WRITTEN QUESTION E-0104/01 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Why is Commission President Romano Prodi travelling to Morocco to sign a cooperation agreement, when Morocco is refusing to sign a mutually beneficial fisheries agreement on reasonable terms?.
Date: 2001-02-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Morocco, cooperation agreement (EU), fishing agreement, free-trade area

C 174 E/252

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

be used by the local authorities in the mixed and non-Basque-speaking zones (almost 90 % of the
population). In these areas, Basque will no longer form part of the administration(cid:146)s corporate image and
institutional identity (publications, notices, advertisements, road signs, etc.). As regards dealings with the
public, the fact that the existing service is to be replaced by a scaled-down translation service will, in
practice, make it virtually impossible for people(cid:146)s concerns to be dealt with in Basque.

What are the Commission(cid:146)s views on a situation whereby a government prevents its own administration
from using a native language? Many of the applicant states have been required to draw up language laws
respecting the rights of citizens. Does the Commission agree that such a situation is a very bad example to
those states?

(1) OJ C 53 E, 20.2.2001, p. 92.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2001)

As noted by the Honourable Member, respect for cultural and linguistic diversity in the Member States is a
fundamental principle of European integration. The language arrangements applicable in the Member
States fall within the competence of the Member States themselves or the relevant public authorities at
national level.

This principle also applies to the applicant countries, as they must meet a number of accession criteria
(known as the Copenhagen criteria, after the city which hosted the European Council of June 1993 at
which they were drawn up). The Commission submits regular reports on the progress made by the
applicant countries towards meeting these criteria.

(2001/C 174 E/271)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0104/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Why is Commission President Romano Prodi

agreement, when Morocco is refusing to sign a mutually beneficial
reasonable terms?

travelling to Morocco to sign a cooperation
fisheries agreement on

At the very time the European Union is experiencing difficulties in getting the Kingdom of Morocco to
take the negotiation of a new fisheries agreement seriously, with practically no prospect of a last-minute
breakthrough, the Commission President is travelling to Morocco next weekend to negotiate a cooperation
agreement.

The media, quoting Community sources, assure us that Mr Prodi, despite the difficulties surrounding the
fisheries negotiations, is determined to sign the cooperation agreement, from which he merely intends to
remove the proposals concerning cooperation on fisheries.

This is not the attitude which the European Community took in 1995; the general association agreement
between the EU and Morocco was signed on 15 November of that year only after Morocco agreed to sign
the 1995-1999 fisheries agreement. This followed close on the heels of the opening of the Barcelona Euro-
Mediterranean conference, inspired by the principle of cooperation between the northern and southern
shores of the Mediterranean.

If Romano Prodi signs the cooperation agreement with Morocco, the mistaken and negative policy of
separating fishery negotiations from all the other sectors which come under economic, social and cultural
cooperation, a policy whose implementation over the last year was responsible for the failure of attempts
to renew the fisheries agreement which expired in 1999.

Why is the President of the Commission once again separating the conclusion of fishery agreements from
the other cooperation agreements which the European Union has with Morocco?

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C 174 E/253

Does the Commission not believe that it would be more positive and logical to do everything in its power
to achieve a cooperation agreement which includes a fisheries agreement which fully reflects the interests
and concerns of Spain(cid:146)s Galician, Andalusian and Canaries fleets, and the Portuguese fleet?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 2001)

The Association Agreement with Morocco was signed in February 1996 and entered into force on 1 March
2000. Its eventual aim is to establish a free trade zone between the Community and Morocco, and it
provides for Community economic cooperation under the MEDA programme to help Morocco improve its
economy.

The President signed three financing agreements under the economic cooperation arrangements during his
visit to Rabat in January: an adjustment programme for the financial sector worth € 52 million, a € 50
million adjustment programme for the healthcare system and a € 7 million project to support social
housing in Tangiers.

The Commission feels that it is necessary to consider EU-Moroccan relations overall, fisheries being only a
single, albeit important, sector. It is clear that under the partnership all areas of interest to both Morocco
and the Community covered by must be examined.

The Commission will continue its efforts to achieve positive results in negotiating the fisheries agreement.

(2001/C 174 E/272)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0123/01

by Marie-Noºlle Lienemann (PSE) to the Commission

(24 January 2001)

Subject: Independence of Austrian judges

Having regard to the critical conclusions of the report by the (cid:145)Three Wise Men(cid:146) on the independence of the
Austrian judiciary, and having regard to the democratic criteria laid down in Article 6 of the Treaty on
European Union, what action will the European Union take following the open letter signed by more than
two thirds of Austrian judges and prosecutors affirming that judicial independence and the separation of
powers are threatened when blatant political pressure is applied to current investigations?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2001)

The letter signed by judges and prosecutors mentioned by the Honourable Member refers to an internal
problem. The authors call on the Austrian authorities to take action as they are concerned about the
opinions expressed by political leaders and the unacceptable consequences that implementation of these
opinions could have for the administration of justice. Under these circumstances the Commission feels that
the problem is an internal one which, given the content of the letter, does not call for action by the
European Union.