WRITTEN QUESTION E-2467/01 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Independence of the Western Sahara.
Date: 2001-09-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Morocco, Western Sahara, common foreign and security policy, self-determination, settlement of disputes

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/35

priorities in the Community’s cohesion policy. Other Community policies including environment policy or
rural development policy are also contributing to the sustainable development of mountain regions
including the Alpine region, and to the conservation of mountain eco-systems and biodiversity.

In addition, in order to better assess the situation of mountain areas, the Commission is about to launch a
study to delimit, in a precise way, the mountain regions within the Community and to collect statistical
data. This should enable the Commission to diagnose, in an objective way, the actual situation. The first
results of this study are expected in the second half of 2002.

(1) COM(2001) 18 final.
(2) COM(2001) 24 final.

(2002/C 134 E/036)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2465/01

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

Subject: The internal political enlargement of the Union

(11 September 2001)

As part of the work to be carried out in preparation for the Laeken Summit, in respect of the 2004
Conference and the Constitution of the European Union, is the Presidency intending to review the future
status of stateless nations? Does it make sense, within a fully political European Union, that nations such as
Scotland, Wales, Galicia, Catalonia or Euskadi do not have the political presence and powers within the
European institutions enjoyed by Member States of comparable cultural and national importance and, in
several cases, smaller populations?

Reply

(12 February 2002)

The Honourable Member will understand that it is not for the Council to comment on the internal
organisation of the Member States of the Union. Questions relating to the future of the Union fall within
the scope of the public debate launched in March 2001. The opening of that debate marked the beginning
of preparations for an intergovernmental conference in 2004, as provided for in the declaration on the
future of the Union adopted in Nice in December 2000. The debate, for which the Presidency,
in
cooperation with the Commission and with the participation of the European Parliament, will encourage
wide-ranging discussion involving all the interested parties, must be actively pursued in the years to come.

At its meeting in Laeken in December 2001, the European Council is to adopt a declaration containing
appropriate initiatives for the continuation of this process, including ways of structuring the preparatory
phase for the IGD 2004. Besides other matters, this process should cover the four questions expressly set
out in the Nice declaration, which aim to improve and permanently monitor the democratic legitimacy
and transparency of the Union and its institutions, to bring them closer to the citizens of the Member
States.

(2002/C 134 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2467/01

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(11 September 2001)

Subject: Independence of the Western Sahara

Self-determination, by means of a referendum of Saharan citizens, is the only just and decent solution to
the state of marginalisation in which the people of the Western Sahara have been living for 25 years, ever
since the Moroccan regime, counting on European and USA pacifity, illegally occupied the territory by

C 134 E/36

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

force, once Moroccan pressure on the Spanish Government during the critical period immediately
preceding Franco’s death had led to the territory’s being shamefully abandoned by Spain. Now, James
Baker, the American UN mediator, embracing the Moroccan position, is proposing autonomy as a solution
@ an autonomy similar to the fictitious autonomy which certain regions within the authoritarian
Moroccan state may enjoy in the future. The government of the Saharan Republic will not, of course,
accept this fake solution. In view of this, and the fact that the Member States’ influence in the area could
be decisive, what is the European Union’s current position on Western Saharan self-determination?

Reply

(12 February 2002)

The Council would refer the Honourable Member to the reply given by the Council to question E-2239/01
on the Western Sahara.

(2002/C 134 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2483/01

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Council

(5 September 2001)

Subject: Trade in conflict diamonds

International ability to curb the trade in conflict diamonds is closely linked to the success of the Kimberley
Process. At present this process is moving forward slowly, partly because the European Union does not
have a common position. How soon does the Council intend to give the Commission a mandate for the
Kimberley Process negotiations?

Furthermore, border checks on the import of diamonds, preventing conflict diamonds being imported into
the EU, require specialist knowledge on the part of the customs services. Does the Council consider that it
would be useful to limit the points through which diamonds can be imported to one per Member State so
as to concentrate the expertise in a restricted number of places?

Reply

(12 February 2002)

The Council follows with great interest the work carried out in the framework of the Kimberley process. It
will consider any draft recommendation for a mandate submitted by the Commission.

(2002/C 134 E/039)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2485/01

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

Subject: Suspension of international adoptions in Romania

(5 September 2001)

The Romanian Government has suspended international adoption procedures for one year as of 21 June
this year, on the basis of Decision No 55.