WRITTEN QUESTION E-1832/01 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission. Serb authorities' embargo on Jehovah's Witnesses' educational material.
Date: 2001-06-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, Serbia and Montenegro, democratisation, exchange of information, import restriction, publication, religious discrimination

C 93 E/28

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

The mission of the Joint Research Center (JRC), adopted by Council and Parliament in 1999, is to provide
customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and
monitoring of Community policies. It serves the common interest of the Member States while being
independent of particular private or national interests.

Therefore, the JRC is a research establishment not dedicated to research policy but acting as a European
reference centre for other Community policies (environment, agriculture,
Scientific and Technical
transport, energy, nuclear).

As far as expenditure for personnel is concerned, the breakdown for the JRC Ispra site in the year 2001 is
as follows:

, Total: € 114 million,

, Scientific personnel: € 95 million,

, Administrative personnel: € 19 million.

(2002/C 93 E/030)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1832/01

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission

(22 June 2001)

Subject: Serb authorities’ embargo on Jehovah’s Witnesses’ educational material

By decision of 9 April, the Federal Minister for Home Affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY),
Zoran Zivkovic, refused entry onto Serbian territory of a range of publications by Jehovah’s Witnesses on
the grounds that they would have a negative impact on children and young people. In the decision the
minister explains that the reason for the ban on the importation of these publications is that judging from
the number of copies and the content of the text, it is clear that they are intended not to meet the
requirements of the current members of the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but rather for specific
purposes of proselytisation.

The specific nature of the pernicious influence of the forbidden texts on young people is unclear, given
that the minister does not cite any significant passages to back up his accusation, as the law requires. As
the reason for the ban is solely the quantity of material, it violates the very constitutional principles of the
FRY, as well as the general principles of law.

What measures has the Commission taken, or will it take, to inform the authorities of Belgrade that such
procedures are incompatible with the general principles of law and, more specifically, with freedom of
thought, expression and religion?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

The Commission understands that, under a law dating from 1974, permission for imports of foreign
publications is required, on a case by case basis, from the Federal Ministry of the Interior of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia.

Commission’s enquiries indicate that the FRY authorities have not banned the publication in question, but
have so far declined to authorise the import of this consignment in view of the very large quantity
envisaged. The Commission understands that the matter is still under consideration.

The Commission is in regular contact with the FRY authorities about the reform of laws and procedures in
many areas, including this one. The Council of Europe is providing advice as to European norms and
practices.

The Commission will continue to monitor the implementation of democratic reforms in the FRY closely.