WRITTEN QUESTION E-1267/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Council. Protection of the cultural heritage in Turkey.
Date: 2001-04-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Türkiye, accession to the European Union, anti-discriminatory measure, ethnic group, freedom of religious beliefs, religious discrimination

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4.4.2002

the Council would draw the
As regards more particularly the expenditure relating to enlargement,
Honourable Member(cid:146)s attention to the fact that the IIA includes not only the financial perspective for a
Union of fifteen but also, in Annex II thereto, a financial framework for a Union of twenty-one, which
takes account of the foreseeable financing requirements of enlargement. In addition, section 25 of the IIA
permits, if necessary, the adjustment of the financial perspective. To that end it states that:

Without prejudice to the outcome of the accession negotiations, the change in the headings concerned
should not exceed the amounts shown in the indicative financial framework based on the assumption
of an enlarged Union with six new Member States from 2002 and contained in Annex II, which forms
an integral part of this Agreement.

The additional requirements will be covered by the available amounts set aside for this purpose in the
financial perspective and, if necessary, by using the additional own resources resulting from the increased
Community GNP after enlargement of the Union.

Lastly, the Commission has stated that before the end of 2004 it will conduct a general evaluation of the
system, taking into account, inter alia, the effects of enlargement on the financing of the budget.

(1) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 253, 7.10.2000, p. 42.
(3) OJ L 244, 29.9.2000, p. 27.

(2002/C 81 E/019)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1265/01

by Jens-Peter Bonde (EDD) to the Council

(27 April 2001)

Subject: Audit

Is it not, in the Council(cid:146)s view, a problem that the Court of Auditors has refused for the sixth consecutive
year to state that the transactions on which the accounts are based are legal and formally correct?

Reply

(20 November 2001)

The Council would point out that since introduction of the statement of assurance (SOA) in 1995, it has
always deeply regretted the fact that the Commission has been unable to obtain this statement of assurance
It considers it
transactions underlying the financial statements.
on the legality and regularity of
unacceptable that
the incidence of error affecting transactions underlying payments has not been
substantially reduced to date.

However, the Council is aware that the reform of departments and procedures already initiated by the
Commission in the area of financial management should gradually have a positive effect on the SOA. With
this in view, it invited the Commission in March 2001, in its recommendation for a discharge in respect of
the implementation of the budget for the financial year 1999, to speed up implementation of the measures
provided for in the action plan which it had established with a view to obtaining a positive SOA from the
Court of Auditors and to supplement that plan with specific targets that enable progress to be measured
and with a timetable containing dates by which the impact on the SOA should be observable.

(2002/C 81 E/020)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1267/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Council

(27 April 2001)

Subject: Protection of the cultural heritage in Turkey

In Helsinki in December 1999, Turkey was designated (cid:145)a candidate for accession(cid:146) to the EU. Nonetheless,
the (cid:145)secular(cid:146) State of modern Turkey does not recognise the national and cultural heritage of the millions of

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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Kurds living in the country, while thousands of Christians (Greeks, Armenians, Roman Catholics, Syro-
Chaldeans etc) also encounter numerous obstacles in practising their religion. Typical examples are the
persecution suffered by Orthodox Christians in Turkey (cid:129) the Chalki Theological School, for instance, has
been closed for 30 years following a unilateral and arbitrary decision by the Turkish administration (cid:129) and
the persecution of the remaining Christians in Istanbul, Imvros and Tenedos.

Has the Council raised with the (cid:145)candidate for accession(cid:146) the matter of respect for the cultural diversity and
religious freedom of the millions of non-Turkish citizens living on its territory? How specifically does
Turkey account for the lack of respect for the Kurdish cultural identity? What specific indications have
there been of a change in attitude on the part of the Turkish authorities towards the Christians living in
Turkey since the country was designated a candidate for accession?

Reply

(20 November 2001)

In the Accession Partnership for Turkey (1), the Council has identified priorities relating in particular to
religious freedom and cultural diversity as follows:

Guarantee full enjoyment by all
individuals without any discrimination and irrespective of their
language, race, colour, sex, political opinion, philosophical belief or religion of all human rights and
fundamental
thought,
conscience and religion.

freedoms. Further develop conditions for the enjoyment of

freedom of

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.

It is self-evident that this is valid for all minorities living in Turkey, whether Christian or not, whose rights
should be fully respected in practice. The reopening of Heybeliada (Chalki) Theological Seminary is to be
seen in this context.

In response to the Accession Partnership, Turkey adopted in March 2001 a National Programme for the
Adoption of the Acquis. The Commission is in the process of examining the content of this programme
and its compatibility with the Accession Partnership. In this context, the Council recalls that incorporation
of the EU acquis into Turkish legislation is not in itself sufficient. Turkey will also have to ensure that it is
actually applied. The implementation of the Accession Partnership will be closely monitored in the
Association Agreement bodies and through the competent Council bodies to which the Commission
reports regularly.

(1) OJ L 85, 24.3.2001, p. 13.

(2002/C 81 E/021)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1280/01

by Esko Sepp(cid:228)nen (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(4 May 2001)

Subject: Mobilisation of crisis management force

The European Council has decided to establish by 2003 a (cid:145)rapid reaction force(cid:146) for purposes of crisis
management. On the decision of what institution, and under whose orders, does the Council consider this
force will be deployed?

Reply

(21 November 2001)

The Headline Goal, announced at the Helsinki European Council
in December 1999, set an agreed
voluntary capabilities target with the aim of ensuring effective capabilities for the full range of Petersberg