WRITTEN QUESTION P-3642/01 by Geoffrey Van Orden (PPE-DE) to the Council. Terrorism.
Date: 2002-01-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU police cooperation, common foreign and security policy, economic sanctions, international sanctions, judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the EU, terrorism

C 205 E/50

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

accelerate the implementation of training and other measures to enhance the safety culture. A reasonable
date for the shutdown will be on or before the 10 February 2002, subject to the views of Kernfysische
Dienst (KFD), the Dutch licensing authority. On the 4 of February 2002, the acting director of NRG
indicated, in the course of a press conference, that he concurred with the position of the Commission.

(2002/C 205 E/053)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3642/01

by Geoffrey Van Orden (PPE-DE) to the Council

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Terrorism

With reference to the Council Regulation on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons
and entities with a view to combating international terrorism (1) and the recommendation by the European
Parliament that the Annex listing the actual groups or persons should be drawn up on the basis of a
proposal by the Commission or a Member State, what steps are being taken by the Council to ensure that
the terrorist groups which are actively engaged against EU Member States and candidate countries for EU
membership (such as the IRA, UFF, PKK, DHKP-C, N 17 and ETA, for example) are included on the list of
proscribed organisations?

(1) COM(2001) 569 ; C5-0665/2001 ; 2001/0228(CNS).

Reply

(21 May 2002)

1.
Pursuant to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373(2001), the EU legal framework for
imposing sanctions, including the freezing of assets, on persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist
acts is set out in the following instruments that the Council adopted on 27 December 2001:

(a) Council common position on combating terrorism (2001/930/CFSP), which takes up the obligations

contained in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373(2001);

(b) Council common position on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism (2001/931/
CFSP). In addition to establishing objective criteria for including a given name in the list of persons,
groups and entities which are the subject of police and judicial cooperation and/or the freezing of
assets, this common position includes at annex a ‘first list’ of names;

(c) Council Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain
persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism, which sets out in particular the Community
action needed to implement the CFSP aspects of the common position referred to above under (b);

(d) Council Decision establishing the list provided for

in Article 2(3) of

the Council Regulation

abovementioned under (c) (2001/927/EC).

2.
Among the groups mentioned by the Honourable Member, the Ulster Defence Association/Ulster
Freedom Fighters (UDA/UFF), the Revolutionary Organisation 17 November and ETA have already been
included on the ‘first list’ attached to the common position mentioned under point 1(b). The groups in
question are thus the subject of police and judicial cooperation between Member States in criminal
matters.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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That ‘first list’ of persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist acts is to be reviewed at least once
3.
every six months, as provided for in Article 1(6) of the common position mentioned under point 1(b).
During the updating process, experts analyse thoroughly the information available on each group, in order
to assess that the respective file is sound in the sense that it complies with the objective criteria set out in
Article 1(4) of the common position mentioned under point 1(b). Such objective criteria basically require
an indication that a decision has been taken by a competent authority with regard to the persons, entities
or groups in question, either due (i) to the investigation or prosecution for terrorist acts, or (ii) to credible
evidence or clues concerning an attempt to commit, participate in or facilitate such terrorist acts, or (iii) to
a condemnation for the acts in question.

(2002/C 205 E/054)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3663/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(15 January 2002)

Subject: Execution of hunger-striking prisoners in Turkey

In a raid by security forces in a suburb of Istanbul, six hunger strikers were killed and, according to a
forensic report discovered by the Turkish press, their bodies showed signs of beatings and bullet wounds.
80 hunger-strikers have died over the last year, 36 of whom have been killed in security force operations,
and the International Press Agency reports that the Turkish Government is drafting a law providing for
prison sentences for anyone inciting, encouraging or supporting (!) hunger strikers. Will the Council
therefore say what practical steps it has taken in response to the murders?

Will discussions between the EU and Turkey as an applicant country be suspended until the competent
Turkish Minister takes responsibility and resigns, and the conditions are created whereby the human rights,
the life and dignity of political prisoners in Turkish jails are respected? According to a Council statement,
improving conditions in Turkish prisons is one of the short-term priorities of the partnership. By when
must these short-term obligations be met?

Reply

(13 May 2002)

Regarding the police operation in a district of Istanbul on 5 November 2001 against hunger strikers
opposing the introduction of a new type of prison, the Council, through the Heads of Mission in Ankara
and more recently at
the troika of EU-Turkey Political Directors in Madrid on
8 January 2002, expressed its concern to Turkey regarding a disproportionate use of force, and asked the
Turkish authorities to provide explanations regarding the deaths that occurred.

the meeting of

On detention conditions in Turkish prisons, their improvement is a medium-term priority of the accession
partnership with Turkey, which came into effect in March 2001. The accession partnership allows for
more than one year for the achievement of medium-term priorities. The Council also recalls that the
European Council which met at Laeken on 14 and 15 December 2001 encouraged Turkey to continue its
progress towards complying with both economic and political criteria, notably with regard to human
rights.

Regarding other matters relevant to the question raised, the Honourable Member is urged to refer to the
reply given by the Council to Written Question E-3180/01 put by Mr Christos Zacharakis, which also
concerns the police operation against hunger strikers on 5 November 2001 in Istanbul.