WRITTEN QUESTION E-3500/00 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Provocative statements by Turkish Minister.
Date: 2000-11-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cyprus, Türkiye, accession criteria, accession to the European Union, freedom of religious beliefs, minister, political minority, pre-accession strategy, racism, torture

C 163 E/142

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(15 December 2000)

At a meeting in Lisbon on 7 November 2000 the Portuguese authorities gave some preliminary
explanations of the situation regarding the controlled urban waste landfill project in Western Portugal,
which they were to expand on in a letter to be sent to the Commission by 6 December 2000. They tried
to show, amongst other things, that the whole of Western Portugal contains aquifers in permeable ground
and that it would therefore have been difficult to choose a site which was not sensitive from the point of
view of this environmental aspect.

The Commission is currently analysing the explanations already supplied by the Portuguese authorities. Its
analysis is chiefly based on the obligations arising from Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the
effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (1).

The project in question is covered by Annex II to the Directive, i.e. it is a project for which an assessment
must be carried out where the Member State in question considers that its characteristics so require.
However, the Member States(cid:146) margin for discretion as to how to conduct an assessment required pursuant
to the Directive is limited by Article 2, which stipulates that Member States must adopt all measures
necessary to ensure that, before consent is given, projects likely to have significant effects on the
environment are made subject to an assessment with regard to their effects.

The project has not been subjected to an impact assessment in accordance with Directive 85/337/EEC. If,
having analysed all the Portuguese authorities(cid:146) explanations, the Commission were to confirm that, in spite
of these explanations, the site selected for the project contained aquifers regarded as strategic reserves for
the project was therefore likely to have significant effects on the
the area in question, and that
environment, it would be obliged to make use of the legal instruments provided for in the EC Treaty for
ensuring the correct application of Community law.

Finally, the Honourable Member is informed that, in examining the complaint he mentions, the Commis-
sion will pay particular attention to compliance with Community financing regulations.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(2001/C 163 E/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3500/00

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 November 2000)

Subject: Provocative statements by Turkish Minister

Turkey(cid:146)s Minister for Internal Affairs, Mr Sukru Sina Gurel, stated on 11 October 2000, during the
ceremony to re-open the (cid:145)University of the Aegean(cid:146) ((cid:145)Ege University(cid:146)) that (cid:145)Turkey does not consider its
accession to the EU to be conditional upon either a solution to the Cyprus issue or the settlement of
Greek-Turkish differences(cid:146). To reaffirm his position, the Turkish Minister also referred to the (cid:145)two letters
which the Turkish Prime Minister sent to the EU immediately after the Helsinki European Council
last December(cid:146), in which Mr Ecevit stresses Turkey(cid:146)s reluctance to accept any preconditions or terms for
its accession to the EU. The Turkish Interior Minister also added that (cid:145)everyone must accept the existence
of two states in Cyprus(cid:146) and called on the EU (cid:145)to resolve the problem of racism in its Member States before
rushing to criticise Turkey(cid:146).

What is the Commission(cid:146)s position on the statements which the Turkish Minister for Internal Affairs has
aimed at the EU, given that they create an anti-European climate in a country applying for accession and
fly in the face of the Helsinki Summit decisions which require Turkey to conduct itself in a manner
befitting a European state and to consolidate good neighbourly relations with Greece? Furthermore, does

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/143

the Commission accept the Turkish Minister(cid:146)s accusations of racism in the EU when Turkey stands charged
with the extermination and expulsion (cid:129) in the 20th century (cid:129) of Greek Cypriots, Asia Minor Greeks,
Armenians, and recently, Kurds living on its territory?

Moreover, as the preamble to the Draft Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union states:
taking inspiration from its spiritual and moral heritage, the Union is founded on the indivisible, universal
principles of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity; it is based on the principles of democracy
and the rule of law.

Will the Commission say what the European tradition in the above spheres has in common with the
conduct of the current Turkish regime (cid:129) a state classified as a (cid:145)candidate for accession(cid:146) (cid:129) which persecutes
its citizens for their religious and political beliefs, and tortures and imprisons anyone who opposes its
objectives?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2000)

The issues raised by the Honourable Member are covered in the conclusions of the European Council of
Helsinki held in December 1999. It is on this basis that the Commission in its contacts with Turkey
discusses the pre-accession strategy for Turkey, the Cyprus issue and the matter of outstanding border
disputes.

The views of the Commission on the issue of minorities living in Turkey have been put forward recently in
the draft accession partnership for Turkey, adopted by the Commission on 8 November 2000. In the
medium term, Turkey should ensure cultural diversity and guarantee cultural rights for all citizens
irrespective of their origin. Any legal provisions preventing these rights should be abolished including in
the field of education.

Equally, this document identifies priorities for Turkey,
in line with its status as candidate country, to
address other human right issues as mentioned by the Honourable Member, such as torture and the further
development of freedom of religion.

(2001/C 163 E/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3501/00

by Chris Davies (ELDR) and Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Killing of protected bird species in Cyprus

(10 November 2000)

The Times newspaper (UK) reported in October 2000 that Peter Cosgrove, a British birdwatcher on
holiday in Cyprus, was accused of spying after he took photographs of local people trapping and killing
brutally (by tearing their legs off) thousands of migrating birds, including nightingales and red-backed
shrikes, protected by EU law.

Has the Commission raised with the Cypriot Government as part of its accession negotiations the issue of
compliance with the Habitats Directive, and, if so, what assurances has it been given regarding measures to
curb abuses of this kind?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2000)

The preparations by the candidate countries for implementing Community nature protection legislation
(the Habitats (1) and Birds (2) directives) are followed closely by the Community in the framework of the
accession negotiations as part of the environment chapter. In preparing Community positions in this