WRITTEN QUESTION E-4102/00 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. The EIB and the Århus Convention.
Date: 2001-01-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Investment Bank, European convention, access to EU information, access to the courts, environmental protection, transparency in decision-making

C 261 E/24

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

As full liberalisation took effect in January 2001, the Commission follows closely the developments
3.
in all segments of the Greek telecommunications market, and should a violation of Community law come
to its attention, it is committed to using all tools provided by the EC Treaty to force Greece to comply
with its obligations arising from Community law. In September 2000, the Commission held a bilateral
meeting with the Greek authorities where it stressed that it has a Treaty obligation to open further
proceedings against Greece in cases where Community law is not applied.

(1) Communication from the Commission to the Council, the Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the

Committee of the Regions, COM(2000) 814 final.

(2) Directive 97/13 EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 10 April 1997 on a common framework for general

authorizations and individual licences in the field of telecommunications services, OJ L 117, 7.5.1997.

(3) Directive 97/33/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997 on interconnection in Telecommunica-
tions with regard to ensuring universal service and interoperability through application of the principles of Open
Network Provision (ONP), OJ L 199, 26.7.1997.

(4) Council Directive 92/44/EEC of 5 June 1992 on the application of open network provision to leased lines, OJ L

165, 19.6.1992.

(5) Decision No 128/1999/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 1998 on the coordinated
introduction of a third-generation mobile and wireless communications system (UMTS) in the Community, OJ L
17, 22.1.1999.

(2001/C 261 E/023)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4102/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(10 January 2001)

Subject: The EIB and the ¯rhus Convention

Does the Commission consider that the European Investment Bank (EIB) is covered by the obligations
contained in the ¯rhus Convention?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2001)

The United Nations Economic Commission of Europe(cid:146)s Convention on access to Justice, public participa-
tion in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters (the (cid:145)Aarhus Convention(cid:146)) has been
signed by all the Member States and by the Community. It will only enter into force when the minimum
number of ratifications (16) has been reached. This is not yet the case.

A declaration in the Convention, made at time of signature by the Community, provides the following:

Within the institutional and legal context of the Community and given also the provision of the
Treaty with respect to future legislation on transparency, the Community also declares that the
Community institutions will apply the Convention within the framework of existing and future rules
on access to documents and other relevant rules of Community law in the field covered by the
Convention. The Community will consider whether any further declarations will be necessary when
ratifying the Convention for the purpose of its application to Community institutions.

A legislative proposal for a Regulation prepared by the Commission (1) is at present being discussed by the
Parliament and the Council. It is based on Article 255 (ex Article 191A) of the EC Treaty and regards the
access to documents of the Community institutions. This proposed Regulation concerns the Parliament, the
Council and the Commission, which are the three Community institutions foreseen by the same Article
255.

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/25

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has informed the Commission that it is committed to the Community
objective of transparency, taking into account the conditions determined by the Bank(cid:146)s particular nature
and specific mission. It aims to keep its information policy in step with evolving best practice in the
banking sector and to disclose information to the maximum extent possible. In doing so, the EIB will take
into account the general spirit of the Aarhus Convention and of any other relevant international legal
instrument. This is without prejudice to any future obligations, which may derive from the Community
legislative process.

(1) COM(2000) 30 final (OJ C 177 E, 27.6.2000).

(2001/C 261 E/024)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4111/00

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(16 January 2001)

Subject: Hunger strike by Turkish prisoners

For more than fifty days hundreds of prisoners have been on hunger strike in 18 prisons in Turkey: they
are protesting about the decision by the authorities to transfer them to new F-type prisons with smaller
cells, since this deprives them of basic rights, such as the right to communicate and the possibility of
giving each other moral support.

In view of this, will the Council say how a country seeking accession to the European Union can violate
prisoners(cid:146) rights in such brutal manner and endanger their lives, and whether behaviour such as that of the
Turkish authorities is in keeping with the partnership agreement concluded recently between the EU and
Turkey?

Reply

(30 May 2001)

The Turkish Government is well aware of the EU(cid:146)s strong views on the need to improve the situation in
Turkish prisons. Indeed, the Council has included this issue in the medium-term priorities of the Accession
Partnership:
(cid:145)adjust detention conditions in prisons to bring them into line with the UN Standard
Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and other international norms(cid:146). Moreover, Turkey has
the Acquis, which indicates Turkey(cid:146)s
recently adopted a National Programme for the Adoption of
intentions with regard to the Accession Partnership.

In bilateral meetings with Turkey, the European Union has registered its concern about the police methods
deemed necessary by the Turkish authorities in December of last year to deal with the hunger strikes and
the unrest in Turkish prisons, such practices not being required for the introduction of the reforms
provided for in the Accession Partnership. The Council welcomes the intention of the Turkish authorities
to continue to cooperate with the Council of Europe in this respect, in particular with its Committee for
the Prevention of Torture. The Council will continue to monitor the situation.

(2001/C 261 E/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4135/00

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 January 2001)

Subject: Laying Hens Directive (1999/74/EC)

Is the Commission aware that some animal welfare organisations are concerned that so-called enriched
cages are not included in the cage ban under the Laying Hens Directive (1999/74/EC) (1)?