WRITTEN QUESTION P-1412/00 by Marietta Giannakou-Koutsikou (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Diamantis affair.
Date: 2000-05-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Egypt, Greece, child protection, common foreign and security policy, discrimination on the basis of nationality, illegal restraint, religious discrimination

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/139

(2001/C 53 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1412/00

by Marietta Giannakou-Koutsikou (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 May 2000)

Subject: Diamantis affair

The unbaptised child of Ioannis Diamantis, a Greek citizen of Christian orthodox faith, has been held
illegally for about a year in Alexandria, Egypt, by the father of Mr Diamantis(cid:146)s Egyptian wife (Mr Diamantis
and his wife had been married in a civil ceremony). This situation has been tolerated by Egypt(cid:146)s official
authorities. The conditions set by the wife(cid:146)s father for releasing the child to his legal parents are for
Mr Diamantis to become a naturalised Egyptian and to convert to Islam. Despite the efforts made by the
parents, who are living in Greece, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Department for Administrative
and Judicial Affairs) and Interpol (which was asked to intervene in early April) no progress has been made.
This unprecedented case constitutes a manifest violation of fundamental individual rights with a direct
effect on European citizens who are suffering the effects of discrimination based on their origin and
religious beliefs.

In view of the fact that an Association Agreement between the European Union and Egypt is about to be
signed, what steps does the Commissioner responsible intend to take to bring the illegal detention of the
child to an end as quickly as possible?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 May 2000)

The Commission is only aware of
forward by the Honourable Member through the
considerable media coverage which it has recently had in Greece. On the basis of this information the
Commission is not in a position to comment in detail on either the legal issues involved or on whether or
not this is a purely bilateral consular matter. However, the Commission has been informed that the child
concerned has been released to the parents. If so, the matter appears to be resolved.

the case put

(2001/C 53 E/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1416/00

by Roberto Bigliardo (TDI) to the Commission

(3 May 2000)

Subject: The Telecom Italia Mobile company

The Telecom Italia company is regularly quoted on the stock exchange and subject to the rules governing
private companies.

However, the company of which it is an offshoot, SIP, was a public company enjoying a monopoly
position.

The agreement reached between certain trade unions and the telecom company involves direct interven-
tion by the Italian State, which meets certain costs. There are other companies in Italy operating in the
same market sector as Telecom Italia and which do not enjoy the same economic assistance.

Does the Commission not consider therefore that the agreement to make unemployment assistance
available to Telecom Italia will distort the market to the detriment of other operators and does it not
agree that the restructuring should not be financed with public funds to the detriment of new operators
who already have to come to terms with a market that was previously a monopoly and are now seeing
Telecom Italia given special treatment in the shape of a reorganisation that is of no benefit to the
community at large?