WRITTEN QUESTION P-2178/01 by Mario Borghezio (TDI) to the Council. Infringement of the rights of a European citizen in Algeria.
Date: 2001-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Algeria, Italy, bilateral relations, competence of the Member States, custody, illegal restraint, negotiation of an agreement (EU), parental responsibility

C 81 E/126

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

However, in general terms, the Council recognizes the need for greater coherence between the various
policies pursued by the Community. The joint Council and Commission declaration on the Community(cid:146)s
development policy, adopted in November 2000, underlines the importance of such coherence.

The Council considers that efforts must be made to ensure that Community development policy objectives
are taken into account in the formulation and implementation of other policies affecting developing
countries through a systematic and thorough analysis of the indirect effects of proposed measures inter alia
in the field of agriculture policy.

The Council has encouraged the Commission to take development problems into account in the exercise
of its competences. Following a request by the Council, the Commission(cid:146)s annual report on development
policy, which is expected in October 2001, will contain a chapter on problems of
(cid:145)incoherence(cid:146)
encountered during the previous year and efforts made to remedy them.

(2002/C 81 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2172/01

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(20 July 2001)

Subject: Plans for an operational riot police unit for the whole of the EU

Following the Gothenburg Summit in June 2001, there has been talk in various quarters of the need for a
riot police unit to guard and protect summit meetings wherever they take place in the Union.

A working party is now about to look into this matter. Does the Council consider there to be a need to
add to Europol(cid:146)s activities by creating a riot police unit and tasking it with gathering intelligence on
potential perpetrators of acts of violence in connection with summit meetings?

Reply

(29 November 2001)

The Honourable Member of the European Parliament is informed that following the Gothenburg Summit
and the riots that took place during that summit, the Council (Justice and Home Affairs) met on 13 July
2001 to discuss the issue.

At that meeting it was agreed that the cooperation between law enforcement authorities should be
improved. Neither at the aforementioned Council meeting nor in any other Council body has the creation
of a riot police unit been suggested. Consequently, no working party is looking into this issue nor is it
relevant to address the competencies of Europol in this respect.

(2002/C 81 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2178/01

by Mario Borghezio (TDI) to the Council

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Infringement of the rights of a European citizen in Algeria

For a year now Mrs Michela Silvestri and her daughter Meriem (cid:129) who had been abducted by her father,
who is a Muslim (cid:129) have been taking refuge in the Italian Embassy in Algiers. Mrs Silvestri and her
daughter cannot return to Italy because civil proceedings are under way in an Algerian court.

4.4.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/127

This situation is an example of a violation of human rights, since Mrs Silvestri is being deprived of her
right to take her daughter back to Italy and bring her up in accordance with her own religion.

What steps will the Council take vis-(cid:224)-vis the Algerian Government to put an end to this situation, which
is a serious violation of human rights?

Reply

(27 November 2001)

The Council would draw the attention of the Honourable Member of Parliament to the fact that the
Council has no specific powers under the treaties in the case referred to, which is a matter of bilateral
relations between Italy and Algeria.

However, it should be noted that the Belgian Presidency is to take the initiative of organising a conference
on parental responsibility. In this context, it will be looking at the Convention on the Rights of the Child
of 20 November 1989, particularly the definition of a regional instrument for the protection of the rights
of
to personal
relationships.

the child including the problem of parental abductions and respect

for the right

In addition, the draft Association Agreement which the Commission is in the process of negotiating with
Algeria provides inter alia for a strengthening of mutual assistance for the purpose of cooperation in
handling civil, commercial and family disputes and cases. The negotiations have not yet been completed,
but it appears that this provision has been agreed to by the Algerian side.

(2002/C 81 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2180/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Traffic accidents and motorcycles

(23 July 2001)

Traffic accidents are the main cause of death for the age group between 18 and 44 and for motorcyclists,
according to the (cid:145)On the Road 2001-2005(cid:146) Programme of the Greek Ministry of Health. This programme
also states that Greece is the country with the highest percentage variation in the number of deaths on the
road between 1980 and 1997, namely 60 %. Despite all this, Greece has no special training programmes
or special training grounds for motorcyclists. Furthermore, the age at which licences are issued is higher in
the case of motorcycles than of cars, even though motorcyclists tend to be younger. Will the Commission
say whether the third Community Support Framework will contain actions to cover the training
requirements of motorcyclists and measures to prevent traffic accidents?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2001)

During the 2000-2006 programming period, the Greek Community Support Framework provides for the
preparation and implementation of an integrated action plan for road safety improvement. This plan
provides for interventions in identified black spots, the installation of anti-skid surface layers, improvement
the
of signs, marking and lighting, new driver training,
reinforcement of police controls and the enhancement of emergency help in case of accidents. This
integrated action plan will also be implemented through actions and projects to be co-financed mainly
under the (cid:145)Road axes, Ports, Urban Development(cid:146) and (cid:145)Railways, Airports, Urban Transports(cid:146) operational
programmes which include specific measures for the improvement of road safety.

training in schools and in special parks,