WRITTEN QUESTION P-2859/00 by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Council. Elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Date: 2000-09-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Serbia and Montenegro, democratisation, economic sanctions, local election, national election, presidential election, the EU's international role

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/197

Many other organisations also receive funding to support their networking in the cause of an ever-closer
union. The A-30 chapter alone, which accounts for just a tiny percentage of funds available to this cause,
requires its agencies and agents to be active in the (cid:145)encouragement of partnerships with organisations in
the public and private sector(cid:146), the (cid:145)development of networks throughout Europe(cid:146), and the (cid:145)promotion of
European Integration(cid:146) (budget, p. 416).

This is tantamount to the promotion of fund-raising for campaigns to endorse closer EU integration, a
partisan approach to European politics.

this, and in the interests of

In the light of
transparency and increasing public confidence in the
Commission, can the Commission indicate which bodies and individuals which have publicly declared for
the Yes campaign in the Danish referendum are recipients of EU funding, directly, or indirectly through
affiliates or subsidiaries?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 2000)

Neither the Commission nor its representation in Denmark planned or carried out any campaign activities
or financially supported campaign activities carried out by external organisations or individuals in
connection with the Danish euro referendum held on 28 September 2000. As a matter of fact no credits
were allocated to the representation in the current financial year for euro referendum campaign activities.

The only organisation that received funds was the Syddansk Universitet which was granted a contribution
from research funds for a hearing directly linked to the referendum. The event was completely neutral and
both the YES and NO sides (political parties, organisations and movements) participated.

In 1998, following the publication in the Official journal of a call for proposals, within the framework of
the (cid:145)Building Europe Together(cid:146) programme and open to all non-profit making organisations in all Member
States, two Danish movements Nyt Europa and Europoeisk Ungdom, supporting a YES vote, were granted
financial contributions of € 40 000 and € 20 441 respectively and one Danish movement Juni Bevoegelsen,
supporting a NO vote, was granted a financial contribution of € 20 000 for information and communica-
tion actions on the Amsterdam Treaty principally debates, seminars and Community info kits.

In addition Nyt Europa were granted a further € 20 138 for the organisation of a conference and
documentation within the framework of a series of 33 (cid:145)Regional events(cid:146) on the Amsterdam Treaty carried
out through the representations in the Member States. In 1999 a modest grant of € 2 466 was accorded to
the Danish section of the European Movement for a seminar on (cid:145)Democracy in the EU(cid:146).

(2001/C 113 E/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2859/00

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(7 September 2000)

Subject: Elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Presidential, federal and municipal elections are being held in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on
24 September 2000. What is the Council(cid:146)s official position vis-(cid:224)-vis the elections and is it committed to
recognising the results, action which it has not so far taken?

C 113 E/198

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

Reply

(30 November 2000)

The Council is monitoring the elections on 24 September in the FRY very closely indeed.

The General Affairs Council meeting on 10 July 2000 watched with concern as Mr Milosevic, with
elections in mind, pushed through a revision of the FRY Constitution that was immediately approved by
Parliament. On the strength of this new constitutional framework Mr Milosevic then decided to call
presidential and legislative elections in the FRY and local elections in Serbia.

On behalf of the Union, the next day the Presidency made a public declaration denouncing this decision as
manoeuvring on the part of Milosevic to hold on to power. In the same declaration the Union reiterated its
hopes for democratic and peaceful change in Belgrade and reaffirmed its support for and its confidence in
the opposition and in civil society in Serbia, and it called upon the opposition to unite to bring about this
indispensable change.

In the run-up to the elections, at its meeting on 18 and 19 September the Council adopted the text of a
message to the Serbian people which stressed that a choice made by voters that inevitably led to
democratic change would entail a radical change in the European Union(cid:146)s policy towards Serbia,
in
particular regarding sanctions and reconstruction aid. The last sentence of this declaration reminded
Serbian voters that (cid:145)a vote for democracy in Serbia will be a vote for Serbia in Europe(cid:146).

At that same meeting the Council requested the Parliaments of the 15 Member States to send (cid:145)democracy
witnesses(cid:146) to evaluate the elections in situ, on the basis of internationally recognised standards. The
Parliaments of the Member States responded to the Council(cid:146)s request by designating 25 (cid:145)democracy
witnesses(cid:146). The Yugoslav Consular posts did not issue them any visas to enable them to fulfil their mission.
Under the circumstances their mission was cancelled.

The outcome of the elections has proved that the time has come for change in Belgrade. As promised, in
the light of recent events, at the Council meeting on 9/10 October 2000 the European Union decided to
lift its sanctions on the FRY that it had imposed under the Milosevic regime.

(2001/C 113 E/211)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2864/00

by Michel Hansenne (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 September 2000)

Subject: Equivalence of the nursing diploma

Where a Belgian graduate nurse wishes to work in France:

1. Which European directive(s) can she use in support of the equivalence of diplomas?

2. Has French law incorporated this/these directive(s)?

3. To whom can she apply if her claim is contested by the French authorities?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(5 October 2000)

1.
The situation of Community nationals who possess Belgian graduate nurse diplomas and wish to
obtain professional recognition to exercise their profession in France is, in principle, regulated by Council
Directive 77/452/EEC of 27 June 1977 concerning the mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and
other evidence of the formal qualifications of nurses responsible for general care, including measures to
facilitate the effective exercise of this right of establishment and freedom to provide services (1), and by
Council Directive 77/453/EEC of 27 June 1977 concerning the coordination of provisions laid down by
law, regulation or administrative action in respect of the activities of nurses responsible for general
care1 (1).