WRITTEN QUESTION P-0644/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council. The behaviour of Belgium and France towards Austria.
Date: 2000-02-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, Belgium, France, competence of the Member States, diplomatic relations, national minority, protection of minorities

21.11.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/197

3. or does the Commission assess these measures by the Turkish authorities differently? If that is the
case, namely if the Commission agrees that a critical, negative assessment is to be given of the Turkish
action against Kurdish politicians, what does it consider to be the implications for relations between
the EU and Turkey, in particular with regard to implementing the regulations on the implementation
of measures to promote economic and social development in Turkey and on the implementation of
measures to intensify the EC-Turkey customs union, as well as to Turkey(cid:146)s proposed accession to the
European Union? What steps does the Commission intend to take in practice?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 2000)

Having learned of the arrest on 19 February 2000 of three mayors belonging to the HADEP party, the
Commission, in close co-ordination with the Presidency and the Member States, informed the Turkish
authorities of its concern at the situation of the three elected representatives.

The three men in question were released on bail on 28 February 2000, and were reinstated in their posts
on 29 February 2000.

It is not the role of the Commission to pronounce judgment on the character of the legal proceedings
taken against these three elected politicians. However, the Commission was concerned that these events
might further complicate the vital dialogue between the Turkish authorities and HADEP, a political party
which has come to represent a large part of that section of the population which is of Kurdish origin. The
Commission was also concerned for the consequences these events might have on Turkey(cid:146)s preparations
for accession to the Union.

(2000/C 330 E/227)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0644/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council

(25 February 2000)

Subject: The behaviour of Belgium and France towards Austria

For a number of days now Belgium and France have been pursuing an offensive policy of isolating Austria
because of their fear that the FP(cid:214)(cid:146)s participation in the government could pose a threat to human rights
and the protection of minorities in Austria. At the same time, Belgium and France are the only countries,
apart from Turkey, which have neither ratified nor signed the Council of Europe(cid:146)s framework agreement
on the protection of national minorities.

Is there any justification for France(cid:146)s and Belgium(cid:146)s behaviour given that the two countries have still
1.
not ratified or signed the Council of Europe(cid:146)s framework agreement on the protection of national
minorities and that the two countries do not guarantee the minimum European standard of protection of
minorities?

2.
Does every country, regardless of its own political history or circumstances (for example, France(cid:146)s
(cid:145)empty chair(cid:146) policy in the 1960s or Great Britain(cid:146)s veto policy), have the right to isolate without any legal
basis a trustworthy member of the European Union?

Reply

(2 May 2000)

It would not be appropriate for the Council to take a view on actions which have been taken by one or
more of the Governments of the Member States and which have no direct bearing on the work of the
Council. Any such action is a matter for the Governments of the Member States concerned.