WRITTEN QUESTION E-0386/02 by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission. Accession of Slovenia and Estonia to the EU.
Date: 2002-02-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Estonia, Slovenia, accession criteria, enlargement of the Union, report

17.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 92 E/7

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2002)

On 22 January 2002, a meeting took place between the Heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Bolivia
and the Bolivian Minister for Foreign Affairs who presented the position of his Government on the events
that resulted in the death of three ‘cocaleros’ farmers and four soldiers in Sacaba near the provincial capital
of Cochabamba, i.e. not in the coca-growing region of Chapare. As far as Mr. Morales is concerned,
legislative and judicial
institutions are dealing with the withdrawal of his parliamentary status and
immunity in the framework of relevant Bolivian law.

The Commission’s methodological approach to the issue of coca in Bolivia is based on promoting an
alternative development in order to define the measures aimed at mitigating the socio-economic impact of
coca eradication. The Community programmes are compatible with the policy of the Government, but the
Community is not involved in the eradication campaign, and has not conditioned its assistance to a
specific calendar in terms of coca eradication. The Commission aims to improve conditions for the people
of the coca-growing zones and the migration zones, and to support the sustainable socio-economic
development of these areas. For this reason the Commission does not feel it would be appropriate to
consider suspending its alternative development programmes, which are to the benefit of the population in
the coca growing areas.

The Commission has a two-pronged approach: alternative development, and prevention of migration from
zones facing economic problems to coca-production regions.

The following programmes are being implemented:

(cid:1) Praedac (Programa de Apoyo a la Estrategia de Desarrollo Alternativo en el Chapare), alternative
development in the main coca production zone of Chapare (Cochabamba Department), EUR 19 mil-
lion;

(cid:1) economic development in the poor mountain valleys in order to avoid migration towards the coca-

growing regions, EUR 11 million.

Regular evaluations of
Community ‘Praedac’ programme is currently under way.

the Community programmes are carried out. The mid-term review of

the

(2003/C 92 E/008)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0386/02

by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

(20 February 2002)

Subject: Accession of Slovenia and Estonia to the EU

Is it true that Slovenia and Estonia have virtually satisfied the accession criteria and that they are

1.
therefore in the ‘waiting room’ until other countries to comply with the criteria?

2.

Is the same true of other applicant countries?

3. Why can these countries not have priority for accession, or why have they not already joined the EU?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(25 March 2002)

in accordance with the principle of differentiation. As the European Council

Following the principles of the enlargement process each candidate country is judged on its own
1.
merrits,
from Laaken
concluded last December, both countries belong to the group of 10 countries that could by ready to
conclude negotiations by the end of 2002 and to become a member of the Union in 2004 provided that
the present rate of progress of the negotiations and reforms is maintained. Consequently, it is not true that
Estonia and Slovenia have already virtually satisfied the accession criteria and kept ina ‘waiting room’.

C 92 E/8

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

In its last Regular Reports, the Commission also concluded that the conditions for accession were not
2.
yet fulfilled by any of the candidate countries. A new assessment regarding the fulfilment of all accession
criteria by the candidate countries will be made in the next Regular Reports, which are expected to
become available in October 2002. On the basis of these reports, the Commission should be able to make
recommendations on those candidate countries ready for accession.

3.

See above answers to questions 1 and 2.

(2003/C 92 E/009)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0389/02

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 February 2002)

Subject: Inclusion or non-inclusion of terrorist acts under the provisions of the Rome Statute of the

International Criminal Court

Article 7 (Crimes against humanity) of the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal
Court lists a number of acts including ‘Murder’, ‘Extermination’, ‘Torture’ and ‘Other inhumane acts of a
similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical
health’ any one of which constitutes a ‘crime against humanity’ when ‘committed as part of a widespread
or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack.’

Article 8 (War Crimes) (e) refers to ‘Other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in armed
conflicts not of an international character, within the established framework of international law, namely
any of the following acts: (i) Intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population as such or
against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities.’

Before stating in 8(f) that ‘Paragraph 2(e) applies to armed conflicts not of an international character and
thus does not apply to situations of internal disturbances and tensions, such as riots, isolated and sporadic
acts of violence or other acts of a similar nature. It applies to armed conflicts that take place in the
territory of a State when there is protracted armed conflict between governmental authorities and
organised armed groups or between such groups.’

Does the Commission take the view that a natural reading of these or other Articles in the Statute would
allow terrorists (if sufficiently organised) as well as rebel groups to fall within the provisions of the Statute,
the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Protocols notwithstanding, or does it agree with the view stated
clearly by the French Government in its Declaration at the time of ratification, and held by other
governments as well as a large body of legal opinion, that terrorist acts would not fall within its
provisions?

Does the Commission welcome the Rome Statute, and, if so, does the Commission have a view on whether
terrorist crimes should be treated differently from crimes against humanity or war crimes committed by
state authorities or rebel groups?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2002)

The Commission fully subscribes to the Council’s Common Position on the International Criminal Court
(ICC) which was adopted on 11 June 2001 (1). It aims to pursue and support an early entry into force of
the Rome Statute and the establishment of the Court.

The Community budget provides support to non-governmental organisation (NGO)-led projects that aim
to raise awareness worldwide about
the Court. Approximately
EUR 6,9 million have been spent since 1995 on such projects.

the need for the establishment of

The Community is not a party to the Rome Statute and it is not for the Commission to determine whether
the Rome Statute applies to terrorist crimes.