WRITTEN QUESTION E-2935/00 by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission. Cyprus.
Date: 2000-09-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cyprus, Türkiye, accession criteria, cargo vessel, common foreign and security policy, international sanctions

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/25

Reply

(22 December 2000)

The Council has not taken a view on the two issues raised by the Honourable Member, and is not
therefore in a position to respond to the question.

(2001/C 151 E/030)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2920/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2000)

Subject: Sporting and leisure activities in Andalusia

Does the Commission accept that the kind of (cid:145)leisure(cid:146) activities which took place at Ramon Romero(cid:146)s
(cid:145)Seventh Heaven(cid:146) School of Riding in Chivirel, Andalusia made it an entirely unsuitable recipient of
Community funds, and what steps have been taken to ensure that in future proper inspection procedures
are put in place so that all projects receiving Community funds are (cid:145)bona fide(cid:146)?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 2000)

The case of the project mentioned by the Honourable Member was indeed one of deflection of funds to
purposes other than those specified in the application for part-financing.

This was rapidly detected through the Andalusian Regional Government(cid:146)s policing arrangements. Action
was immediately initiated to recover the funds in question.

The Spanish authorities(cid:146) payments were not included in the certified expenditure notified to the Commis-
sion. Thus their advancing of sums did not give rise to any payment from the European Regional
Development Fund.

(2001/C 151 E/031)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2935/00

by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission

(19 September 2000)

Subject: Cyprus

Can the Commission indicate what action it has taken with regard to Turkey with a view to persuading
that country to lift its embargo on merchant ships that have visited Cyprus? Would the Commission agree
that this action is illegal, would contravene all European Union regulations and does no credit to Turkey(cid:146)s
aspirations to become a Member State?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2000)

The restrictions still applied by Turkey on vessels trading with Cyprus and on those on the Cyprus register
remain a concern for the Commission.

C 151 E/26

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

the Community-Turkey sub-committee No 6 on transport, environment and energy,

This issue has been raised on various occasions with the Turkish authorities, most recently at the meeting
of
including
transeuropean networks, which took place on 30 June 2000 in Brussels. The Commission made it very
clear to Turkey that it expects these restrictions to be lifted as soon as possible in the pre-accession
process.

The Commission will continue to monitor the situation closely and will take the issue up in the regular
report for 2000, which is to be adopted by the Commission on 8 November 2000.

(2001/C 151 E/032)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2939/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2000)

Subject: Common asylum and immigration policy

the Amsterdam Treaty on 1 May 1999,

the Community assumed
With the entry into force of
responsibility for asylum policy, the free movement of persons, policy on visas, the rules governing the
crossing of borders, immigration policy and the rights of third-country nationals. Articles 61 to 63 of the
EC Treaty specify detailed targets which the Union is supposed to achieve within five years. As regards
asylum and immigration policy, the measures in question include minimum standards on the reception of
asylum seekers and on temporary protection, conditions of entry and residence, illegal immigration and
residence and measures defining the rights of legally resident third-country nationals.

Will the Commission state what specific proposals it has drawn up in these areas, what progress has so far
been made and at what stage a common asylum and immigration policy now is?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the conclusions of the Presidency at the Tampere
European Council (October 1999) and the scoreboard to review progress on the creation of an area of
(cid:145)Freedom, security and justice(cid:146) which has been officially transmitted to Parliament. An update will also be
sent shortly to the Council and Parliament with a view to preparing Parliament(cid:146)s annual debate on progress
in the fields of justice and home affairs (JHA) in January 2001.

The proposals presented by the Commission since May 1999 as well as amended proposals following
Parliament(cid:146)s opinion (September 2000) are as follows:

(cid:129) Council Regulation (EC) concerning the establishment of

the
fingerprints of applicants for asylum and certain other aliens (26 May 1999) and amended proposals
following Parliament(cid:146)s opinion (15 September 2000);

for the comparison of

(cid:145)Eurodac(cid:146)

(cid:129) Council Directive on the right to family reunification (1 December 1999) and amended proposal

following Parliament(cid:146)s opinion (10 October 2000);

(cid:129) Council Decision creating a European Refugee Fund (14 December 1999) and amended proposal

following Parliament(cid:146)s opinion (September 2000);

(cid:129) Council Regulation (EC) determining the list of third countries whose nationals must be in possession
of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt
from that
requirement (January 2000) and amended proposal following Parliament(cid:146)s opinion (21 September
2000);