WRITTEN QUESTION P-0068/01 by Herman Schmid (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Refugees in Turkey.
Date: 2001-01-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community acquis, Kurdistan question, Türkiye, accession criteria, refugee, right of asylum

C 318 E/24

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

(2001/C 318 E/024)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4138/00

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(16 January 2001)

Subject: Euro Standard for LPG bottles and tanks

Is there a Euro Standard for LPG gas bottles and tanks applicable across the EU and if not, why not?

Is the Commission aware of accidents caused by the absence of standardisation for this which causes
difficulties and sometimes danger for those using gas storage appliances when travelling (e.g. in a caravan)
from one Member State to another?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2001)

Bottles and tanks intended to contain liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are covered by Council Directive 1999/
36/EC of 29 April 1999 on transportable pressure equipment (1).

That Directive, which must be implemented by the Member States on 1 July 2001 in respect of bottles and
1 July 2003 in respect of tanks, is intended to improve the safety of that equipment and ensure its free
movement.

As regards the technical requirements applying to that equipment,
that Directive refers to Council
Directive 94/55/EC of 21 November 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with
regard to the transport of dangerous goods by road (2) and Council Directive 96/49/EC of 23 July 1996 on
the approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by
rail (3). References to European standards such as standard EN 1442: 1998 relating to LPG bottles have
been incorporated into the version of the annexes to those two latter Directives to apply from 1 July
2001. As regards tanks references to European standards should be incorporated into the version of the
annexes to those two latter Directives whose implementation is envisaged from 1 July 2003.

(1) OJ L 138, 1.6.1999.
(2) OJ L 319, 12.12.1994.
(3) OJ L 235, 17.9.1996.

(2001/C 318 E/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0068/01

by Herman Schmid (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 January 2001)

Subject: Refugees in Turkey

It is generally recognised that Turkey will have to make substantial improvements as regards human rights
for Kurds and other national minorities. However, in Eastern Turkey there are many thousands of refugees
from Kurdish regions of Iraq and Iran. Some of them are recognised by the UNHCR as refugees, others
have no recognised status at all. These groups are not automatically included in the demands made for
Kurds in Turkey since they are not Turkish citizens and are therefore more exposed to risks than other
groups of Kurdish origin.

What will the Commission do to protect these refugee groups and include them in the minority and
human rights programme designed to make Turkey qualified for EU membership?

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/25

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2001)

Improvements in the human rights situation in Turkey are indeed required in the framework of Turkey(cid:146)s
preparation for accession to the Union. The Accession Partnership (AP) for Turkey adopted by the
Commission on 8 November 2000 (1) sets out priorities in this respect. The implementation of those
priorities by Turkey would clearly improve the situation of all Turkish citizens irrespective of their origin.

As to the situation of refugees (cid:129) whether or not of Kurdish origin (cid:129), the Justice and Home Affairs (cid:145)acquis(cid:146)
clearly states the obligations for membership in this respect. In particular, this includes the lifting of the
geographical reservation to the 1951 Geneva Convention, to create a legal obligation to exercise all asylum
claims whatever the geographical origin of the asylum seeker. Asylum in general has been one of the
subjects of a mission of Union experts that took place in September 2000 to Turkey in the field of Justice
and Home Affairs. On this occasion, experts on asylum insisted on the importance of this dimension and
identified a number of shortcomings and potential fields of financial co-operation that will soon be
discussed with Turkey to support the practical consequences of the implementation of such a major
change in asylum legislation in Turkey. The question of refugees is also addressed by the AP, which
notably calls for the development of accommodation facilities and social support for refugees in Turkey.

(1) COM(2000) 714 final.

(2001/C 318 E/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0070/01

by Joost Lagendijk (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Use of depleted uranium ammunition in the Balkans

(18 January 2001)

Was the European Commission informed, as were the NATO Member States and aid organisations active
in the Balkans, by NATO in July 1999 of the (cid:145)possible toxic risk(cid:146) associated with the use of depleted-
uranium ammunition (1)?

If so, what action has the European Commission taken to protect its staff present in the Balkans against
possible harmful effects?

If not, will the Commission now be prepared, on the basis of the information that has recently come to
light, to take action to protect Commission staff in the Balkans?

Does the Commission agree that it should, in view of its activities in the Balkans, play a part in the
international inquiry that has been announced?

Does the Commission share the position not only that the international
inquiry must investigate the
possible effects of depleted uranium on the health of NATO personnel, but also that the impact on the
health of local communities in the affected areas visited by UNEP (2) must be investigated to an equivalent
standard?

(1)
(2)

(cid:145)NRC Handelsblad(cid:146) for 8 January and (cid:145)Berliner Morgenpost(cid:146) for 7 and 8 January 2001.
(cid:145)Le Monde(cid:146) 6 January 2001.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2001)

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation(NATO)recently confirmed that ammunition containing depleted
uranium had been used. The Commission was already aware of the potential toxic risks of this, notably
through the provisional report of the United Nations (UNEP) of October 1999, essentially based on
extrapolations from the data known after such weapons had been used in the Gulf.