WRITTEN QUESTION E-3704/00 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Draft Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Date: 2000-11-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, economic development, impact study, social development

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/199

(2001/C 163 E/231)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3704/00

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Draft Charter of Fundamental Rights

Protocol 9 to the Treaty of Amsterdam (which relates to the role of national parliaments) requires that a
full economic impact statement should be provided wherever new legislation is contemplated. Since the
draft Charter of Fundamental Rights clearly proposes new initiatives which could impact on a national
level (e.g. national works councils) why has Protocol 9 not been complied with?

Europe purports to be competing with trading blocks such as Japan and the US, but in reality will such
initiatives not run counter to the spirit of Lisbon? Will they not effectively fetter the competitiveness of EU
undertakings on world markets, by adopting social practices which can only be adversely reflected in the
price and competitiveness of our goods abroad?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(1 February 2001)

In the Commission(cid:146)s opinion, Protocol 9 on the role of national parliaments, to which the Honourable
Member refers, does not contain any provision requiring an economic impact statement to be drawn up
wherever new legislation is contemplated. This applies to the Charter of Fundamental Rights in particular.

As regards the substantive issue, the Commission is convinced that the visibility which the Charter confers
on fundamental rights, far from being an obstacle to the Union(cid:146)s economic development, is in fact entirely
favourable to such development, in line with the conclusions of the Lisbon European Council to which the
Honourable Member refers.

This approach was reaffirmed by the Nice European Council, which approved the European Social Agenda
for the next five years. According to the conclusions reached at Nice, this Agenda is an important step
towards reinforcing and modernising the European social model, a key feature of which is the indissoluble
link between economic performance and social progress.

(2001/C 163 E/232)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3708/00

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: The plight of the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan

(29 November 2000)

Is the Commission aware of the infringements of the Ahmadiyya community(cid:146)s human rights in Pakistan?
A number of laws passed in 1974 made it a criminal offence for Ahmadis to profess, practise and preach
their faith. Several members of the community have been charged with blasphemy under Section 295C,
which carries the mandatory death penalty. Recent religiously motivated murders committed by orthodox
Muslims against the Ahmadis have not been investigated. What does the Comission intend to do to protect
the fundamental rights of the Ahmadiyya community?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 2001)

The Commission is aware that the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan has repeatedly been the target of
extremist violence. The Commission is further aware that religious minorities in Pakistan (Christians,
Hindus, Ahmadis and Shias) are affected by discriminatory legislation.