WRITTEN QUESTION E-1066/02 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Retaliatory measures against the USA.
Date: 2002-04-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, European passport, United States, admission of aliens, biometrics, free movement of persons, personal data, protection of privacy

8.5.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 110 E/9

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2002)

As the Commission does not yet have a Delegation in Riyadh, it has learned about the tragic death of the
fourteen girls in Saudi Arabia mainly through the media. Obviously, if the reports about the circumstances
are correct, this is totally unacceptable and unforgivable. The Commission will raise the matter at the
Middle East and Gulf
(Comem) working group in the Council and ask Member States for further
information.

The human rights situation, including gender discrimination, in Saudi Arabia is of serious concern to the
Commission. It regularly raises these matters within the framework of the yearly meetings of the Union/
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Joint Council. Furthermore, there will be a human rights clause in the
Free Trade Agreement with the GCC, which is currently being negotiated.

The Commission is planning to open a Delegation in Riyadh towards the end of 2002. This presence on
the ground will be an important development in our bilateral relations, enabling us not only to strengthen
our human rights dialogue with the Government of Saudi Arabia, but also to take up certain, individual
cases.

The Commission wishes to assure the Honourable Member that it will continue its efforts to improve the
human rights situation, including gender discrimination, in Saudi Arabia.

(2003/C 110 E/008)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1066/02

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(17 April 2002)

Subject: Retaliatory measures against the USA

Is the Commission convinced that, in the interest of improved security, it is necessary to include on travel
documents biometric data such as fingerprints, retinal patterns, etc?

If so, what steps are being taken to incorporate such data into EU passports?

If not, what retaliatory measures does it plan to take against the US authorities for their proposed
abandonment of the US visa waiver programme for countries whose passports do not meet the above
requirements, as it will prove to be a non-tariff barrier impeding free movement of EU citizens to the
United States when no similar restrictions will apply to the movement of US citizens into the EU?

(2003/C 110 E/009)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1067/02

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(17 April 2002)

Subject: Amendments to US immigration regulations and the potential ending of the visa waiver scheme

for EU citizens

In view of the likely changes to US immigration regulations which, from the end of 2003, will require
passports to include biometric data such as fingerprints and retinal patterns, etc. for participation in the
visa waiver scheme, can the Commission estimate the likely impact of the ending of this scheme for EU
citizens in the absence of any amendments to EU passport regulations,
in terms of the full costs of
obtaining visas and the likely impact on the volume of travel with respect to airlines, tourist operators and
other businesses?