WRITTEN QUESTION E-3705/00 by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council. The treatment of pro-democracy protestors in Belarus.
Date: 2000-11-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belarus, common foreign and security policy, democratisation, international human rights law, repression, youth movement

C 174 E/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2001)

Respect for linguistic and cultural diversity is one of the fundamental principles of the Union. Article 22 of
the Charter of Fundamental Rights states that (cid:145)The Union shall respect cultural, religious and linguistic
diversity.(cid:146) As well as being a means of communication, language is a fundamental element of individual
and collective identity and a way of expressing and transmitting culture and values. The Commission is
aware that, in order to encourage the development of a European identity and citizenship, measures must
be taken to ensure that citizens learn to appreciate and participate more actively in this linguistic diversity,
a fundamental feature of Europe.

The main objectives of the European Year of Languages are to raise awareness of the richness of linguistic
diversity within the European Union and the advantages of acquiring skills in a range of languages, to
encourage the lifelong learning of languages and to collect and disseminate information about the teaching
of languages. Most of the activities supported will be funded through a call for proposals of projects by
European associations and organisations. The Commission will also be funding a large-scale information
campaign, which will emphasise Europe(cid:146)s rich linguistic diversity, and events to present the Year in each
Member State.

The Commission will be looking at the possibility of presenting a draft programme for safeguarding and
promoting regional and lesser-used languages as a follow-up to the European Year of Languages, so that
the lessons drawn from the activities and debates engendered by this great European event and the specific
preparatory activities can be fully utilised.

The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is a Council of Europe initiative. Because of its
importance and implications, the Commission is following its signature and ratification very closely, as it
does with all Council of Europe initiatives. Member States are free to decide whether or not to adopt
Council of Europe initiatives such as the Charter, and it would not be appropriate for the Commission to
interfere with their decision on whether to sign or ratify this document.

The Copenhagen European Council in June 1993 stipulated that applicant countries would not be able to
join the EU until they were able to fulfil their associated obligations by meeting the economic and political
conditions (known as the (cid:145)Copenhagen criteria(cid:146)). With regard to the political criteria, the Copenhagen
European Council concluded that applicant countries would not be admitted until they had stability of
institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of
minorities. The December 1999 Helsinki European Council reiterated that (cid:145)compliance with the political
criteria laid down at the Copenhagen European Council is a prerequisite for the opening of accession
negotiations and compliance with all the Copenhagen criteria is the basis for accession to the Union.(cid:146) The
Commission submits periodic reports on the progress achieved by the applicant countries to satisfy these
criteria.

(2001/C 174 E/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3705/00

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council

(30 November 2000)

Subject: The treatment of pro-democracy protestors in Belarus

Is the Presidency aware of the suppression of pro-democracy supporters in Belarus? Peaceful demonstrators
from the youth wing of one of Belarus(cid:146) mainstream pro-democracy parties, the Belarusian Front, were
venting their anger at Belarus(cid:146) questionable democratic credentials when they were subjected to violence at
the hands of the police. What are the intentions of the Council to ensure that these human rights
violations are not repeated, especially in the light of Belarus(cid:146) potential entry into the European Union?

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/121

Reply

(12 March 2001)

The Council follows the situation in Belarus very closely, as befits a country destined soon to find itself at
it attaches to
the frontiers of
democratisation in Belarus. It is a source of the utmost concern that the Belarus authorities show no sign
of improving their poor human rights record.

the EU has repeated the importance that

the EU. Time and again,

therefore deplores the forcible suppression of

the demonstration by opposition youth
The Council
movements on Sunday 12 November 2000. Several aspects of this case offer grounds for particular
concern: a large number of young demonstrators were arrested, many of those arrested were under 16
years of age, and some of those arrested have been subjected to relatively very heavy fines. In addition,
there have been numerous accusations that the police used quite excessive violence in making arrests.

The Council fully echoes the position adopted by the Parliament in October 1999, when it called on the
Belarus authorities to release immediately all those who are in prison for exercising their right to freedom
of expression. It reiterates the appeal, made on numerous occasions, for the Belarus authorities to respect
international standards in the field of human rights.

The Council has gone to the greatest
In their various
lengths to try and get
declarations, the Presidency and the Council have constantly made clear their frustration at the stance of
the Belarus authorities. Furthermore, most recently in November, the Council has given very public
support to the OSCE AMG as it legitimately seeks to fulfil the terms of its mandate. These positions have
been communicated at the highest possible level, as when the High Representative, Mr Solana, spoke by
telephone to Mr Lukashenko.

this message across.

The EU position remains that a policy of isolation would be counterproductive and would serve only to
destabilise the region. Still, the EU has maintained restrictive measures on Belarus since introducing them
in 1997. It is the belief of the Council that the best way to bring about an improvement in the human
rights situation in Belarus is to pursue the step-by-step approach, mapped out in April 1999, which is
designed to offer incentives for better relations to the Belarus authorities.

(2001/C 174 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3706/00

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Child labour in Latin America and the Caribbean

Figures issued by Unicef show that half of the 200 million children and teenagers in Latin America and the
Caribbean are considered to be living in poverty and 10 % work for meagre wages. Some countries have
passed laws trying to end child labour but few have made headway, as poverty remains a powerful
incentive for children to work. Under-age workers were recently found on the family ranch of Mexico(cid:146)s
President-elect Vicente Fox, who appealed that his family should not be judged too harshly, as although
child labour is illegal it is widespread.

What does the Commission intend to do to alleviate the plight of Latin American and Caribbean children?
How can a President-elect justify breaking the law by arguing that it is a widespread phenomenon?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2001)

The Commission(cid:146)s strategy towards Latin America focuses on poverty reduction and tries to improve
working conditions in general as well as eradicating child labour. Within the framework of the Commis-
sion co-operation programmes, a number of initiatives are being launched which tackle children(cid:146)s rights,