WRITTEN QUESTION E-0800/01 by Klaus Hänsch (PSE) to the Commission. Campaign against torture.
Date: 2001-03-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, human rights movement, public awareness campaign, torture, victim

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/123

Each of the options would meet the additional need to only a limited extent, and they relate primarily to
ruminants and not to pigs or poultry. Besides, the extra costs are disproportionate compared with the cost
of importing equivalent products.

(1) COM(2001) 148 final: Options to promote the cultivation of plant proteins in the EU.

(2001/C 318 E/131)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0800/01

by Klaus H(cid:228)nsch (PSE) to the Commission

(19 March 2001)

Subject: Campaign against torture

Amnesty International has requested the European Union to join the worldwide campaign against torture
launched in October 2000 and, following the example of the guidelines for a Union policy vis-(cid:224)-vis third
countries with regard to the death penalty adopted in 1998, to draw up guidelines for a comprehensive EU
policy against torture and abuse in third countries.

1. What measures has the Commission taken to that end?

2. Where does it consider that there is a further need for action in order to lend even greater weight to
the established principles of the EU with regard to promoting democracy and human rights in the world?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2001)

No government or country, no matter what its level of development or its political system, can possibly
justify the existence of torture on its soil. It is one of the most abhorrent and vile abuses of human rights.
The European Union has an absolute duty to work to see the prevalence of torture reduced across the
world. The Charter of Fundamental Rights made our commitment clear, within and without the Union.

The General Affairs Council adopted (cid:145)Guidelines to EU Policy towards Third Countries on Torture and Ill-
Treatment(cid:146) on 9 April 2001. The Commission contributed to their formulation and warmly welcomed
their adoption. As with the Guidelines on the Death Penalty, they will send a clear signal that the issue is
a Union priority and reinforce Union action in this area. The EU, and the Commission, has adopted the
guidelines for use in its relations with all third countries. As Amnesty International noted, there have been
reports of torture and ill treatment by state agents in over 150 countries over the past 3 years and torture
is widespread in 70 of them.

The Community has provided funding for projects related to the prevention of
torture and the
rehabilitation of torture victims for several years. 2001 will see a large increase in funding for torture
rehabilitation under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (Chapter B7-7): € 12 million
has been set aside for torture rehabilitation centers (€ 6 million for centers inside the Union and € 6
million for centers outside the Union). The Call for Proposals on torture rehabilitation closed on 2 April
2001. Projects dealing with the prevention of torture were also eligible for funding under the general
Human Rights Call for Proposals which closed on 19 March 2001.