WRITTEN QUESTION P-3508/01 by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission. Europe should take action over anti-Semitic attacks by Islamic fundamentalists.
Date: 2001-12-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Brussels region, anti-discriminatory measure, antisemitism, criminal law, racism, violence, xenophobia

20.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/193

In response to selective needs identified by non-governmental organisations and on the basis of the
projects presented, further allocations of food products, tools and seeds may be made under the Euronaid
global allocation.

In response more specifically to the overall needs of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),
an allocation of € 8 million has been reserved from the ‘Food aid/Food security 2002’ budget.

Humanitarian Assistance

The Commission, through its Humanitarian Assistance Office (ECHO), has contributed € 125 million of
humanitarian assistance to Tajikistan since 1992, making it by far the largest donor of humanitarian aid to
the country. Much of this assistance has been in the form of food aid.

In 2001, the Commission took two funding decisions worth € 12 million for humanitarian work in
Tajikistan (€ 10 million Global Plan in July 2001 and € 2 million special emergency drought decision in
August 2001). Almost € 6 million is for food aid or food security operations.

The Red Cross is currently implementing ECHO-funded projects worth € 1,85 million in Tajikistan, of
which € 1,1 million is for supplementary feeding and food security operations.

ECHO intends to continue its support for the most vulnerable sectors of Tajik society by launching a new
12-month funding programme in April 2002. In the meantime it is continuing to monitor the drought
situation closely and will consider further emergency assistance if necessary.

(2002/C 147 E/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3508/01

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission

(12 December 2001)

Subject: Europe should take action over anti-Semitic attacks by Islamic fundamentalists

Yesterday, in the Anderlecht area of Brussels, which is well-known as one of the areas of Brussels with a
large number of nationals of non-Community countries and one in which a minaret was recently
the Chief Rabbi, Albert Guigui, was subjected to an unprecedented physical attack by
inaugurated,
Maghrebi youths. The Jewish religious authorities immediately criticised the accommodating attitude
towards the dissemination by Islamic fundamentalist circles of propaganda inciting people to anti-Semitism
which was prevalent not just in Belgium but also in other EU countries.

In view of the above facts, does not Mr Romano Prodi, who lost no time in making an official visit to the
Grand Mosque in Brussels after the events of 11 September in his capacity as President of the Commission,
intend to make an official statement specifically endorsing the criticisms referred to above?

in addition, that it is necessary to take concerted action with the
Does the Commission not believe,
countries of the EU with a view to the adopion, as from the forthcoming Summit in Laeken, of measures
to prevent and combat
Islamic fundamentalist propaganda inside and outside
mosques and Islamic centres, since this propaganda is responsible for the widespread hatred of Christians
and Jews which is becoming increasingly obvious wherever there are fundamentalist centres of this kind,
even in Brussels, the ‘heart’ of the European Institutions?

the dissemination of

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(18 January 2002)

The Commission deplores any kind of aggression on grounds of race, colour, descent, religion or beliefs,
and national or ethnic origin.

C 147 E/194

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

It recently adopted a proposal for a Council framework decision on the basis of Article 34(2)(b) of the
Treaty on European Union (1) with a view to ensuring that racism and xenophobia are punishable in all
Member States with effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties which could give rise to the surrender
of persons in custody and could improve and encourage judicial cooperation by removing potential
obstacles. All Member States should ensure that behaviour such as public incitement to violence or hatred
as well as public insults or threats to individuals or groups for a racist or xenophobic purpose are
punishable as criminal offences.

The religious or ethnic origin of the perpetrators and instigators of racist or xenophobic acts and of
accessories thereto should not have any actual effect on the way the facts themselves are judged. The
opposite would be tantamount to discrimination on grounds of race or ethnic group.

(1) COM(2001) 664 final.

(2002/C 147 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3510/01

by Werner Langen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 December 2001)

Subject: Possible distortions of competition in the forestry sector in the Federal Republic of Germany

In the letter dated 3 February 2000 from the European Commission to the Foreign Minister of the Federal
Republic of Germany, signed by Commissioner Franz Fischler (SG(2000) D/101191) and dealing with
‘State aid No NN 136/99 C Germany (Brandenburg); state aid in the form of services provided to forest
owners below cost price’, the Commission noted that in the case in point the aid granted was consistent
with the provisions of the EC Treaty, but went on to state that it was reviewing its policy on state aid in
the forestry sector and reserved the right, in the future, to propose appropriate measures, pursuant to
Article 88(1) of the EC Treaty.

Could the Commission state what the outcome of this policy review has been and what action it has taken,
or what action it plans to take, in this area?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2002)

The Commission has not yet drawn conclusions as to a review of its policy concerning state aids in the
forestry sector. The Commission is still working on this issue. At this stage, it is not possible to give
indications for the timing or the outcome of such a review.

(2002/C 147 E/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3514/01

by Christel Fiebiger (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Problems relating to the EU-wide harmonisation of approval of plant protection products for

indicated uses only (particularly in horticulture)

Approval for indicated uses only in the field of plant protection has been in force in Germany since
1 July 2001. This means that plant protection products can be used only for crops for which there is a
clearly defined indication. The new rules are causing considerable problems for horticulture in particular,