WRITTEN QUESTION E-3347/00 by Paul Rübig (PPE-DE) to the Council. Visa requirement for Slovakian citizens on entry to Belgium.
Date: 2000-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Czechia, EU police cooperation, EU visa policy, competence of the Member States

C 174 E/36

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

(2001/C 174 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3346/00

by Ursula Schleicher (PPE-DE) to the Council

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Revision of the Act concerning the election of Members of the European Parliament (Anastasso-

poulos Report)

The European Parliament is awaiting the Council(cid:146)s common position on the revision of the Act concerning
the election of Members of the European Parliament.

Will the French Presidency be seeking a decision on this matter?

Which Member States have particular problems in this respect?

Reply

(26 February 2001)

The Council attaches great importance to the procedure for the election of Members of the European
Parliament, laid down in Article 190(4) of the Treaty. After receiving the Parliament(cid:146)s Resolution of 15 July
1998, the Council undertook the examination of a draft act relating to the election of members of the
European Parliament by direct universal suffrage. In the same context, the Council considered the question
of the exact dates for the European vote.

Many aspects have been agreed, as stated in a letter to the President of the European Parliament on 22 May
2000. On other points, and particularly on possible amendments to Annex II of the 1976 Act, the dates
for the elections to be held in 2004, and incompatibilities, the Council is continuing to seek agreement.

The Honourable Member may be assured that the Council is making every effort to resolve the matters still
outstanding and to reach agreement on the arrangements to be covered by the procedure laid down in
Article 190(4).

(2001/C 174 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3347/00

by Paul R(cid:252)big (PPE-DE) to the Council

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Visa requirement for Slovakian citizens on entry to Belgium

A Slovakian citizen who wishes to travel to Belgium must apply for a visa. Slovakia(cid:146)s successful efforts to
become a member of the European Union are to be welcomed and must be comprehensively supported.

It is therefore vitally important to ensuring progress with EU enlargement to the east for any adverse
effects to be counteracted at an early stage or not allowed to arise at all.

To make entry by a Slovakian citizen subject to a visa requirement could be characterised as discrimina-
tion.

Does such a procedure not amount to a racist act against the Sinti (gypsy people of German origin)?

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/37

Reply

(8 March 2001)

1.
As Community law stands at present, and in the absence of total harmonisation on the issue of visas,
it is for Member States to determine whether nationals of Slovakia, a third country not on the common list
of third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the Member States(cid:146)
external borders, are/are not subject to a visa requirement.

However, on 26 January 2000 the Commission submitted to the Council, on the basis of
2.
Article 62(2)(b)(i) of the TEC, a proposal for a Regulation listing the third countries whose nationals
must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt
from that requirement. Slovakia is one of the third countries whose nationals the Commission proposes to
exempt from the visa requirement. The European Parliament was consulted by letter dated 16 March 2000
and delivered its Opinion on 5 July 2000. At its meeting on 30 November and 1 December 2000, the
Council reached political agreement on the content of the Regulation, advocating, inter alia, that Slovak
nationals be exempt from the visa requirement. It was also agreed that the European Parliament should be
re-consulted, given that the original text of the Commission proposal had been substantially amended.

It must be pointed out that visa policy does not distinguish between ethnic groups but is based on

3.
citizenship of the countries in question.

(2001/C 174 E/039)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3348/00

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Strengthening democratic institutions and promoting respect for ethnic minorities in Albania

During the recent local elections in Albania, there were reports of many instances of psychological duress
being brought to bear in the southern part of the country where the country(cid:146)s Greek minority are in the
including ballot-rigging, affecting the
majority.
candidates of the human rights party Omonia (KEAD), which represents the Greek minority, were recorded
by foreign observers and reported by members of the Greek community.

In the Chimara region, a great many irregularities,

What measures will the Council take to consolidate the democratic institutions, establish the rule of law,
and promote respect for minorities in Albania, which are preconditions for that country(cid:146)s participation in
European institutions?

Reply

(8 March 2001)

1.
The Council has noted the comments made in the Preliminary Statement published on
16 October 2000 by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organisa-
tion for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the final report of the OSCE/ODIHR of 11 December 2000
and the report of the Council of Europe(cid:146)s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of 10 November 2000
concerning the conduct of the local elections in Albania.

2.
In the statement it made on the local elections in Albania in the OSCE(cid:146)s Permanent Council and in
the Council of Europe, the Union deplored the serious irregularities and incidents noted in the first and
second rounds of balloting, especially those which affected the voting of a substantial number of Greeks in
Chimara.

As Albania is a country eligible for a stabilisation and association agreement,

3.
its performance in
respecting democratic principles, human rights and the rights of minorities is an important criterion for
future developments in its relations with the European Union. On the basis of a Commission feasibility