WRITTEN QUESTION E-3955/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Hungarian minority in Slovakia.
Date: 2000-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Hungary, Slovakia, accession to the European Union, ethnic group, rights of minorities

C 235 E/38

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

Reply

(7 May 2001)

On 7 November 2000 the Ecofin Council examined the exchange rate policy to be pursued by candidate
countries for accession in preparation for their subsequent adoption of the euro and adopted conclusions
on the subject. In the conclusions the Council pointed out that, following accession, the new Member
States would not be able to adopt the euro immediately: they would first have to satisfy all the relevant
requirements of the Treaty, in particular the convergence criteria.

The Council also pointed out that any unilateral adoption of the single currency by (cid:145)euroisation(cid:146) would
conflict with the economic considerations underlying economic and monetary union in the Treaty and
that, consequently, unilateral (cid:145)euroisation(cid:146) was not a means of by-passing the stages laid down in the Treaty
for adoption of the euro.

The same holds true for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in so far as it is a potential candidate for
accession to the European Union in accordance with the conclusions of the Cologne, Feira and Nice
European Councils.

The Council has not looked into the issues raised by the Honourable Member in the eighth paragraph of
her question. However, the European Council in Nice invited the Council to adopt effective measures to
protect the euro against counterfeiting as soon as possible in 2001 and the Council is pressing ahead with
work on this matter, on the basis of a Commission proposal.

(2001/C 235 E/042)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3955/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Hungarian minority in Slovakia

According to the 1997 Commission opinion on Slovakia(cid:146)s application for membership of the EU, the
Hungarian minority represents 11 % of the population. The latest Commission report (1) devotes no more
than two lines to this minority.

Does the Commission take the view that the rights of the Hungarian minority in Slovakia are not being
curtailed by the Beres decrees, which remain in force? What is the Commission(cid:146)s view of the fact that one
of the conditions laid down for the entry into government of the Hungarian Coalition Party was that the
1945 decrees are not to be revised? What impact will implementation of the basic treaty with Hungary
have on this minority?

(1) COM(2000) 711.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2001)

The Commission closely monitors the fulfillment of the criteria established by the Copenhagen European
Council in 1993 in all candidate countries including Slovakia. The political criterion encompasses the
protection of minorities including the Hungarian minority.

As regards the Benes decrees, the Commission is fully aware of the human dimension and complexity of
this issue. However,
the Benes decrees were adopted and implemented before the founding of the
European Community and before the entry into force of the Treaty of Rome. In so far as their legal
impact nowadays relates to restitution issues, the Commission does not have the competence to intervene,
neither in a current nor a future Member State, since article 295 (ex Article 222) of the EC Treaty
explicitly states that the Treaty shall in no way prejudice the rules in the Member States governing the
system of property ownership. The Commission underlines, however, that candidate countries have to
comply, at the time of their accession to the EU, with the acquis communautaire, including the principles
of free movement of persons and freedom of establishment as well as the protection of human rights and
minority rights.

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/39

The agreement not to revise the 1945 decrees has been part of the coalition building process in the Slovak
Republic. It has been accepted as such by the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK). The Commission considers
this situation as an internal political affair of the Slovak Republic, on which it is not to pronounce any
judgements.

As regards the basic treaty with Hungary, the Commission welcomes that its implementation has been
launched by setting up a Joint Committee for Minority Issues, comprising representatives of the Hungarian
minority in Slovakia. The various working groups are basically functioning and have already achieved first
visible results, e.g. in the area of employment. It is now important that the implementation will not be
hampered by delays on both sides.

(2001/C 235 E/043)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3958/00

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Restructuring of the European defence industry

On 27 July 2000, at an armaments exhibition in Great Britain, an agreement on the restructuring and
operation of the European defence industry (cid:129) Framework Agreement Concerning Measures to Facilitate
the Restructuring and Operation of the European Industry (cid:129) was concluded between six European Union
Member States. That framework agreement will facilitate business for the international armaments industry
since it will now be possible for the country which made the final addition to a weapons system to issue
the export licence for the weaponry.

Does this comply with the EU(cid:146)s Code of Conduct on arms exports?

Does the signing of this agreement by Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy and Germany not
run counter to the efforts being made to achieve peace in the world?

Reply

(7 May 2001)

The Framework Agreement between the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Italian
Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland concerning measures to facilitate the restructuring and operation of the European
Defence industry was signed on 27 July 2000. One of the objectives of this agreement (article 1, d) is to
bring closer, simplify and reduce, where appropriate, national export control procedures for transfers and
exports of military goods and technologies.

When issuing export licences the signatory States of this Framework Agreement, which are all members of
the European Union, shall abide by the criteria set out by the EU Code of Conduct on arms exports
adopted by the Council on 8 June 1998. The internal situation in the country of final destination, as
a function of the (cid:145)existence of tensions or armed conflicts(cid:146) and the preservation of regional peace, security
and stability are among the criterions set out by the EU Code of Conduct, which are all designed to avoid
the risk that arms exports from EU Member States might be used for internal repression or international
aggression or regional instability.