WRITTEN QUESTION E-2031/00 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission. Vietnam: meeting between Mr Prodi and Mr Lê Kha Phiêu.
Date: 2000-06-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Viet Nam, common foreign and security policy, international human rights law

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/171

Despite the availability of estimates of budgetary balances by Member State, it is to be noted that there
exists no optimal way to measure net contributions. The Commission has also consistently argued against
the use of such measures when intended to evaluate the budgetary benefits and costs of Union member-
ship. These issues are extensively discussed in the Commission report on the operation of the own
resources system, of October 1998, and in particular in Annex 3. This report is available at the following
address:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/budget/fr/agenda2000/a2000rp.htm.

(2001/C 72 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2027/00

by Reino Paasilinna (PSE) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Position of workers, their legal security and work protection in paedophile cases

A number of difficult paedophile incidents have recently been uncovered in several European Union
Member States among persons working with children. These incidents have made the working environ-
ment considerably more difficult. Workers who have attempted to help children and demand investigations
have often come up against a powerful reaction, for example in the course of court and complaints
procedures. In the worst instance a worker was sacked and even had to bear liability for legal costs.

What measures is the Commission taking or does it propose to take at European level to protect the
position and legal certainty of workers in cases where a worker has taken measures to protect children and
investigate paedophile incidents at his or her place of work?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2000)

The matter to which reference is made does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Community.

(2001/C 72 E/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2031/00

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Vietnam: meeting between Mr Prodi and Mr LŒ Kha PhiŒu

Despite the fact that Vietnam has shown not the slightest signs of any improvement in its current regime
and there have, on the contrary, been further arrests of political and religious figures, the Vietnamese press
agency has announced that the President of the Commission decided to hold a meeting on Saturday,
27 May with Mr LŒ Kha PhiŒu, Secretary-General of the Vietnamese Communist Party, in other words the
politician who symbolises most obviously and most directly the anti-democratic face of Vietnam.

Can this decision by the President of the Commission be interpreted as marking the beginning of a shift
away from the highly critical stance hitherto adopted by the European Union towards Vietnam and the
abandonment of specific demands by the European institutions, in particular the European Parliament, that
the Vietnamese authorities carry out political, economic and human rights reforms? If this is not the case,
what guarantees did the Commission receive from the Secretary-General of the Vietnamese Communist
Party concerning the willingness of the Vietnamese authorities to carry out rapidly the reforms necessary
reforms to establish democracy and the rule of law in Vietnam?

C 72 E/172

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

The Commission refers to its reply to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Written Question E-1517/00 and
confirms that the meeting between the President of the Commission and the Secretary General of the
Communist Party of Vietnam on 27 May 2000 did not represent any deviation from the policy of the
Union in relation to Vietnam.

(2001/C 72 E/220)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2035/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: International air links from Galicia

Although there are three airports in Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Vigo and Corunha, this European
region of almost 3 million inhabitants has no direct international links with any city other than London.
To reach the rest of Europe and the world, Galicians have to travel via Madrid, Barcelona or Bilbau.
International links from London are restricted by the fact that there is only one flight a day. It takes
5 hours to get from Santiago airport to Brussels, and the journey to Strasbourg, which requires two
changes of plane, takes seven. In reply to my earlier question on the decentralisation of air communica-
tions (E-0110/00) (1), the Commission indicated that when third country companies wish to use Member
States as a base for operating international flights, the Member States allow them to do so only on
condition that they use the hub airports, thus worsening the already appalling congestion at these airports
and prejudicing decentralisation. The idea is apparently to defend the interests of the flag-carrying
companies of each Member State, in opposition to the economic and social interests of their citizens,
and ignoring the idea and concept of a (cid:145)single European sky(cid:146) promoted by the Commission.

What problems and economic, legal or technical conditions need to be dealt with in order for Galicia to
have direct air links with the major European cities, or alternatively, the requisite air links with London, an
airport close at hand linked with the entire world, or Brussels, thus avoiding the tiresome necessity of
changing planes in Madrid, Barcelona, or Bilbau, airports which in turn offer less advantageous connec-
tions for certain international flights, particularly with European cities like Strasbourg? Are objectives like
this included in the (cid:145)single European sky(cid:146) scheme, given that they undoubtedly affect many European cities
and regions?

(1) OJ C 330 E, 21.11.2000, p. 85.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2000)

Since the entry into force on 1 January 1993 of the three Regulations making up the (cid:145)third air package(cid:146)
(Council Regulation (EEC) No 2409/92 of 23 July 1992 on fares and rates for air services, Council
Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23 July 1992 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community
air routes and Council Regulation (EEC) No 2407/92 of 23 July 1992 on licensing of air carriers (1)) and
liberalising the Community civil aviation market, Community air carriers are entirely free to propose
whatever services they wish between Community airports open to commercial operations. Consequently,
there is no longer any regulatory or technical barrier to Galicia enjoying the kind of air service desired by
the Honourable Member. The policy of liberalisation has in fact resulted in an overall increase in the
number of lines being operated within the Community.