WRITTEN QUESTION E-3052/01 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council. Release of hostages.
Date: 2001-11-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, illegal restraint, international human rights law, the EU's international role

C 147 E/80

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

(cid:1) soundness of the financial package,

(cid:1) direct or indirect socio-economic effects, in particular on employment, and

(cid:1) environmental consequences.

It emerged from the information supplied by Rede Electrica National (REN), the project promoter, that the
project
financial
for a new electricity connection between Portugal and Spain has a high level of
profitability. This was the main reason why the Commission did not propose any financial support for this
project.

(1) OJ L 228, 23.9.1995.

(2002/C 147 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3048/01

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 November 2001)

Subject: Lloyd’s and Directive 73/329/EEC

According to information received by associate members of the Lloyd’s of London insurance market,
Lloyd’s is holding its approximately 30 000 associate members responsible for losses incurred in the wake
of the 11 September terrorist attacks in the US. The latter consider that this position to be unacceptable
and that it arises from an incorrect application of Directive 73/239/EEC (1).

Can the Commission state its position on the matter and indicate whether there is a possible failure to
comply with Directive 73/239/EEC?

(1) OJ L 228, 16.8.1973, p. 3.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(14 January 2002)

The Commission is taking very seriously the many complaints it has received regarding alleged
infringements of the Community insurance directives with respect to Lloyd’s. The Commission has now
completed its preliminary analysis and has decided to launch formal proceedings under Article 226
(ex-Article 169) of the EC Treaty.

These complaints arose primarily as the result of claims for asbestosis liabilities in the 1980s in the United
States. As far as the events of 11 September 2001 are concerned, the Commission is not aware of any
potential infringements of the Community insurance directives.

(2002/C 147 E/084)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3052/01

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(5 November 2001)

Subject: Release of hostages

Amnesty International has announced that the Israeli Government and the Hizbollah in Lebanon are
holding hostages in defiance of the rules of international law and the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.

20.6.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/81

What measures does the Council intend to take to put an end to the use of hostages as a negotiating chip,
to give hostages access to the International Red Cross (which is a fundamental right of anyone arrested
during an armed conflict), to oblige Israel to respect its commitments under the Geneva Convention and,
finally, to release all the hostages?

(2002/C 147 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3256/01

by André Brie (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(23 November 2001)

Subject: Fate of kidnapped Israeli soldiers

More than a year ago, on 7 October 2000, three Israeli soldiers were forcibly abducted by the Hizbullah
operating out of Lebanese territory and there are growing fears that they may no longer be alive; can the
Council indicate:

(cid:1) what information is has on this matter and what efforts it has made to obtain such information?

(cid:1) what action it has since taken at diplomatic level to try to find a humanitarian solution to this

problem?

(cid:1) how it has reacted, or intends to react, to the resolution adopted by the Knesset on 15 October 2001
urging all governments, parliaments and international and civilian organisations to do all they can to
secure the immediate release of the three Israeli soldiers?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3052/01 and E-3256/01

(18 March 2002)

The European Union remains deeply concerned by the practice of hostage-taking in the Middle East.
According to the Council’s information, on 7 October 2000 Hezbollah abducted three Israeli soldiers in
the border area between Israel and Lebanon and, at around the same time, an Israeli businessman residing
in Europe, with the objective of securing the release of Lebanese nationals and Palestinians held by Israel.
Recently, Israel officially declared the three soldiers dead. Since then the Israeli government and the
families of the abducted persons have been calling for the bodies to be returned.

These cases have been raised by the EU representatives, notably the High Representative for the Common
Foreign and Security Policy, Mr Javier Solana, and the EU Special Representative for the Middle East peace
process, Mr Moratinos, with representatives of the governments of Middle-Eastern countries. They will
continue to use their regular contacts with these countries to pursue these efforts, in particular with regard
to the return of the bodies. The EU does not have direct contact with Hezbollah.

On 11 December 2001 Mr Solana received the families of the abducted persons and undertook to do
everything in his power to find a humanitarian solution at an early date.

For its part, Israel has been detaining Lebanese citizens since 1986 (‘administrative detention’) (cid:1) a practice
strongly criticised by the EU and declared illegal by the Israeli Supreme Court. Israel released ten persons in
May 2000 but, according to Amnesty International, is still holding twelve Lebanese nationals. The EU
continues to protest strongly against this practice. At the second meeting of the EU-Israel Association
Council
‘The Union
reiterates its strongly held opinion that extra-judicial killings and other violations, such as administrative
detention and collective punishment,
including the increasing recourse to house demolitions, are
unacceptable and contrary to the rule of law. The EU calls on the Government of Israel to cease these
practices’.

(20 November 2001), the EU declaration referred to it in the following terms: