WRITTEN QUESTION E-0237/02 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission. Concern over the 110 prisoners in Guantanamo.
Date: 2002-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United States, cruel and degrading treatment, international human rights law, interpretation of the law, prison system, prisoner of war, terrorism

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/31

Can the Commission explain why the post of head of unit has remained vacant for so long, and when a
fresh appointment can be expected? Why is information otherwise available free of charge not made
available to the EDCs? How will the Commission involve the EDCs in the European Union’s future
information policy in a way commensurate with their importance, and what will it do to allay the concern
felt by many staff regarding the future of the centres?

(1)

(COM(2001) 354 final).

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2002)

The post of head of unit was filled in January 2002 and the new head of unit is continuing to develop a
strong working relationship between the European Documentation Centres (EDCs) and the Commission.

EDCs have preferential access to the Commission’s data base and to all documents published by the Office
for Official Publications of the European Communities (OPOCE), free of charge. The only exception is the
Official Journal for which the usual charge is made. In recent years the OPOCE has made its publications
available to the EDCs on line rather than in paper form in order to enable quicker access to documents
and to cut down on distribution costs.

The Commission continues to believe that ‘the EDCs are key information points’ and they will certainly be
an important part of the Union’s future information policy.

(2002/C 301 E/030)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0237/02

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(6 February 2002)

Subject: Concern over the 110 prisoners in Guantanamo

The treatment of the 110 prisoners in the American Guantanamo base in Cuba who are thought to have
had links with the al-Qa’ida network has aroused world-wide indignation. Various international bodies and
non-governmental organisations have protested about both the inhumane transportation and detention
conditions of those in the American base, and the legal regime under which they are being held.

What steps does the Commission intend to take to ensure that the conditions of transportation and
detention of the prisoners in Cuba are investigated and that a competent tribunal pronounces on the legal
status of the detainees and, in particular, whether they are entitled under the provisions of the Third
Geneva Convention to prisoner of war status? How will it ensure that, in any case, their human rights are
fully respected and they are treated humanely,
in accordance with the Geneva Convention and the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights?

(2002/C 301 E/031)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0392/02

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 February 2002)

Subject: The application of the Geneva Conventions regarding prisoners of war

Does the Commission believe that members of terrorist organisations such as Al-Qaeda fall within the
category of ‘prisoner of war’ under the terms of the 1949 Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of
Prisoners of War, bearing in mind the requirement under Part 1 Article 4 that prisoners of war must be
‘Members of the armed forces of a Party to the conflict as well as members or militias or volunteer corps
forming part of such armed forces’ or ‘Members of other militias and members of other volunteer corps,