WRITTEN QUESTION E-1967/00 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. New policy on Indonesia.
Date: 2000-06-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Indonesia, Timor, common foreign and security policy, international human rights law

C 72 E/158

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2000)

The Atomic Questions group is a working party made up of representatives of the Member States, whose
task is to prepare Council decisions in the nuclear field. The Council alone is responsible for appointing
the members of the group. Therefore only the Council can answer the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question.

(2001/C 72 E/200)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1962/00

by Carmen Fraga EstØvez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Use of tuna loin quotas

In its reply to Question E-1087/00 (1) the Commission invites the author thereof (cid:145)to make a careful reading
of the study which the Commission has had drawn up on the topic(cid:146). Irrespective of the fact that a careful
reading of the study is what prompted not only Question E-1087/00 but also the other three which the
author has tabled on the same topic, and irrespective of the fact that the doubts expressed in those
questions have occurred not only to the author thereof but also to the Community fisheries and processing
sector, to certain representatives of ACP and GSP countries and even to other MEPs (as illustrated by the
documentation provided by the Commission itself), the Commission(cid:146)s reply adds an interesting item of
information as regards the use by the Community industry of tuna loin quotas. However, since what is no
doubt a transcription error has occurred which cannot be clarified solely by means of (cid:145)a careful reading of
the study which the Commission has had drawn up(cid:146), would the Commission say what it means when it
states that (cid:145)the 1997 tuna loin quota was used at a rate of 56 % by Italy and 44 % by Italy(cid:146)?

(1) OJ C 46 E, 13.2.2001, p. 121.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2000)

The Commission has already apologised to the Honourable Member for the error in the answer it
addressed to her and informed her that this should have referred to Spain (56 %) and Italy (44 %).

(2001/C 72 E/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1967/00

by JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: New policy on Indonesia

On 12 April, the Commission replied to my question (P-0926/00) (1) on new relations between the EU and
Indonesia.

The Commission(cid:146)s reply was not entirely clear in respect of certain questions raised.

In a clearly delicate and sensitive area, it is essential that it be made totally clear that the new EU policy on
Indonesia will depend, inter alia, on:

1. A guarantee that there will be full, unrestricted repatriation of the tens of thousands of East Timorese
who wish to return, without any type of coercion or discriminatory treatment with regard to acquired
rights and without any disinformation, conditions regarding or involvement of the (cid:145)militias(cid:146) and
former TNI;

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EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/159

2. A guarantee that directly or indirectly, support from Indonesian military groups to the (cid:145)militias(cid:146), or

any other provocateurs capable of destabilising the area, has ceased entirely.

In view of all the violence which the Timorese have suffered, it is utterly essential that the European Union
(cid:129) and the whole human-rights-supporting international community (cid:129) should not forget the facts of what
actually happened, and must be particularly demanding and rigorous in these areas; effective means of
verifying on the spot that the situation is genuinely developing in a positive way are required.

Is the Commission able to give an absolutely clear and firm assurance that such minimum guarantees will
be consistently demanded and effectively verified on the ground, as a precondition for developing a new
policy on Indonesia designed to encourage the consolidation of civil democracy in that country, full self-
determination and progress for East Timor, and peaceful conditions throughout the region?

(1) OJ C 46 E, 13.2.2001, p. 79.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2000)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s concern for a speedy solution to the problem of
refugees in West Timor. It should be stressed that responsibility for implementing voluntary repatriation
and for the safety of refugees in camps in West Timor still lies with the Indonesian Government. It is vital
that the refugees be given free and objective information on the current situation in East Timor to allow
them to choose freely whether they wish to return or to be resettled in Indonesia. The Commission is sorry
to say that this condition has not been met.

The Commission has pointed out to the Indonesian authorities that it is willing to assist the bodies
responsible for setting up a voluntary repatriation programme. The Commission has also taken the
initiative, together with the Member States and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), of examining the scope for assisting some of the displaced persons to resettle in Indonesia.

(2001/C 72 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1968/00

by JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: East Timor(cid:146)s accession to the LomØ Convention

(21 June 2000)

Paragraph 15 of the European Parliament(cid:146)s resolution on East Timor of 18 November 1999 (B5-0271/
1999) states that (cid:145)The European Parliament calls on the Commission to begin preparations to East Timor
to join the LomØ Convention(cid:146).

Six months later, what specific steps has the Commission already taken to prepare for East Timor joining
the LomØ Convention? On this issue, how does the Commission view the current stage reached and the
immediate prospects for the future?

(2001/C 72 E/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1969/00

by JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Contributions to East Timor from the European Union and its Member States

The recently published European Parliament report on the visit to Indonesia and East Timor from 16 to
21 April by a Parliamentary Delegation mentions that the contributions promised by the European Union