WRITTEN QUESTION E-2872/01 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Border checks.
Date: 2001-10-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU national, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, border control, free movement of persons, passport, police checks

C 93 E/208

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

(2002/C 93 E/246)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2865/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Subject: Attack by a Member of the Commission on the UN Conference in Durban, Islam, the Third World

poor and asylum-seekers

Is the Commission aware of the opinions expressed by Commissioner Bolkestein on 29 September
1.
2001 in the Dutch newspaper ‘de Volkskrant’, arguing that the apologies made for slavery at the UN
Conference against Racism in Durban will only lead to unproductive victimisation, that Muslims are intent
on vanquishing their rich and powerful enemies, that the West must protect itself against an evil and
jealous outside world, that privacy in Europe must make way for the fight against terrorism and that the
Geneva Convention on refugees is no longer tenable, so that adjustments must be made to it?

2.
Does the Commission agree that these private views of Mr Bolkestein are very much at variance with
the views expressed elsewhere on its behalf and conflict with the widely supported objections to the
comments about Islam recently made by Mr Berlusconi, Prime Minister of Italy, and the position adopted
by the Commission on 2 October 2001 during the European Parliament debate on the common asylum
procedure?

Does the Commission agree that

3.
the aforementioned comments by Commissioner Bolkestein
jeopardise relations between the various population groups in the Member States of the European Union
and international efforts to eliminate the basis for despair and to deprive terrorism of a breeding ground
by promoting good relations between different cultures and religions worldwide?

Does the Commission consider Mr Bolkestein’s actions to be compatible with maintaining its current
4.
responsibilities, which are not those of a political streetfighter who, if required, can arouse and play on
primitive sentiments for expected political gain?

How does the Commission intend to publicly distance itself from Mr Bolkestein’s views and make it

5.
clear which values it wishes to defend against primitive feelings of aversion for the outside world?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(13 December 2001)

The Commission considers it important that its members express their point of view on issues of political
relevance. As the Commission had the opportunity to recall in reply to oral and written questions by
Members of Parliament, its members exercise a political function and, while honouring the obligations
imposed by the function, remain free to express their political opinions quite independently and under
their own responsibility.

(2002/C 93 E/247)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2872/01

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Subject: Border checks

Last July, a Portuguese citizen who has emigrated to Switzerland, João Paula Teixeira de Moura, set out on
his holiday trip to Portugal. Having been unable to obtain a direct Zurich-Porto flight, he had to make a
stopover in Madrid. On arriving at Barajas airport on 16 July at 4.20 p.m., he went through passport
control, where the Spanish police said his passport was invalid since, they claimed, the bearer was not a
Portuguese citizen. Although other documents were immediately produced (driving licence, identity card,
tax payer’s card), the Spanish police arrested Mr Teixeira, and at 5.10 p.m. the following day, sent him
back to Zurich.

18.4.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/209

Strangely enough, the document drawn up by the Barajas police states, on the one hand, that this
Portuguese citizen had presented himself with a passport, but adds that the latter did not meet the existing
legislation for entry to Spain’s requirement that a valid document be submitted.

While one can understand the need for rigorous controls at the Community’s external borders, it is rather
difficult to understand the attitude of a police force which declares documents issued by other EU Member
States be invalid.

I would therefore ask the Commission what it intends to do to ensure that the creation of an area of
security does not overwhelm the area of freedom and justice which we are supposed to be setting up
within the Community.

With regard to the Portuguese citizen under discussion, what action does the Commission think should be
taken to ensure that he is compensated for the prejudice suffered as a result of the action taken by the
Spanish police?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(22 November 2001)

The Commission will make the necessary contacts with the Spanish authorities in order to obtain full
details of the case described by the Honourable Member. Where appropriate, it will examine the file in the
light of the procedure of Article 226 (former Article 169) of the EC Treaty.

(2002/C 93 E/248)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2913/01

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Subject: Sale and distribution of animal medicines in the EU

Does the Commission have plans to control or restrict the sale and distribution of animal medicines
throughout the EU?

If so, what is the Commission intending to propose?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 2001)

In the framework of the current revision of the pharmaceutical legislation, the Commission decided to
propose amendments to Directive 2001/82/EC (1) some of which concern Title VI, dealing with the
possession, distribution and dispensing of veterinary medicinal products. The main objective of this part of
the amendments is to ensure consumer protection in association with maximum benefit for animal health
and welfare.

As a contribution to the protection of the consumer against exposure to possible harmful levels of residues
in food of animal origin, the Commission proposal now clearly spells out that a veterinary prescription is
required for all veterinary medicinal products used in food producing animals. Moreover, it aligns the
requirements for record keeping imposed on owners or keepers of food producing animals and on holders
of a authorisation for retail distribution with the relevant provisions of Directive 96/23/EC (2) on residue
control. Additionally wholesale distributors are required to maintain an emergency plan for the effective
recall of a batch of a veterinary medicinal product should it become necessary.