WRITTEN QUESTION P-2670/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Violation of press freedom in the Turkish-controlled northern part of Cyprus.
Date: 2000-07-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cyprus, Türkiye, common foreign and security policy, freedom of the press, occupied territory

C 103 E/208

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(10 October 2000)

The Honourable Member is invited to refer to the Commission(cid:146)s answer to written question E-2402/00 by
Mr Staes concerning the use of the € 2,5 million foreseen in the budget.

1.
Budget line B3-4307, which was voted in August 1999, after the inter-institutional agreement of
6 May 1999, is in breach of the provisions of that agreement and in particular Article 37. Indeed, the
Commission has set out the reasons underlying the Commission(cid:146)s refusal to implement this budget line
(letter of 11 July 2000 from the Commissioner in charge of the budget to Mr Wynn, Chairman of the
Parliament(cid:146)s committee on budgets). In this light, the Commission cannot commit this budget line and will
not seek to recycle the funds allocated.

In addition from the Commission(cid:146)s perspective, it has been clarified that it does not possess within the
Directorate general for Health and consumer protection the administrative resources to manage this
budget-line.
In keeping with this Commission(cid:146)s commitments to matching human resources, sound
financial management and policy priorities and in the light of severe understaffing in this service, the
Commission will propose increased human resources in follow-up to the Peer review process. The
Commission hopes that the Honourable Member and his fellow Members of Parliament will support the
staffing requirements of the Directorate general for Health and consumer protection set out in the context
of this process.

It might be possible for actions in relation to particular health interventions, such as on Alzheimer(cid:146)s
disease, drawing from the experience accumulated so far, to be undertaken under the new public health
strategy after its adoption by the Parliament and the Council. With regard to research aspects linked to
Alzheimers disease, funding opportunities also exist under the Directorate general Research and the 5th
framework programme for research.

Clearly, working together to tackle Alzheimer(cid:146)s disease and related conditions is an important element in
our joint attempts to prepare and implement a new public health strategy and the Commission would
encourage those dedicated representatives of organisations dealing with neurodegenerative diseases to work
closely with its services.

56 Alzheimer-related projects were submitted in 1996, 1997 and 1998 by Alzheimer Europe and
2.
similar associations and selected for funding. The budgetary commitments and initial payments have been
made for all. Moreover, the final payments have been made for almost 80 % of these projects. For the
remaining projects, either the final reports and financial statements have not yet been received, or
processing is under way, or supplementary information has been requested from the contractors.

(2001/C 103 E/238)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2670/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(25 July 2000)

Subject: Violation of press freedom in the Turkish-controlled northern part of Cyprus

The Denktash regime banned publication of the newspaper Avrupa two months ago and imprisoned the
editor-in-chief, Sener Levent, along with five other Turkish Cypriot journalists, on charges of (cid:145)incitement to
hatred of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Turkish army(cid:146), in violation of the principle of
press freedom and human rights in the Turkish-controlled northern part of Cyprus. A further 75 (cid:145)charges(cid:146)
were brought against them at the trial of 23 June, each bearing a five-year prison sentence. It might be
recalled in this connection that, some time ago, the Turkish Cypriot journalist Kutlu Antali was murdered
in the same area, and it might also be noted that all these incidents have occurred at a time when intense
efforts are being made to achieve some progress in the procedure leading to Turkey(cid:146)s accession to the
European Union, while at the same time involving the Turkish Cypriot side in the negotiations on Cyprus(cid:146)
accession to the EU.

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/209

Is the Commission aware of the above incidents? Will it take steps to secure the release of the six Turkish
Cypriot journalists and the resumption of publication of the newspaper Avrupa and, more generally, will it
exert pressure on Turkey and the Denktash regime to respect press freedom and human rights in the
Turkish-controlled part of Cyprus?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 2000)

The Commission is following closely the developments mentioned by the Honourable Member, as already
indicated in its answer to Written Question P-1802/00 by Mrs Giannakou-Koutsikou (1). It is likely that the
events in question will be considered in the forthcoming regular report of the Commission on Cyprus, due
to be published in autumn 2000. This report, which reviews progress in the light of the Copenhagen
criteria, including human rights, will include a special section dealing with the situation in the northern
part of the island.

(1) OJ C 72 E, 6.3.2001, p. 121.

(2001/C 103 E/239)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2674/00

by Wolfgang Ilgenfritz (NI) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: MAN industrial vehicles (cid:129) Kutschera complaint (cid:129) Proceedings No IV/35.907/f-2

1. When is the Commission likely to take a decision on the proceedings referred to above? Mr Kutschera
has contacted us about this matter on several occasions since, in his opinion, no proceedings have yet
been initiated against MAN.

2.

Are there any specific reasons why no proceedings have been initiated to date?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Mr Kutschera(cid:146)s lawyer has already been informed that further legal proceedings will be taken this year.

In carrying out its duties in the field of competition law, the Commission is obliged to set certain
priorities (1). Since Mr Kutschera is seeking legal remedy in Italy and may continue to do so, it has not yet
begun work on this case.

(1)

Judgment of the Court of First Instance in Case T-24/90 Automec v. Commission [1992] ECR II-2223, at 77 ff.

(2001/C 103 E/240)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2678/00

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Delays in processing development projects

It has been brought to my attention that in spite of the hard work of those involved in DG Development
there are serious delays in processing proposals for funding already allocated. New proposals for the year