal situation
(dissolution of the Parliament on 12 December 1999 and formation of a new Government) as well as the
positive move to normalisation of its bilateral relations with its neighbours, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia and
Uganda. The Council is, of course, fully aware that positive developments at this stage do not necessarily
secure the respect of human rights throughout this largest country on the African continent.

The Council will continue to monitor the situation in Sudan very closely and to contribute, within its
possibilities, to an improvement of the human rights situation in this country.

(2000/C 303 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0015/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Projects for the restoration of Kosovo(cid:146)s cultural heritage

(19 January 2000)

In its answer to my Written Question E-1587/99 (1) on the restoration of historic monuments damaged by
the war in Yugoslavia, the Commission stated that it (cid:145)does not itself have competence to take any measures
for the protection of Kosovo(cid:146)s cultural heritage(cid:146). Nevertheless, the subject was raised by Commissioner
Reding at the recent Council of Ministers for Culture in November 1999, and it was stressed that,
after February 2000, projects would be considered with a view to listing the measures required for the
preservation of Kosovo(cid:146)s cultural heritage.

Does the Commission have anything to add to its reply to the points raised in Written Question E-1587/
99 following the Council of Ministers for Culture?

1.

In what way does it intend to support restoration work?

2. Has a specific restoration programme been drawn up,

including scientific studies, timetables and

priorities?

3. Will similar attention be paid to the restoration of monuments damaged in the remainder of

Yugoslavia?

(1) OJ C 170, 20.6.2000, p. 41.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2000)

Following the recent meeting of the Culture Council and the member responsible for Education and
Culture(cid:146)s statement as to the initiative to be undertaken for measures required for the preservation of
Kosovo(cid:146)s cultural heritage, the Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that a covenant
has been concluded with the Council of Europe.

This foresees the establishment of a high level group of experts in the field of cultural heritage with the
aim to propose solutions to problems arising from the damage and destruction of cultural property in
Kosovo. The membership of the high level group of experts will be determined through close consultation
between the Commission, the Council of Europe and the International Administration of Kosovo and other
international institutions and non-governmental organisations such as International Council of monuments
and sites (Icomos), International Council of museums (ICOM), Center for international restoration studies
in Rome (Unesco) (Iccrom), International federation of association for the protections of Europe(cid:146)s cultural
and natural heritage (Europa Nostra).

With the involvement of and co-ordination with the International Administration of Kosovo, the Agency
for reconstruction (established by Council Regulation (EC) No 2454/99 of 15 November 1999 amending
Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 relating to aid for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in particular by the setting up of a European
agency for reconstruction (1)) and the authorities at local, regional or federal level the aim of the high level

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of group of experts is after a survey, to identify in detail the damage and destruction of cultural property,
mainly architectural or archaeological heritage (monuments and/or sites) of all ethnic and religious groups
throughout Kosovo; to establish a list of priorities for intervention based on the survey; and to assist in
setting-up teams of experts from local, regional or federal
levels, representing all ethnic and religious
groups of the region, who should draw up feasibility studies or intervention plans for the priorities
established in by the survey.

As to the remainder of Yugoslavia the Commission would like to refer the Honourable Member to its reply
to his previous written question E-1587/99 (2).

(1) OJ L 299, 20.11.1999.
(2) OJ C 170, 20.6.2000, p. 41.

(2000/C 303 E/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0022/00

by Bertel Haarder (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 January 2000)

Subject: European register of fingerprints of asylum-seekers (Eurodac)

In view of the Danish reservation on judicial cooperation (Edinburgh agreement), will the Commission
state whether or not Denmark may participate in Eurodac, the common fingerprint register?

What conditions does Denmark have to meet if it is to participate in Eurodac on an equal footing with the
other countries taking part?

Can the Commission confirm that Denmark may participate in Eurodac only if it fully accepts the
jurisdiction of the Court of Justice?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(29 February 2000)

The Commission(cid:146)s proposal for a Eurodac regulation (1) has its legal basis in Title IV of the EC Treaty. The
Treaty of Amsterdam contains a Protocol on the position of Denmark which governs Denmark(cid:146)s position
in relation to measures proposed pursuant to Title IV (2).

Article 1 of the Protocol provides that Denmark shall not take part in the adoption of measures proposed
under Title IV. Article 2 provides that no measure adopted under Title IV shall be binding on or applicable
in Denmark. Under the provisions of the Treaty as they apply at present, Denmark will therefore not take
part in the adoption of the Eurodac regulation and will not be bound by its provisions.

Article 5 of the Protocol is concerned with Denmark(cid:146)s position in relation to proposals or initiatives to
build upon the Schengen acquis under the provisions of Title IV of the Treaty. It allows Denmark to decide
to implement in its national law a Council decision to build on the Schengen acquis, and in so doing to
law between Denmark and the Schengen States (3) and, where
create an obligation in international
applicable, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The draft Eurodac regulation can not, however, be regarded
as an initiative to build on the Schengen acquis, and Article 5 is therefore not applicable.

Article 7 of the Protocol allows Denmark, in accordance with its constitutional requirements, to inform the
other Member States that it no longer wishes to avail itself of all or part of the protocol, in which case it
would then apply in full all relevant measures then in force. Denmark has not so far announced that it
intends to use this procedure. The use of the Article 7 mechanism would however allow Denmark to
participate in Eurodac on an identical footing with the other Member States.

The Council has drawn up a draft declaration to the Eurodac regulation to the effect that it would be
interested in the conclusion of an agreement between the Community and Denmark, allowing the latter to