WRITTEN QUESTION E-0214/02 by Nirj Deva (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Côte d'Ivoire.
Date: 2002-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Côte d'Ivoire, aid policy, cooperation policy, human rights, military training, nationality, political crisis, political situation, right to stand for election

C 301 E/26

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

in its White Paper on Governance, the Commission stressed the ESC’s importance as an
Moreover,
intermediary and generator of contact with civil society, especially concerning legislative consultation and
reflections on the future of the Commission and the Institutions in general. Two upcoming events will
reveal whether Governments and the Institutions are ready to move in this direction: the renewal of the
ESC in October 2002, and the debates held under the auspices of the Convention on the Future of Europe,
in which three ESC observers will participate.

(2002/C 301 E/023)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0167/02

by John Corrie (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 February 2002)

Subject: Progress of the national peace and reconciliation dialogue in Côte d’Ivoire

Is the Commission satisfied with the overall progress of the national peace and reconciliation dialogue in
Côte d’Ivoire, in particular the reconciliation forum that ended on 18 December 2001? If so, when does it
intend to undertake a resumption of full economic aid and cooperation with that country?

(2002/C 301 E/024)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0213/02

by Nirj Deva (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 February 2002)

Subject: Côte d’Ivoire

Since the EU belongs to the donors group that supports the planned human rights training of Côte
d’Ivoire’s armed forces, how does the Commission envisage this programme? Will
include the
combatants who have been fighting for General Guei as an extension of efforts to rebuild public trust
and promote political stability?

it

(2002/C 301 E/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0214/02

by Nirj Deva (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 February 2002)

Subject: Côte d’Ivoire

The question of Mr Ouattara’s nationality has gravely contributed to the political crisis in Côte d’Ivoire.
Does the Commission think that
this issue, as recommended by the National
Reconciliation Forum that ended on 18 December, will guarantee Mr Ouattara’s natural right to stand in
the next elections?

the resolution of

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0167/02, E-0213/02 and E-0214/02
given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2002)

Consultations with Côte d’Ivoire, under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement were concluded on 25 June
2001 with a decision to gradually re-launch Community co-operation in parallel with progress of the
national reconciliation process, of the fight against impunity, of the reform of the judiciary and of the fight
against xenophobia.

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/27

So far, the reconciliation process is proving successful: the national reconciliation forum led to consensual
recommendations on the ways and means to stabilise the political situation. It also led to talks between the
main political figures of Côte d’Ivoire. Observers predict that the Ivorian nationality of Mr Ouattara, an
issue identified as a major source of political tension, should soon be recognised. Measures have also been
taken to deal with the other three issues.

The Commission believes that a full re-launch of Community co-operation should be agreed shortly.

The foreseen recognition of Mr Ouattara’s Ivorian nationality should by itself provide a solution to the
eligibility issue as regards the parliamentary elections. It is sufficient to hold Ivorian nationality to be
eligible at these elections. However, the nationality requirements for the presidential elections are more
stringent, according to the new constitution. A candidate should not only be Ivorian, but also both his
parents should be Ivorian and he should not ‘have availed himself’ of another nationality in the past.
President Gbagbo himself acknowledged during the reconciliation forum that this provision was personally
aimed at preventing Mr Ouattara from standing for election. President Gbagbo has decided to create a
lawyers’ committee to make recommendations on possible ‘clarifications’ of the current constitution. The
issue is on the agenda of current negotiations between the four main political leaders.

Human rights training of Côte d’Ivoire’s armed forces is indeed planned under the coordination of United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) within the programme for the reform of the army of the Ivorian
Government. This programme is part of a wide reform of the army which is a major priority of the
Government. The Commission and also some Member States are in the process of deciding upon their
involvement in this programme.

In the meantime, the Commission is going to support a project in this area led by the Friedrich Ebert
Foundation aimed at providing training to the armed forces and the police in order to promote better
understanding between them and civil society. Seminars and workshops will be organised in the four
military regions of Côte d’Ivoire. The issue of parallel security forces and of militias will be among the
main topics to be dealt with.

More generally, Côte d’Ivoire is one of the ‘focus countries’ for the implementation of the human rights
budget line (B7-7020) in 2002 and 2003. Priorities are being decided upon. Given the needs of the
country, and with a view to avoiding overlaps with other donors’ interventions, the Commission is ready
to focus on capacity building as regards non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the human rights
commission and the press.

(2002/C 301 E/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0174/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(5 February 2002)

Subject: Abuse of dominant market position concerning school software licences

The software company Microsoft has announced that it is to standardise its European licence fees for the
basic software package Microsoft Office Professional. This move will result in considerable increases in the
software licences schools have to pay in respect of each computer on which the software package is
installed. The increase will be 30-40 % in Belgium’s case and as high as about 250 % in the case of schools
in the Netherlands.

Will the Commission state whether it regards this pricing policy to be an abuse of a dominant market
position by the company concerned and whether it is taking steps to promote the use in education of
cheaper alternative software which is of an equivalent quality and also compatible with international
standards as regards the formats in which data is stored? Microsoft is apparently still using totally closed
formats which are regularly changed, so that consumers are forced to buy new versions of their software.