WRITTEN QUESTION E-0632/02 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Militaristic tendencies on the part of the United States.
Date: 2002-03-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, United States, cooperation policy, fight against crime, terrorism

C 277 E/68

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

(2002/C 277 E/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0631/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 March 2002)

Subject: The Commission’s position on the US President’s attitude to the emission of gases into the

atmosphere

What is the Commission’s position, in the context of the Kyoto Agreeements upheld by the EU, on the
recent proposals made by the US President, George Bush, to reduce his country’s emission of gases into the
atmosphere?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2002)

The plan for a climate change policy put forward by President Bush is purely of a domestic nature. It may
represent a first step in the right direction, where economic operators in the United States are asked to
contribute to emission control. It is not seen as an alternative to the Kyoto Protocol to which the Union
and other Parties remain fully committed. The Protocol is the only effective international framework for
combating global warming and the Commission urges the United States to return to the Kyoto process.

The Commission has carefully analysed the details of President Bush’s proposals, in particular the unilateral
greenhouse gas intensity target. Its concern is that they will not lead to a reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions but allow a significant increase of some 30 % above the 1990 level in 2012. As a consequence,
the United States will not meet the objective of the Framework Convention on Climate Change that it has
ratified for developed country parties to stabilise their greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels. Achieving
this would only be a first step towards stabilising global greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that
would prevent further global warming. This is the ultimate objective of the Convention to which the
United States has subscribed.

Avoiding global warming requires reductions in emissions. Even the targets in the Kyoto Protocol are only
a first step to prevent the consequences that climate change could have. The challenge of sustainable
development is to protect the environment, while ensuring economic growth.

Global warming is a worldwide problem and should therefore be tackled internationally, on the basis of
the very important work carried out by the international community. The United States, as the biggest
emitter of greenhouse gases, should live up to their responsibility under the Convention and make
reduction efforts comparable to those undertaken in other parts of the world in the context of the Kyoto
Protocol. The Union has already reduced its emissions below 1990 levels and is committed to meet the
Kyoto target of an 8 % reduction by 2008-2012.

(2002/C 277 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0632/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

Subject: Militaristic tendencies on the part of the United States

(6 March 2002)

We all feel unequivocal sympathy for the victims, and US society in general, following the appalling
attacks of 11 September. However, we cannot but reject the militaristic tendencies of the US government
which, instead of eliminating international terrorism, may cause greater evil and by taking unilateral action
introduce highly dangerous elements contrary to the quest for world peace. These elements may even
destabilise the EU and its role in world politics.

What steps is the Council taking to resist the temptations of militarism offered by the United States?

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.