WRITTEN QUESTION P-0634/02 by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission. Syria.
Date: 2002-02-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Syria, UN Security Council, antisemitism, association agreement, democratisation, dictatorship, human rights, international security, terrorism

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/69

Reply

(22 July 2002)

The EU expressed its full sympathy with the families of the victims of the 11 September attacks,
particular, and with the people of the United States.

in

The fight against terrorism remains a shared priority and, to this end, the EU is in regular contact with the
United States on how best to act. The Council is of the view that military action alone cannot resolve
conflicts, but rather has to be put in context and accompanied by appropriate political, economic and
development measures, if peace, stability and security are to be achieved.

(2002/C 277 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0634/02

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(27 February 2002)

Subject: Syria

For some time the EU has been seeking to give credit to the Damascus regime as one which supports
reform and democracy. This was evident from the prompt recognition of the succession to the throne of
Bashar Assad following his father’s death and the support given to Syria’s candidature for the UN Security
Council. It was confirmed by the official visit by Bashar Assad to one of the Member States, Italy.

Nevertheless,
it is impossible to overlook the fact that Syria has one of the most alarming dictatorial
regimes in the world. The Syrian people are suffering under a brutal and bloody tyranny, where
fundamental rights, civil and political liberties and the most basic human rights are totally denied. This is
clear from the evidence given by the few dissidents to have survived the persecution by the regime and by
the arrests at the end of last summer of independent members of parliament, businessmen and activists in
Syria who had the courage to speak out in favour of democracy and the rule of law.

its systematic and wide-ranging support

Since the elder Assad took power, Syria has been a threat to the security and stability of the region and of
the international community as a whole, because of
for
international terrorist networks. In the field of ‘foreign policy’, Damascus has distinguished itself through
the rabid anti-Semitism of the remarks made by its leading authorities ‘The Jews tried to kill the principles
of all religions with the same mentality in which they betrayed Jesus Christ and the same way they tried to
betray and kill the Prophet Mohammed’ (Bashar Assad on the occasion of the Pope’s visit on 5 May 2001);
‘There are only a few million Jews; if every Arab killed one Jew that would be the end of them’ (Mustafa
Tlas, the President’s personal adviser in an interview with Corriere della Sera on 11 May 2001). On
20 April 2001, the leader writer of the government daily Al-Akhbar wrote:
‘Hitler should be thanked
because the took revenge in advance on behalf of the Palestinians, even if it is regrettable that his revenge
did not go far enough’, remarks which were repeated on 27 April.

In the light of
the above, does the Commission consider it useful and worthwhile to pursue the
negotiations on an association agreement with Syria? Would it not be more appropriate and fruitful to
make further negotiations conditional on the expression of a genuine and firm desire on the part of
Damascus to open up to reform and democracy?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 March 2002)

The Commission is aware of the human rights situation in Syria. A certain positive trend has been noted
in recent years, though this trend was not confirmed in 2001.

The Commission will continue to monitor the human rights situation together with Member States and to
encourage reforms in this area as well as to communicate to the Syrian government its concern, both in
relation to individual cases and in relation to the general situation whenever necessary.

C 277 E/70

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

The Commission deplores the nature of the remarks quoted by the Honourable Member.

Nevertheless, the Commission will continue a policy of constructive engagement towards Syria through
negotiations of the Association Agreement and through the implementation of Mediterranean Devel-
opment Assistance Programme (MEDA) cooperation programmes designed to encourage the economic and
political reforms necessary for the association process.

It is the Commission’s firm belief that a dialogue on human rights will be more effective when conducted
in the framework of a binding Association Agreement.

A future European Union-Syria Association Agreement will refer to human rights as an essential element
in European Union-Syrian relations and it will be designed to foster common objectives expressed in the
Barcelona Declaration (1), such as developing the rule of law and democracy, respect for human rights, free
trade and sustainable development. The Commission will stress issues of reform in the MEDA cooperation
programme.

(1) Adopted at the Euro-Mediterranean Conference (27 and 28 November 1995).

(2002/C 277 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0638/02

by Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 March 2002)

Subject: National Hydrological Plan

The Spanish government recently forwarded to DG Environment the text of a strategic environmental
assessment concerning the National Hydrological Plan adopted by the Spanish Senate on 20 June 2001.

What is the Commission’s technical evaluation of the strategic environmental assessment submitted by the
Spanish government?

What is the procedure envisaged for the evaluation of this study?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2002)

The Commission received a copy of the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the National Hydrological
Plan in January 2002. It is also available on the Spanish Environment Ministry web page (www.mma.es). In
this document, the Spanish authorities present their analysis of the situation and the expectations for water
resources in Spain, specifying environmental effects and shortage problems. It also identifies the main
environmental consequences of water shortages and possible improvements if the proposed water transfer
were to be put on place.

The document is over 150 pages long and extremely detailed. The Commission is still studying the
information and should complete its assessment within the next weeks. The technical assessment of the
document will be carried out internally within the Commission.

The Commission intends to continue its dialogue with the Spanish authorities in order to ensure that the
relevant pieces of Community legislation are fully complied with.