WRITTEN QUESTION E-2297/00 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Council. The electoral process in Zimbabwe.
Date: 2000-07-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Zimbabwe, election campaign, human rights, invalidity of an election, political violence

C 113 E/82

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

(2001/C 113 E/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2297/00

by Concepci(cid:243) Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Council

(11 July 2000)

Subject: The electoral process in Zimbabwe

The Forum for the Defence of Human Rights in Zimbabwe, consisting of nine NGOs, has reported that the
government is funding bands of young people and teaching them torture techniques in order to use them
for coercion and torture against supporters of the parties opposing President Robert Mugabe.

These allegations constitute evidence of not only the human rights abuses committed by Mugabe and his
party, but also the intimidation and lack of freedom characterising the electoral process in Zimbabwe.
Does the Council not consider that it should condemn Robert Mugabe for the violations of human rights
and the lack of guarantees during the electoral process, which in themselves invalidate the election results?

Reply

(30 November 2000)

At its meeting on 10 July 2000, the Council reviewed the situation in Zimbabwe on the basis of the report
of the European observation mission. It noted that, while the election campaign was marked by violence,
large-scale intimidation and procedural irregularities, voting itself was generally calm on 24/25 June. The
led by representatives of the European Union, contributed
heavy presence of international observers,
greatly to that outcome. The Council considers that the Government of Zimbabwe should prevent a
repetition of the acts of violence witnessed by the European mission prior to the elections, investigate such
incidents and take every possible legal step against those responsible for political violence, human rights
abuses and fraudulent practices prior to the elections.

Concerned at the human rights situation in the country, the Union strongly urged the Zimbabwean
authorities to work with the opposition and civil society to establish a constructive dialogue. The Council
pointed to the vital need to restore respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law in
Zimbabwe. The Union declared its readiness to work with all Zimbabweans who accept those principles.

(2001/C 113 E/081)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2299/00

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: Trade relations in the fisheries sector between the EU and the applicant countries

There were interesting references in the press to the speech given by Commissioner Fischler in Warsaw on
8 June 2000, in particular concerning the standstill in the accession negotiations with Poland as regards
the liberalisation of agricultural trade. It would seem that the main obstacle is import duties on certain
articles and the fact that the Polish agri-foodstuffs industries are finding it difficult to comply with
European requirements in the area of food safety.

In view of the fact that Mr Fischler is the Commissioner not only for Agriculture but also for Fisheries and
various applicant countries have great fishing potential, can the Commission say:

(cid:129) what the trade balance in fishery products between the applicant countries and the EU is;

(cid:129) how it intends to ensure that the fishery products which the EU imports from the applicant countries

meet the criteria of hygiene, health and phytosanitary standards;