WRITTEN QUESTION E-2339/01 by Pat Gallagher (UEN) to the Council. Council of Europe Charter for Minority and Regional Languages.
Date: 2001-08-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Council of Europe, heritage protection, international charter, minority language, regional language

C 81 E/154

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

Reply

(29 November 2001)

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that in accordance with Article 283 of the Treaty
establishing the European Community, the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities and
the Conditions of Employment of other servants of those Communities are laid down by the Council,
acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the other
institutions concerned. The emoluments and social security benefits of officials are set out under Title V of
the Staff Regulations.

On 29 June 2001 the Permanent Representatives Committee adopted a report (1) on the Commission
reform drawn up by the Working Party on the Staff Regulations. Inter alia, it emerges from this report
that:

The Working Party welcomes the Commission(cid:146)s wish to review the application of economic parities to
pensions, as well as its exploration of other savings to the scheme: changes in the invalidity scheme,
survivor(cid:146)s pensions, pension rights bonus, system of (cid:145)weightings for pensions(cid:146).

The Council will continue to study this issue in the framework of the major reform of human resources
policy and in particular on the basis of official proposals to be submitted by the Commission.

(1) 9954/01 STAT 29 FIN 187 + ADD 1.

(2002/C 81 E/180)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2338/01

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Council

(3 August 2001)

Subject: Restrictions on freedom of religion

Given that choice of religion is a fundamental freedom and therefore a basic human right enshrined in the
EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, does the Council believe that the law adopted by France regarding
restrictions on freedom of religion (adopted text No 676, 30 May 2001) is in breach of the Charter?

Reply

(6 December 2001)

The Council would draw the attention of the Honourable Member to declaration No 11, annexed to the
Treaty of Amsterdam, on the status of churches and non-confessional organisations in which the European
Union states that it respects and does not prejudice the status under national law of churches and religious
associations or communities in the Member States. In the same declaration it adds that it equally respects
the status of philosophical and non-confessional organisations.

The Council is not aware of the specific case raised by the Honourable Member.

Moreover it would remind the Honourable Member that, apart from cases referred to it in the context of
Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union, it is not for the Council to comment on Member States(cid:146) respect
for fundamental rights and freedoms.

(2002/C 81 E/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2339/01

by Pat Gallagher (UEN) to the Council

(3 August 2001)

Subject: Council of Europe Charter for Minority and Regional Languages

Does the Council share the view that more than forty regional and minority languages spoken across
Europe form a crucial part of Europe(cid:146)s cultural heritage and, as such, need to be protected and promoted?

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/155

Does it share the view that the signing by each Member State and by each applicant country of the
Council of Europe(cid:146)s Charter for Regional and Minority languages constitutes a necessary part in this
process of cultural preservation?

Reply

(6 December 2001)

As far as concern for regional and minority languages is concerned, the Council would recall the objective
stated in paragraph 1 of Article 151 of the EC Treaty, whereby (cid:145)The Community shall contribute to the
flowering of the cultures of the Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity (cid:133)(cid:146)

However, the Honourable Member is reminded that it is not for the Council to pronounce on the specific
question of the signing of the Council of Europe(cid:146)s Charter for Regional and Minority languages, since this
is a matter for the individual members of the Council of Europe.

(2002/C 81 E/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2343/01

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Council

Subject: European shipbuilding industry

(3 August 2001)

In its reply to my Written Question E-1371/01 (1) of 13 July 2001 the Commission informed me that,
unless the negotiations with the Korean authorities produced a solution by the beginning of July 2001, the
Commission would decide whether it was appropriate to open proceedings before the WTO.

Even though the Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy announced the suspension of negotiations with Korea
on 18 July 2001, the Commission has not yet taken nor decided to take any action against South Korea
because some Member States are reluctant to introduce temporary support measures for the duration of
proceedings before the WTO. According to Mr Lamy, the Commission considers the two measures to be
inseparable parts of a set menu. Mr Lamy also pointed out
that both he and the Competition
Commissioner Mario Monti outlined the Commission(cid:146)s standpoint to the 15 at the Council meeting of
Monday, 16 July 2001. Mr Lamy added that either there is a clear political agreement, in which case he
would have a strong negotiating position, or there is no such agreement, in which case his negotiating
position would be weak.

Can the Council say which Member States do not back the Commission strategy and why?

Does the Council not believe that it is now time to grant the Commission a clear political mandate and
that the EU(cid:146)s credibility is at stake, along with its ability to defend the interests of its industry, as well as
solidarity among the Member States?

(1) OJ C 40 E, 14.2.2002, p. 38.

Reply

(29 November 2001)

1.
The attention of the Honourable Member is drawn to the fact that at its meeting of 16 July 2001,
under (cid:145)Other business(cid:146) on the agenda, the Council was briefed by Commissioners Lamy and Monti on the
current state of negotiations with Korea concerning shipbuilding and of the discussions at the Commission
concerning the procedure under the Trade Barriers Regulation (the TBR procedure) for action at the WTO
and the proposal for a temporary support mechanism for the European Union(cid:146)s shipbuilding industry. The
exchange of views following the Commissioners(cid:146) presentation revealed a large majority (cid:129) subject to
finalisation of the details (cid:129) in favour of the action to be taken in the WTO framework; the proposal for
temporary support measures for the Community industry received a mixed welcome. The Permanent