WRITTEN QUESTION P-0223/00 by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Road widening works at Glen of the Downs, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Date: 2000-01-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Ireland, environmental impact, impact study, structural adjustment, transport infrastructure

C 330 E/106

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.11.2000

customs authorities of each Member State were asked to undertake post-clearance recovery of duty for
those certificates which (1) had clearly been falsified or related to goods not produced in Bangladesh and
(2) had been obtained on the basis of
false declarations to the Export Promotion Bureau by the
manufacturers.

Bangladesh recognised the problems arising with the issue of certificates of origin (form A) and inadequate
checking of them. Moreover, the importers in the European Union were apparently only informed of the
problems with the Bangladeshi authorities at a very late stage.

Is it true that the Commission is currently considering a proposal to exonerate the importers from
payment of certain customs duties on grounds of (cid:145)exceptional circumstances(cid:146)? If so, what measures will be
taken, and to what period will these measures relate? If not, will the Commission take measures in this
regard?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2000)

It is true that customs duties relating to goods imported under cover of 15 000 certificates of origin issued
by the Bangladeshi authorities between 1994 and mid-1996 have been declared payable, following the
decision by the Bangladeshi authorities to withdraw (cancel) the certificates in question (cid:129) a decision taken
in circumstances described in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question. The demand for such payment is
entirely in line with the provisions of EEC Regulation No 2454/93 (1).

A Community delegation visited Bangladesh in December 1996 on an administrative cooperation and
investigation mission. There, they were able to confirm that the suspected irregularities had in fact taken
place. On the basis of the evidence they gathered, the Commission published a notice in the Official
Journal in April 1997 (2).

Between June and August 1998, Bangladesh was struck by a natural catastrophe (floods) which had a
substantial and damaging impact on both the economic life of
its
administrative authorities. The Commission is presently considering whether these events might be held
to constitute (cid:145)exceptional circumstances(cid:146), within the meaning of the regulation cited above.

the country and the work of

(1) OJ L 253, 11.10.1993.
(2) OJ C 107, 5.4.1997.

(2000/C 330 E/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0223/00

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Road widening works at Glen of the Downs, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Has the Commission ascertained the significance of the new evidence that has come to light in relation to
the Glen of the Downs, County Wicklow, Ireland, designated a proposed SAC on 12 August 1999? Is the
Commission of the opinion that the information provided so far by the Irish authorities enable it to assess
with precision the level of damage to be incurred by the proposed SAC?

Is the Commission likely to put a stay on proposed road works pending replies to its queries by the Irish
Government? Is the Commission going to issue legal proceedings against Ireland on this matter? What
further steps if any is the Commission going to take to fully assess the impact of the road works at the
Glen of the Downs? Is the Commission likely to withdraw part or all of its funding should the results of
enquiries prove unsatisfactory?

21.11.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/107

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2000)

The Commission assumes that the new evidence cited by the Honourable Member consists of a hydro-
geological report which she submitted to the Commission on 21 January 2000. This concerns the possible
effects on groundwater and ash-hazel woodland of
the road drainage system. The
Commission has forwarded this to the Irish authorities for comments, and proposes to defer comment
until the Irish authorities have responded.

the design of

The Commission does not have the power to put a stay on road works. It has no current plans to start
legal proceedings in relation to the project or to withdraw funding.

(2000/C 330 E/119)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0226/00

by JosØ Salafranca SÆnchez-Neyra (PPE-DE) to the Council

Subject: Arrest of moderate dissidents in Cuba

(28 January 2000)

Osvaldo Paya Sardiæas and HØctor Palacios, two moderate dissidents, were recently arrested in Cuba, and
taken away to an unknown destination. According to the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and
National Reconciliation, more than 300 dissidents and human rights activists have been arrested
since November 1999.

Is the Council aware of these circumstances?

What is its position on these arrests?

Does it intend to take any action on the matter?

Reply

(2 May 2000)

As the Honourable Member will be aware, the Council pays close attention to the situation of human
rights in Cuba in general and the situation of dissidents in particular.

On the specific question of the arrest of Mr Osvaldo Paya Sardiæas of the (cid:145)Movimiento Cristiano de
Liberaci(cid:243)n(cid:146) and HØctor Palacios, founder member of the (cid:145)Partido de Solidaridad DemocrÆtica(cid:146), who were
detained on 25 January, the Council was kept informed of their situation and was pleased to hear that they
had been released the day after their arrest.

In the field of human rights, the EU has always made its position clear whenever necessary through both
public declarations and representations to the Cuban authorities. Moreover, the EU missions in Havana
consult one another regularly on human rights issues and maintain a useful dialogue with Cuban dissidents
and other groups of Cuban society. In March 1999 the Council issued a statement expressing the EU(cid:146)s
regrets concerning the outcome of the trial of four members of the (cid:145)Internal Dissidence Working Group(cid:146)
and repeating its calls for the prompt release of the four.

The EU(cid:146)s objective with regard to Cuba, as stated in the Common Position on Cuba adopted by the
Council on 2 December 1996, continues to be to encourage a process of transition towards a pluralistic
democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as sustainable economic
recovery and improved living standards for the Cuban people. The EU considers that result-oriented
dialogue and humanitarian aid are the best instruments for attaining that objective.

When carrying out its sixth evaluation of the Common Position in November 1999, the Council concluded
that there had been no changes in the situation in Cuba that would justify a change in the EU(cid:146)s approach.

The Council will continue to raise these and other issues relating to human rights with the Cuban
authorities at every opportunity.