WRITTEN QUESTION E-2776/00 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Council. Torture in Turkish prisons.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Türkiye, accession negotiations, prison system, torture

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/9

1996 for an expert(cid:146)s report to be drawn up on relocating the sewage plant, because the engineer
responsible for the planning of the project had failed to take into account the fact that there was still
housing in the vicinity of the proposed site. Once the survey had been approved (3), the contractors refused
to resume work, prompting the municipality of Sarroch to cancel the contract (4). The work was then
entrusted to another firm, which built the sewage plant at the new location indicated in the report, above
the user sector, close to the sea, in the only remaining unspoilt natural area of the municipality of Sarroch.

Although a letter was sent to the office of the Cagliari Public Prosecutor on 23 July 1997 asking it to
check the legality of the various authorisations for the construction work and compliance with the existing
laws on the environment, no measures have yet been taken.

At present, the sewage plant has been completely abandoned and is a target for vandalism. The sewage
problems of the area concerned have not been resolved and the area has been disfigured, jeopardising
possible tourist development.

Will the Commission investigate the legality of the management of the Community funds used for the
project? Does it not think that the recipients of the funding should compensate the European Union, since
the project concerned did not fulfil its objectives?

(1) Decision No 35/3 of 24 September 1993; delegation order DCGADA No 2557 of 8 October 1993.
(2) Municipal Council Decision No 365 of 25 November 1994.
(3) Municipal Council Decision No 328 of 8 November 1996, endorsed by the opinions of the Department of the
Environment and the Department of Public Education of the autonomous region of Sardinia and the office for the
protection of the artistic, architecture and historical heritage.

(4) Municipal Council Decision No 58 of 21 February 1997.

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(26 January 2001)

Following the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question the Commission been in contact with the Italian Environ-
ment Ministry, responsible authority for the Envireg programme, for the purpose of having the matter
thoroughly investigated.

If the conclusions of the investigation so warrant, the Commission will be able under Article 24 of
Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93 of 20 July 1993 (1) amending Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 laying
down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards coordination of the activities
of the different Structural Funds between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment
Bank and the other existing financial instruments), to call for exclusion of the project from the Envireg
programme and recovery of sums already paid out under it.

(1) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993.

(2001/C 174 E/008)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2776/00

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Council

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Torture in Turkish prisons

Bearing in mind:

(cid:129) the likelihood that Turkey will become a member of the European Union,

(cid:129) the importance of the Copenhagen Criteria in the enlargement process, particularly the provisions

concerning respect for human rights and

C 174 E/10

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

(cid:129) the reports from Amnesty International and the Committee for Struggle against Torture Through

Isolation that Turkish prisons are rife with cases of torture and human rights abuses;

Would the Council comment on the conditions and the human rights record in Turkish prisons, especially
in relation to the status of Turkey(cid:146)s application for accession to the Union?

Reply

(8 March 2001)

The Turkish authorities are well aware that they have much to achieve in improving prison standards,
ending torture and reforming their judicial and penal system generally in order to meet the Copenhagen
Criteria.

Conditions in Turkish prisons feature in the Commission(cid:146)s regular report on Turkey(cid:146)s progress towards
accession (1) and in Turkey(cid:146)s Accession Partnership.

(1) COM(1999) 513 final, p. 13.

(2001/C 174 E/009)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2795/00

by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 September 2000)

Subject: Top rate of tax on personal incomes in each country of the European Union

Would the Commission please draw up a table showing the current top rate of tax on personal incomes in
each country of the European Union, indicating in respect of each the threshold of income (expressed in
euros and pounds sterling) at which this tax rate applies?

(2001/C 174 E/010)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2796/00

by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 September 2000)

Subject: Top rate of personal inheritance tax in each country of the European Union

Would the Commission please draw up a table showing the top rate of personal inheritance tax, or other
comparable tax at death, in each country of the European Union?