WRITTEN QUESTION E-2007/01 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Return of the property of refugees from Venezia Giulia, Istria, and Dalmatia.
Date: 2001-07-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Croatia, Second World War, Slovenia, Veneto, confiscation of property, enlargement of the Union, indemnification, refugee

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/27

At present, the Commission does not have sufficient facts at its disposal to determine the impact that the
bankruptcies of new technology startup companies will have on future dominant positions.

(1) See,

in particular:   Council Directive 89/298/EEC of 17 April 1989 coordinating the requirements for the
drawing-up, scrutiny and distribution of the prospectus to be published when transferable securities are offered to
the public, OJ L 124, 5.5.1989   Council Directive 93/22/EEC of 10 May 1993 on investment services in the
securities field, OJ L 141, 11.6.1993   Council Directive 89/592/EEC of 13 November 1989 coordinating
regulations on insider dealing, OJ L 334, 18.11.1989.

(2) OJ L 184, 6.7.2001.
(3) OJ C 240 E, 28.8.2001.
(4) Council Regulation (EC) No 1346/2000 of 29 May 2000 on insolvency proceedings, OJ L 160, 30.6.2000.

(2002/C 115 E/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2007/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(6 July 2001)

Subject: Return of the property of refugees from Venezia Giulia, Istria, and Dalmatia

A few days ago, thousands of refugees from Venezia Giulia, Istria, and Dalmatia demonstrated outside the
Croatian and Slovenian consulates in New York to demand the return of or, at the very least, fair
compensation for the property which they were forced to abandon as a result of the treaties whereby Italy
ceded part of Venezia Giulia, Istria, and Dalmatia to the then Republic of Yugoslavia.

This is an important issue that will need to be borne in mind as the EU moves towards enlargement. A
further point to consider, at any rate as far as Croatia is concerned, is the failure to recognise the linguistic
minorities (of whom Italian-speakers are the largest). By leaving their homes, the Italian refugees chose not
only a nation, but also freedom, the same freedom for which Croatia and Slovenia have fought in recent
European history.

1.

Is the Commission aware of the above matter?

2.
Does it not believe that the problem should be resolved to help bring about an eagerly awaited and
desired historic reconciliation and foster mutual understanding of the human sufferings endured in
different eras?

3.
Does it not believe that it should impress upon all the countries which have applied to join the EU
that, since the Union’s inception, the Member States have been inspired by certain values and principles,
first and foremost human rights and other fundamental rights such as the right of ownership, which have
been unjustly violated on account of the expropriation and nationalisation carried out by dictatorships in
the past?

Does it not believe that, after such a long silence, the Union could consider what help it might give
4.
to populations who have been compelled to abandon their homeland because of totalitarianism or because
territories have had to be ceded under international treaties?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(10 September 2001)

The Commission is aware that World War II has left a heavy legacy for the lives of citizens of Italy

1.
and of the countries of former Yugoslavia.

2.
The respective states have aimed to undo this legacy by means of bilateral agreements and other
forms of cooperation, thanks to which the bilateral relations between the countries concerned are multiple
and positive at present. The closer cooperation of Slovenia and Croatia with the Union, embodied by the
Europe Agreement between the Community and Slovenia and by the Stabilisation and Association
Agreement initialled between the Community and Croatia on 14 May 2001, have helped to form an
additional framework for strengthening cooperation, also at the level of regions, and for addressing
Europe’s history in a constructive and equitable manner.

C 115 E/28

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

The Commission recalls each year in its Regular Reports on the progress made by the candidate
3.
countries towards accession, that they must comply with the criteria for accession laid down in 1993 by
the European Council of Copenhagen and in particular with the political criteria requiring that they
achieve ‘stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and
protection of minorities’. These Regular Reports have been transmitted to the Parliament and have been
made public. The next reports are scheduled to be transmitted in November 2001.

4. With regard to Slovenia, Annex XIII of the Europe Agreement, provides for the right of Union
citizens, having permanently resided on the present territory of the Republic of Slovenia for a period of
to purchase property. The Commission carefully monitors the
three years, on a reciprocal basis,
implementation of Annex XIII, the provisions of which complement Slovenia’s national legislation on the
restitution of property that was nationalised by the authorities of the former Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia (SFRY). With regard to Croatia, full respect for human rights and protection of minorities has
always been an essential element
in the Union bilateral relations with this country and has been
systematically monitored by the Commission in its yearly Conditionality Reports. This principle has also
been recently formalised in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, which will mark an important
step in the process of rapprochement of Croatia to Europe. The same Agreement includes a provision
granting to Union nationals, after a transitional period of four years, the right to acquire real estate in
the only exceptions being
Croatia on a non-discriminatory basis (compared to Croatian nationals),
agricultural land and areas protected by the environmental protection act.

(2002/C 115 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2023/01

by Elizabeth Lynne (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: US study on solicitation of children on the Internet

(13 July 2001)

Will the Commission be taking any action to examine the recent findings of US studies which showed that
one in five children who go online regularly have been approached by strangers for sex at least once in the
past year. The studies indicate that neither the presence of Internet filters nor parental monitoring of
children’s Internet use decreased the likelihood that a child would be sexually solicited by a stranger online.
Because of the global spread of the Internet it is unlikely that these trends are isolated to the United States.
Does the Commission therefore intend to complete similar European research to build upon the American
results? Furthermore, does the Commission see that such studies raise the need for further European-wide
action in this area that builds upon the STOP and Daphne programmes and the recently adopted initiative
of the Swedish Presidency on combating the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography? If so,
what future action is planned?

The main study to which I refer is: Kimberly J. Mitchell, PhD; David Finkelhor, PhD; Janis Wolak, JD, ‘Risk
Factors for and Impact of Online Sexual Solicitation of Youth.’
the American Medical
Association, Vol 285, No 23, June 20, 2001.

Journal of

There is also a similar report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project. This is due for full publication
very soon.

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 2001)

The Commission has taken a number of initiatives to protect minors from the risks linked to the Internet.
Information and studies,
like the one mentioned by the Honourable Member, confirm that initiatives
developed at Community level and at a technical level should be complemented by actions taken by other
authorities and bodies, including those at local level.