WRITTEN QUESTION E-3269/00 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission. The violence erupting against Christian communities in the Moluccas.
Date: 2000-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Christian, Moluccas, common foreign and security policy, religious conflict

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/119

(2001/C 151 E/133)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3379/00

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission

(3 November 2000)

Subject: Longline fishing for tuna by EU fishermen

Is the Commission aware that International Bird Life, supported by the Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds in the UK, is campaigning against longline fishing for tuna since as many as 100 000 albatrosses and
kestrels are being killed every year because of this type of fishing?

What action is the Commission proposing to take to ensure that EU fishermen adjust their lines so that the
hooks are a few feet below the surface, thus not affecting the amount of tuna caught, but saving the lives
of sea birds?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3268/00, E-3378/00 and E-3379/00
given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(5 December 2000)

Until now most of the concerns expressed to the Commission have referred to the incidental catches of
seabirds in the Southern Hemisphere oceans. The Commission is gathering information on the extent to
which this issue constitutes a real problem within Community waters.

As part of this approach, Commission has requested the International council for the exploration of the
sea to provide information and advice on the pressures that fishing activity exerts on marine environment
and, more particularly, on non-commercial species. Finally the Commission would refer the Honourable
Members to its answer to Written Question E-3126/00 (1) by Mr Davies.

(1) OJ C 136 E, 8.5.2001, p. 190.

(2001/C 151 E/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3269/00

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: The violence erupting against Christian communities in the Moluccas

There is widespread concern among the Christian community at the conflict in the Moluccas, caused by
provocateurs acting on behalf of political and extremist elements in Indonesia. It is estimated that 7 000
jihad warriors have converged on these islands and attacked Christian homes, causing an estimated 4 000
deaths and the displacement of 350 000 people.

Would the Commission consider, as a matter of urgency, sending a delegation from the EU to undertake
an impartial investigation of the situation, urging the Indonesian Government to allow unrestricted access
for humanitarian agencies and a safe location for those in hiding and encouraging the Indonesian
Government to investigate, identify and prosecute those responsible for this conflict?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(8 November 2000)

The Commission shares the concerns expressed by the Honourable Member regarding the conflict in the
Moluccas, which has caused several thousand deaths in the Christian and the Muslim communities on the
islands, as well as some 300 000 displaced persons.

C 151 E/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

The primary responsibility for resolving the situation lies with the government of Indonesia, but the
Community has consistently offered humanitarian assistance. The European Community(cid:146)s Humanitarian
Office (ECHO) has already, since 1999, made available € 4 million in aid, and is preparing to make
available a further € 2 million in the near future.

Over the last few months, and most recently on 10 October 2000, the Community has made a series of
dØmarches in Jakarta. On all those occasions it has urged the government of Indonesia to take action to
halt the violence, and to identify and prosecute those responsible, as well as to ensure unrestricted access
for humanitarian aid and security for those displaced.

A mission of Union ambassadors in Jakarta visited the Moluccas on 12/13 October 2000 in order to assess
the situation on the spot. This visit was an opportunity to highlight Union concerns in discussions with all
parties involved.

(2001/C 151 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3271/00

by Dominique Vlasto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Single price for books in Europe

During the last weekend of September 2000, a symposium on a single price for books in Europe was held
in Strasbourg.

The symposium highlighted the numerous benefits of using such a system for the Member States and their
positive impact on European cultural policy. Unfortunately, this principle has not yet been sanctioned by
the Commission.

In view of
Commission not give practical support to such a symbolic cultural initiative?

the growing number of countries adopting this principle in various forms, should the

This practice is actually being called into question in fact since, although the Commission claims to respect
national law, it is furthering its circumvention through safeguarding online bookshops and the freedom of
commercial outlets opened up by the Internet.

What practical measures does the Commission plan to take to reconcile this variation on the principle of
(cid:145)cultural exception(cid:146) and the principle of not obstructing the free movement of goods and services, and over
what period of time?

How does the Commission explain the presence at the symposium of Mr Monti, the Commissioner
responsible for competition, instead of Mrs Reding, the Commissioner responsible for cultural affairs?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(29 November 2000)

There is no single view among Member States regarding the issue of book pricing, but there is a wide
range of solutions. Even those Member States that form a homogeneous language area with another
Member State are not all in favour of fixed prices for books. Within Member States, and even in publishing
and the distributive sector, opinions as to the merits of the systems of fixed book prices remain divided.

Under these circumstances, it would seem justified to leave it to each Member State to accept or to lay
down, in accordance with Community law, special book pricing arrangements.

National systems of fixed book prices may be based on national legislation or on agreements between
firms or between publishers and booksellers. Different provisions of the EC Treaty will apply. Statutory
systems need to be examined in the light of Article 28 (former Article 30), while agreements between
firms need to be compatible with Article 81 (former Article 85). In both cases, the case law of the Court of
Justice must, of course, be complied with.