WRITTEN QUESTION P-1662/01 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Council. Insecurity in South Africa — murder attempts aimed at the resident Portuguese community.
Date: 2001-06-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, South Africa, crime, development aid

C 81 E/48

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

Given the above:

1. What action does the Council intend to take to ensure that the EU achieves positive results in its

campaign against tax havens and money laundering?

2. Does the Council intend to make this a priority subject for the transatlantic agenda?

Reply

(6 December 2001)

The Council would first remind the Honourable Member that the Extraordinary European Council of
21 September 2001, taking as its premise the fact that a decisive aspect of the fight against terrorism is
combating its funding and that energetic international action is required to ensure that the fight is fully
effective, called upon the Ecofin and Justice and Home Affairs Councils (cid:145)to take the necessary measures to
combat any form of financing for terrorist activities, in particular by adopting in the weeks to come the
extension of the Directive on money laundering and the framework Decision on freezing assets(cid:146). On
17 October 2000, meeting in its joint Economic and Financial Affairs/Justice and Home Affairs
configuration, the Council reiterated the invitation of the Tampere European Council to the Member
States to implement in full and also in their dependent territories the provisions of the money-laundering
Directive, the 1990 Strasbourg Convention and the recommendations of the FATF on money laundering.

Furthermore, under the Code of Conduct for business taxation intended to eliminate harmful tax measures,
the Member States have pledged to promote the adoption of the principles of the Code in third countries
and territories to which the EC Treaty does not apply. In particular, those Member States which have
associated or dependent territories, or responsibilities or fiscal prerogatives in other territories, have
undertaken within the framework of their own constitutional provisions to ensure the application of the
principles of the Code in such territories.

Lastly, as part of discussions on the proposal for a Directive on taxation of the savings income of non-
residents and in conformity with the conclusions of the Feira European Council, the Presidency and the
Commission have begun talks with the United States and the leading third countries (Switzerland,
Liechtenstein, Monaco, Andorra, San Mar(cid:237)no) to encourage the adoption of equivalent measures in those
countries; at the same time, the Member States concerned have begun discussions with those of their
dependent or associated territories referred to in the Conclusions (the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and
the Caribbean dependent or associated territories) to ensure that those territories adopt measures identical
to those which will apply within the Community.

The Council would also remind the Honourable Member of the Member States(cid:146) commitment in the fight
against harmful tax competition within the OECD.

(2002/C 81 E/059)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1662/01

by JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Council

(1 June 2001)

Subject: Insecurity in South Africa (cid:129) murder attempts aimed at the resident Portuguese community

The way in which the apartheid system in South Africa was brought to an end, the entire transition
process and the effective functioning of democratic institutions over the last few years have received
widespread international recognition, accompanied by the championing of Nelson Mandela, together with
admiration for, and appreciation of, his example. No attempt will be made to challenge or undermine this
fact.

However, in more recent years a wave of violent crime (apparently linked to serious social problems) has
been seriously disrupting South African society and has been aimed in particular at members of the
country(cid:146)s Portuguese community, who are mainly involved in running small businesses.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/49

Last weekend witnessed the murder in Cape Town of yet another Portuguese small-business man, Noel
Bernardo Nunes, 65 years of age and resident in South Africa for 40 years. Since the start of the year,
about 10 Portuguese have already been murdered and, according to press reports, 388 Portuguese have
been killed over the last four years in this wave of criminal violence which particularly affects the
Johannesburg area.

The justified alarm which these incidents have been causing amongst the Portuguese community prompted
the latter to organise street demonstrations a few months ago,
in which they called for appropriate
protection. However, a series of misunderstandings and a failure of comprehension on the part of sectors
within the South African Government turned the initiative into a regrettable dispute. The matter is
obviously a sensitive one from the political point of view, although the most important thing is that
effective action should be taken to protect people(cid:146)s lives.

The Portuguese citizens in question are also citizens of the European Union, which is well-placed to
approach the South African authorities and to offer the necessary assistance.

Is the Council monitoring the escalation of violent crime in South Africa which has resulted in the deaths
of so many Portuguese and which is causing justified alarm? What action has it already taken and is it
intending to take in future over this matter vis-(cid:224)-vis the South African Government?

Reply

(21 November 2001)

In reply to the question by the Honourable Parliamentarian, the Council can confirm that it is monitoring
the situation and will continue to do so concerning the escalation of violent crime in South Africa. As the
Honourable Parliamentarian is not doubt also aware, the escalation of violent crime in South Africa is a
general problem that is affecting all races, nationalities and social strata present in the country and not
only the resident Portuguese community. South Africa is however an independent country with a
democratically elected government and the Council remains convinced that the South African authorities
are doing their outmost to control this unfortunate situation in the country and to respect the human
rights situation.

The Council is however also aware of the difficult economic situation that South Africa finds itself in and
it has therefore since several years financed the European Programme for Reconstruction and Development
(EPRD), which is among the largest development programmes that the EU is financing to an individual
country. Among the many programmes financed by the EU under the EPRD, several are aimed at
improving the social structure in South Africa such as improved health care, improved housing and the
fight against drugs-related problems. One of the programmes is also aimed at strengthening the capacities
and institutional development for the services of the South African police. Through these positive actions,
the EU aims at improving the quality of life in South Africa and thereby also reducing the level of violence.

(2002/C 81 E/060)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1675/01

by Per-Arne Arvidsson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 June 2001)

Subject: Nuclear power and climate change

According to the Green Paper on Security of Energy Supply, initiated by the Commission Vice-President
Mrs de Palacio, (cid:145)nuclear energy has enabled Europe to avoid the emission of around 300 million tonnes of
CO2 per year(cid:146). The Green Paper forecasts that nuclear capacity in the EU will decrease by about 50 %
between 2020-2050 if not replacement capacity is built.

In the light of this information, what energy policy will the Commission promote in order to ensure that
the European Union will meet its climate change commitments, as outlined initially in the Kyoto Protocol?