WRITTEN QUESTION E-1912/00 by Pasqualina Napoletano (PSE) and Giovanni Procacci (ELDR) to the Commission. Restriction on the movement of European Union citizens on Cypriot territory.
Date: 2000-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cyprus, EU national, Italy, accession negotiations, freedom of movement

C 103 E/34

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

The possibility of cross contamination by accidental physical mixing is also a concern. In order to respond
to this, the Commission is considering, inter alia, the introduction of a system of traceability into the
provisions of Directive 90/220/EEC, and will also take this into account for the aforesaid standards for
purity concerning the presence of genetically modified seeds. Until such time, the authorities of the
Member States, under their general obligation to monitor compliance with Community law, have to assess
the risk of the possible presence of unauthorised genetically modified material and, in case of suspicion, to
carry out appropriate testing to intercept contaminated lots and prevent them from being marketed and
used.

(1) OJ L 117, 8.5.1990.

(2001/C 103 E/036)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1909/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Allocation of funding under the EU Community Support Framework for improvements to the

secondary road network in the province of Granada

Given that the European Regional Development Fund is intended to rectify regional imbalances and reduce
differences in regional development, and that under Article 2 of the regulation concerned its scope of
application is defined thus, (cid:145)[to provide] improved access to rural areas (cid:133) investments in infrastructures
where modernisation or regeneration is a prerequisite for the creation or development of job-creating
including infrastructure and links on which the development of these activities
economic activities,
depends(cid:146), and, further,
(cid:145)the provision of infrastructure on a scale appropriate to local and employment
development(cid:146), can the Commission indicate whether the proposals submitted by the Spanish Government
for funding from the Structural Funds for the period 2000-2006 for improvements to the secondary road
network meet the above criteria?

If so, on the basis of the Spanish Government(cid:146)s proposals, what amount under the EU Community Support
Framework is likely to be allocated for improvements to the secondary road network in Granada?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

The Commission is currently finalizing the Community support framework (CSF) 2000-2006 for the
objective 1 regions of Spain in partnership with the Spanish authorities. In this context the latter have
proposed that a significant priority be given to the main transport networks including road transport.
However, the position of the secondary road network is not one of the strategic issues under discussion for
the CSF. Rather, this matter will be dealt with at regional level in the context of the regional operational
programmes for which negotiations will begin shortly. Consequently it is not possible at the present stage
to identify the amount of structural funds allocated to the secondary road network in any given region or
province.

(2001/C 103 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1912/00

by Pasqualina Napoletano (PSE) and Giovanni Procacci (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Restriction on the movement of European Union citizens on Cypriot territory

Last April a group of Italian citizens went to the Republic of Cyprus on a sightseeing and religious trip.
The programme was supposed to include visits to both the north and south parts of the island. Despite

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/35

prior authorisation issued by the Cypriot authorities at the Italian Embassy in Nicosia for transit to the
north, the group was refused permission, without prior notice and without any reasons being given, to
cross the (cid:145)green line(cid:146) separating Cyprus from the Turkish-occupied sector.

Can the Commission say whether it knows of any similar cases affecting European Union citizens and
whether it considers that such a practice is compatible with normal pre-accession partnership relations?

Can it also say whether, in view of Cyprus(cid:146)s accession to the European Union, it considers such restrictions
on the movement of Community citizens compatible with the principle of free movement of persons?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2000)

The Commission is informed of the incident mentioned by the Honourable Members. It has asked for
details both from its delegation in Nicosia and the Italian Embassy in Cyprus. It has also asked for an
explanation from the Cypriot Foreign Ministry.

The Foreign Ministry has replied as follows:

When the Italian Ambassador applied to the Cyprus Police (not to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) for
permission to the said Group to visit holy places, including the St. Barnabas Monastery, in the Turkish
occupied part of Cyprus, the Cyprus Police implemented the policy of the Government for access of
persons to the occupied part. Basic element of this policy is to secure the protection of the rights of
the Cypriot State in relation to antiquities and of the Church of Cyprus in relation to holy places
belonging to the latter. Authorization for access to these places is according to Protocol 1 of the
European Convention of Human Rights an exclusive right and responsibility of their owners. The
Cyprus Government cannot behave in a manner which could be interpreted as violating these rights.

It is worth noting that at no point of time approval was granted by the Cyprus Police or any other
Cypriot authority for the visit of the Group to the occupied part of Cyprus.

The sensitivities of the Cypriot citizens who are denied access to the occupied part of Cyprus by the
illegal regime simply because they are not Turks, Turkish-Cypriots or foreigners should also be taken
into consideration. This is of course most relevant
the historic Monastery of
St Barnabas the founder of the Church of Cyprus.

for the case of

As the Honourable Members are aware, the result of the de facto division of the island into two strictly
separated parts is that the fundamental freedoms laid down by the Treaties and in particular freedom of
movement of goods, people, services and capital, right of establishment and the universally recognized
political, economic, social and cultural rights, cannot today be exercised over the entirety of the island(cid:146)s
territory. These freedoms and rights would have to be guaranteed as part of a comprehensive settlement
restoring constitutional arrangements covering the whole of the Republic of Cyprus.

(2001/C 103 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1913/00

by Armando Cossutta (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Presence of asbestos in the European School in Luxembourg

In March last year, a specialist firm which had been asked to carry out an on-the-spot inspection found
traces of asbestos in some wall panels and piping in the European School(cid:146)s crŁche and kindergarten in
Luxembourg. On 7 May 1999 the Early Childhood Centre(cid:146)s management committee asked the Commi-