WRITTEN QUESTION P-0054/01 by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Political dialogue meetings with the Turkish authorities.
Date: 2001-01-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Armenia, Cyprus, Türkiye, accession to the European Union, cooperation policy, settlement of disputes

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/249

(2001/C 174 E/267)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0054/01

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(16 January 2001)

Subject: Political dialogue meetings with the Turkish authorities

In reply to Written Question E 1564/00 (1) on political dialogue meetings with the Turkish authorities the
following is stated: (cid:145)The European Council will review the situation relating to any outstanding disputes, in
particular concerning the repercussions on the accession process and in order to promote their settlement
through the International Court of Justice, at the latest by the end of 2004(cid:146). But the Council(cid:146)s answer refers
in that connection only to the (cid:145)Cyprus problem(cid:146).

Is the Council prepared to evaluate all disputes, including in particular the Kurdish problem and the

1.
Armenian problem?

If so, when and how will those issues be raised? If not, can the Council state its reasons for not considering
those problems as outstanding disputes?

2. What is the Council(cid:146)s understanding of (cid:145)respect for minorities(cid:146) as specified in the Copenhagen
criteria?

3. What (additional) action will the Council take to find a solution to the Kurdish problem, given that
the Turkish government has not hitherto been prepared to compromise on efforts aimed at securing
Kurdish self-government?

(1) OJ C 113 E, 18.4.2001, p. 26.

Reply

(12 March 2001)

The reply to Written Question E 1564/00 was a reference to paragraph 4 of the Helsinki European
Council Conclusions, and was intended to cover only (cid:145)any outstanding border disputes and other related
issues(cid:146). The border issue is included among the medium-term priorities in the Accession Partnership.

The other specific issues raised in the question are also taken into account in the Accession Partnership (cid:129)
on which the Council reached political agreement on 4 December 2000 (cid:129) and in the political dialogue
with Turkey.

The Accession Partnership under the heading (cid:145)Enhanced political dialogue and political criteria(cid:146) identifies
inter alia the following short and medium term priorities and intermediate objectives:

1. With regard to Cyprus; in accordance with the Helsinki conclusions, in the context of the political
dialogue, strongly support the UN Secretary(cid:146)s General efforts to bring to a successful conclusion the
process of finding a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, as referred in the point 9 (a) of
the Helsinki conclusions (short-term).

2. With regard to the Kurdish problem and minorities:

(cid:129) Remove any legal provisions forbidding the use by Turkish citizens of their mother tongue in TV/

radio broadcasting (short-term);

(cid:129) Develop a comprehensive approach to reduce regional disparities, and in particular to improve
the situation in the South-East, with a view to enhancing economic, social and cultural
opportunities for all citizens (short-term);

(cid:129) Lift the remaining state of emergency in the South-East (medium-term);

(cid:129) Ensure cultural diversity and guarantee cultural rights for all citizens irrespective of their origin.
Any legal provisions preventing the enjoyment of these rights should be abolished, including in
the field of education (medium-term).

C 174 E/250

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

The priorities listed under the short term have been selected on the basis that it is realistic to expect that
Turkey can complete or take them substantially forward by the end of 2001. The priorities listed under the
medium term are expected to take more than one year to complete although work should, wherever
possible, also begin on them during 2001. Turkey is expected to adopt before long a National Programme
for the adoption of the Acquis which should be compatible with the Accession Partnership.

With regard to Armenia, the Commission(cid:146)s Regular Report notes that (cid:145)Turkey continues to further develop
mutual relations with (cid:133) the Caucasus(cid:146) and that (cid:145)Turkey still maintains its border with Armenia closed(cid:146)
(Chapter 27: Common foreign and security policy). The Turkish Government is currently re-examining
Turkey(cid:146)s policy towards Armenia.

The Council and the Commission will discuss regularly with Turkey and keep under review the issues
referred to in the Accession Partnership and in the Commission(cid:146)s Regular Report as part of Turkey(cid:146)s
preparation for EU accession.

(2001/C 174 E/268)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0066/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 January 2001)

Subject: Delays in rescue operations after road accidents because of secrecy surrounding technical innova-

tions in cars

1.
Is the Commission aware that car manufacturers usually keep secret new ways in which they protect
their products from collision (e.g. stronger bodywork, airbags and seat belt tightening devices), with the
result that firemen and other emergency services often do not know how to remove trapped occupants
from wrecked vehicles without delay?

2.
Does the Commission agree that the secrecy referred to in question 1 is probably due to the fact that
manufacturers want to keep the technical innovations in their products concealed from competitors as far
as possible, but that this is pointless because no manufacturer can prevent his competitors from buying the
car and stripping it down?

Does the Commission agree that maintaining secrecy can lead to a loss of life and to an increase in

3.
permanent injury as a result of delays in medical treatment?

4. What does the Commission think it can do to help set up, as soon as possible, a central database so
that the fire services and other emergency services in all Member States are informed by car manufacturers
and importers as soon as possible, and in as much detail as possible, of how cars involved in accidents can
be opened without delay?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(8 March 2001)

The Commission agrees with the honourable Member that the speed of rescue operations is a vital factor
in minimising the consequences of injuries suffered in road accidents.

However, the Commission is not aware of any fact, real or alleged, that would indicate a desire or a policy
for secrecy in this area on the part of car manufacturers. As the honourable Member points out, it is
standard practice among manufacturers to dismantle the vehicles of competitors in order to discover the
latest developments.

With regard to the protection of secrets or innovations, manufacturers tend to adopt the following
approach: when a manufacturer wants to safeguard an innovation that improves the service to customers
(which applies to the safety devices mentioned by the honourable Member) and gain or maintain a
competitive edge, he patents it.