WRITTEN QUESTION P-1920/01 by William Newton Dunn (ELDR) to the Commission. Human rights in Guatemala.
Date: 2001-06-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Guatemala, cooperation policy, democratisation, establishment of peace, human rights, the EU's international role

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14.2.2002

The uncertainty surrounding the matter has been heightened by recent reports in the local press stating
that the Commission had brought the dossier opened in 1997 against the Torreblanca dumping-ground
before the European Court of Justice, on the grounds of non-compliance with the EU directive on waste.

Can the Commission provide information on the present state of affairs, with a view to clarifying whether
the proceedings initiated by it are still under way or whether the case is now considered closed following
the sealing of the dumping-ground?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

illegal Spanish landfill sites,
The Commission has instituted infringement proceedings against several
including that at Torreblanca (Malaga). Having verified that these dumps were failing to comply with the
Directive on waste, the Commission decided to bring the case before the Court of Justice.

The latest information sent by the Spanish authorities on the Torreblanca landfill site indicates that the site
has been sealed, but that part of the sealed area is still being used cyclically for the transfer of solid waste
to the Casares processing plant.

The Commission has not been informed that the (cid:145)cyclic situation(cid:146) described has come to an end in the
meantime. Accordingly, and not having received any new information from the Spanish authorities, the
Commission regards that part of the sealed landfill site as still containing waste even if its final destination
is the Casares processing centre.

(2002/C 40 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1920/01

by William Newton Dunn (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 June 2001)

Subject: Human rights in Guatemala

In May 2000 the European Parliament supported a motion which called on the Commission to (cid:145)strengthen
EU programmes intended to help eradicate human rights abuses and implement the peace agreements(cid:146) in
Guatemala. What action has been taken since then to achieve this strengthening, and are the measures to
support the work of human rights in Guatemala continuing?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2001)

The co-operation between the Commission and Guatemala is aimed to give adequate support to the peace
process and to improve respect of human rights. As a matter of fact, since 1996, the Commission has
sustained the civil society and State organisations in Guatemala with the objective to contribute to the
reconciliation process of this country. Some examples of the Union initiatives are the reintegration of ex-
combatants of civil war, the institutional support offered to the state body for the co-ordination of Peace
Accords (SEPAZ), the assistance given to the constitution of a civil police force, or the development of a
national land register.

During the last months, the Union has been reinforcing this action by defining with the Guatemalan
authorities a (cid:145)Memorandum of Understanding(cid:146), signed jointly on 26 March 2001, which establishes
guidelines for co-operation during 2000-2006, with € 93 million of additional funds. This document,
while focusing on four main sectors including the consolidation and modernisation of the rule of law, the
decentralisation of the state, bolstering civil society as well as combating poverty, clearly reaffirms a
mutual commitment to democracy and the respect for human rights.

Under this framework, the Commission is preparing a programme to improve the justice system in
Guatemala as well as an initiative aimed at strengthening the civil society. Furthermore, the Union is

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defining a regional project aiming at human rights(cid:146) protection in which the component for Guatemala is
the most important; finally a number of projects dealing with the defense of human rights in Guatemala
could be selected for financing under the (cid:145)European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights(cid:146) (Call for
Proposals (1)).

On the level of political dialogue with Guatemalan authorities, the Commission and Member States have
also reiterated the importance of respecting human rights. The latest actions which have drawn attention
to the deteriorating situation of both the Peace Process and human rights respect in Guatemala have been
the meeting between the Troika and Guatemalan Vice-President in margin of San JosØ XVII meeting (March
2001), as well as the declaration of the Swedish Presidency on 25 April 2001, on the third anniversary of
the assassination of Bishop Gerardi.

In addition, during its visit to Guatemala at the end of March 2001, the Member of the Commission
responsible for External Relations called on President Portillo(cid:146)s Government to take urgent action to avoid
a negative spiral of events in Guatemala and to reinvigorate the stalled implementation of the Peace
Accords.

(1) OJ C 170, 17.6.1999.

(2002/C 40 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1928/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 June 2001)

Subject: Atmospheric pollution in Attica

According to a recent announcement by Greenpeace in Greece on 13 June 2001, ozone readings in Attica
are far in excess of the limit values, while concentrations of carcinogenic pollutants such as microparticles
from oil and benzol remain high, as confirmed by the Commissioner for the environment in reply to an
earlier question (H-0787/00) (1).

In the same answer, the Commissioner also said that it was possible to achieve an improvement in air
quality in Athens through the implementation of Community legislation, particularly in the transport
sector.

What practical measures and programmes have the Greek environment authorities launched to bring about
an improvement in air quality in Athens and what did they achieve? Will the Commission also say
whether Greece has complied with Directive 96/61/EC (2), following the Commission(cid:146)s warning letter, and
whether it has incorporated Directive 1999/30/EC (3) into national law?

(1) Oral answer, 15.11.2000.
(2) OJ L 257, 10.10.1996, p. 26.
(3) OJ L 163, 29.6.1999, p. 41.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

Council Directive 1999/30/EC of 22 April 1999 relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen
dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air, must be transposed into
national law by 19 July 2001. The Commission has not yet been notified that it has been transposed by
the Greek authorities.

The Directive sets limit values for sulphur dioxide and particulate matter that must be met by 2005 and
for nitrogen dioxide and benzene that must be met by 2010. Member States must measure these pollutants
from this year, and if they are above an action level set in the Directive, must prepare action programmes,
make them available to the public, and send them to the Commission by the end of 2003.

A similar Directive 2000/69/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 16 November 2000, setting limit
values for carbon monoxide and benzene in ambient air (1) must be transposed by 13 December 2002.