WRITTEN QUESTION E-2532/01 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Damage to the cultural heritage in Cyprus.
Date: 2001-09-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cyprus, Türkiye, cultural heritage, heritage protection, occupied territory

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/21

The aims of the project in question, as they are collected in the form submitted to the Commission, are: to
explore the viability and implementation of a model of ECO-standard (environmental tax) for the island of
Lanzarote that permits directing a change of model towards sustainable tourism, with a view to:

$ Giving to the Island a new financial tool that, besides other stimulated measures of management of
territorial use of the island and regional government, helps to limit human pressure on the Island’s
system, in particular resulting from tourism. To avoid a greater overload of the Island’s capacity, so
responding to the demands of the Island’s population;

$ Creating a channel of awareness, and trying to compromise formulas of tourism within the Island;

$ Trying guarantees of participation and social control in the use of the received funds.

Technical fiscal terms are not defined in the project.

A list of the 19 remaining projects approved to be co-financed in Spain are sent direct to the Honourable
Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

(2002/C 160 E/022)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2532/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2001)

Subject: Damage to the cultural heritage in Cyprus

According to information recently forthcoming (between 25 June and 29 July 2001), illegal excavations
are taking place near the ancient site of Salamina in the occupied area of Cyprus.

This is also referred to by the European Court of Human Rights in its resolution (10 May 2001) regarding
the Fourth Inter-State Application by the Republic of Cyprus against Turkey, indicating that Turkey is
responsible for these illegal excavations.

Given the irrefutable evidence of systematic attempts to destroy and damage the cultural heritage and
character of the Turkish-occupied sector from 1974 to the present date, including the destruction and
looting of places of worship and the illegal export of priceless ancient artefacts for sale abroad:

1. What action will the Commission take to bring an end to the illegal excavations near the ancient site

of Salamina?

2. Has the Commission taken or will it take any measures to protect the historic monuments and, more

generally, the cultural heritage of the Turkish-occupied area of Cyprus?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2001)

1.
The Commission is aware of the excavations being carried out at the Salamis site in the northern part
of the island as are the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and other
international organizations. Unfortunately the de facto division of the island creates problems of this
nature and makes it difficult to take any immediate action. However, the Commission’s delegation in
Nicosia is monitoring as far as it can what is happening at the Salamis site.

C 160 E/22

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.7.2002

The Commission is funding through the 2000 and 2001 pre-accession budgets the restoration of the
2.
old town of Nicosia, as part of the Nicosia Master Plan (in the area of Omeriye and of the Selimiye
mosque, and in the Phaneromeni and Samanbahce areas) on both sides of the ‘green line’. This ‘bi-
communal’ project is thus bringing together members of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities
working jointly in the revitalisation of the ancient walled City of Nicosia and the conservation of its
architectural and cultural heritage. The 2000 phase of the project has started on 1 October 2001.

(2002/C 160 E/023)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2539/01

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council

(20 September 2001)

Subject: Creation and staffing of police operations planning unit

During the Swedish Presidency a decision was taken to create a separate police operations planning unit
(POPU) within the Council Secretariat, and general guidelines were agreed concerning the selection,
training and personal equipping of the police officers.

1. What are the Council’s proposals, under the current Belgian Presidency, for completing the formation
of the POPU?

2. Which specific criteria does the Council intend to lay down for the staffing and equipping of police
officers to be included in the unit?

In what form is the Council considering participation by third countries in the POPU and, similarly,

3.
how will it ensure that the EU retains independent decision-making powers?

4. What preconditions and criteria does the Council
countries in the POPU?

intend to apply to the participation of third

Reply

(25/26 March 2002)

1.
On 1 July 2001 a Police Unit was established in the Council Secretariat by the Secretary-General/
High Representative as part of the politico-military structures. Its mission is to give the EU the ability to
plan and conduct police operations. It consists at present of seven senior officers. Two are EU officials
selected by competition, five are national experts on secondment from Member States and/or under
exchange schemes. All are fully qualified policemen with international experience. The unit can be
reinforced in times of crisis with experts from Member States.

2.

The Unit’s priorities include:

$ the Ministerial Police Commitment Conference;

$ developing and implementing the Police Action Plan approved at Göteborg;

$ iaising with the OSCE about possible EU involvement in the police aspects of the Framework
Agreement in FYROM. Until recently, a member of the Police Unit was seconded to the EUSR in
Skopje.