WRITTEN QUESTION E-2151/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Council. Threats by Turkey.
Date: 2001-07-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cyprus, EU relations, Türkiye, accession to the European Union, common foreign and security policy, freedom of religious beliefs, international issue, nuclear power station, religious discrimination, siting of power stations

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/117

Is the Commission satisfied that the tests carried out on cattle are sufficiently systematic and adequate
1.
in scope and number to safeguard public health? Can the existing laboratories and specialised personnel
cope with the required tests?

Does Greece comply with its obligations under Community legislation to pass on data relating to BSE

2.
screening in respect of domestic produce, imports of live animals and slaughtered animals?

Does the Commission know how the animal concerned became infected, given that the initial official

3.
statements maintain that the farm in question did not use dangerous meat and bonemeal?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 2001)

The tests currently available are only capable of detecting bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) shortly
before the appearance of clinical signs, but not early in the incubation period. For that reason, removal of
specified BSE risk materials remains the most important measure to protect public health from BSE. The
Greek authorities have not indicated specific problems in providing adequate laboratory capacity for BSE
testing. The Commission intends to make a mission to Greece in September 2001 with a view to
monitoring the implementation of the testing requirements.

Greece is reporting regularly on BSE testing, in accordance with its legal obligations.

The Greek authorities have submitted extensive reports on the outcome of the investigations carried out to
clarify the source of infection. So far, it has not been possible to identify the source of infection and the
investigations are continuing. As the average period between infection and detection of BSE is four to six
years, the identification of the source of infection, once the disease has been detected, has often proved
difficult.

(2002/C 81 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2151/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Council

(20 July 2001)

Subject: Threats by Turkey

In a document, No 9120 dated 13 June 2001, entitled (cid:145)Honouring of obligations and commitments by
Turkey(cid:146) (which was approved on 28 June 2001 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe),
Turkey refuses to allow the Ecumenical Patriarchate freely to dispose of its real estate or to accept
donations of real estate, whereas the Turkish State has in fact expropriated part of the Patriarchate(cid:146)s
property. As regards the Greek population of Imvros and Tenedos (islands which, under the Treaty of
Lausanne signed by Turkey in 1923, should be self-governing), the remaining inhabitants of Greek origin
number only 250 of the 3000 living there in 1965, while 7-8000 Turkish settlers have been moved in.

At the same time as Turkey has subjected its non-Muslim population to such acts of oppression, the
Foreign Minister, Mr I. Cem, speaking on the (cid:145)CNN Turk(cid:146) television network on 29 June 2001, repeated the
threats concerning his country(cid:146)s (cid:145)response(cid:146) if Cyprus were to join the Union, words which were echoed by
the Turkish Minister responsible for Cypriot affairs, S(cid:252)kru Sina G(cid:252)rel, on his arrival (2 July 2001) in
Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus. A day before Mr G(cid:252)rel
issued his threats, the Turkish Agriculture
Minister, Husnu Yusuf Gokalp; had stated in an interview in Kibris, a newspaper published in the self-
styled (cid:145)state(cid:146), that the occupied territories(cid:146) energy problem (cid:145)could be solved by building a nuclear reactor
there(cid:146).

C 81 E/118

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

What is the Council(cid:146)s position regarding the Council of Europe(cid:146)s damning report on Turkey? What is its
view of the constant threats by Turkish officials against Cyprus, an applicant country for accession and a
Member State of the UN? Will the Council call on the Turkish authorities to refrain from any action or
statement which indicates their intent to destabilise the south-eastern Mediterranean, or which might result
in an unprecedented environmental disaster, since there are obvious risks involved in setting up reactors in
earthquake-prone regions?

Reply

(6 December 2001)

The EU has clearly indicated to Turkey, on the occasion of meetings for political dialogue and in particular
at the last Association Council, that it expected Turkey to comply with all its international obligations,
particularly in the field of human rights, including the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.
The priorities set out by the EU in the Accession Partnership also include the guaranteeing and
implementation of the rights and freedoms set forth in the European Convention for the Protection of
Human Rights.

Turkey is well
informed of the positions of the European Union concerning the Cyprus question, as
expressed on several occasions, namely by the Helsinki and Nice European Councils and in the Accession
Partnership under the heading of (cid:145)Enhanced Political Dialogue and Political Criteria(cid:146), and during meetings
for political dialogue with Turkey. The EU fully supports the efforts of the Secretary General of the United
Nations to achieve an overall agreement on the problem of Cyprus that respects the relevant UN Security
Council Resolutions, and to reach a positive conclusion to the process begun in December 1999. It is also
aware of the content of Resolution 1256 (2001) on the (cid:145)Honouring of obligations and commitments by
Turkey(cid:146), which the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted on 28 June 2001 during its
23rd session.

The question of the installation of a nuclear reactor in northern Cyprus has not been raised with the
Council.

(2002/C 81 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2153/01

by Francisca Sauquillo PØrez del Arco (PSE) and Mar(cid:237)a Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: PoligÆs plastic gasification plant in Ribesalbes (Valencian Community)

(18 July 2001)

The PoligÆs plant, which converts incinerated plastics into gas, has recently been set up in the town of
Ribesalbes, Castell(cid:243)n province, and come into operation in the face of strong opposition from local
residents and environmentalist groups.

The public have specifically been protesting, among other things, at the fact that:

(cid:129) No environmental impact assessment has been carried out. The Valencian Government has merely
issued an environmental impact statement, but this was alarmingly sketchy because, for example, it
completely failed to mention heavy metals, dioxins, and furans.

(cid:129) Although it was displayed for inspection, the business plan was not publicised. The public therefore

did not learn of its existence and could not make any kind of case against the plant.

(cid:129) The plant is situated too close to the main residential area and consequently poses health risks (highly

toxic gas emissions, contamination of waters, acid rain, etc.).

(cid:129) The waste plastics are not being properly stored (the drums have been obtained from other plants and

previously contained hazardous substances).