WRITTEN QUESTION E-1108/02 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Council. Measures against the Israeli Government.
Date: 2002-04-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Israel, Palestine, common foreign and security policy, cooperation agreement (EU), international affairs, military occupation

C 309 E/84

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

example is its approach to the issue of the geographical limits of the waters under Spanish jurisdiction in
the Canaries, particularly as regards Spain’s exclusive economic zone, which is of course also an EEZ of the
European Union.

Given this situation, and in the light of Article 21 of the EU Treaty, which allows the European Parliament
to direct questions to the Council with regard to issues of EU common foreign and security policy, what
political measures is the Council considering to clarify, and where necessary, remedy the anomalies
affecting relations between the Canaries, one of the outermost regions of the EU, and Morocco?

Reply

(3 October 2002)

The Council would inform the Honourable Member that questions relating to migration, including the
implementation of the action plan for Morocco, are the subject of dialogue between the Moroccan and EU
authorities in the Working Party on Social Affairs and Migration, the main subjects for discussion of which
are legal migration (integration of immigrants, equality of opportunity, etc.), illegal migration and socio-
economic development. The most recent meeting of the Working Party on Social Affairs and Migration
between the EU and Morocco was held in Rabat on 12 March 2002. At that meeting, the Moroccan
delegation stressed the firm commitment of Morocco’s security services to combating illegal immigration
and mafia networks trafficking in human beings, and called for extensive cooperation with the EU on the
basis of co-responsibility and co-development. In this respect,
it is necessary to increase the technical
resources assigned to combating illegal migration and networks trafficking in human beings and to
contribute to the socio-economic development of the regions of origin of immigrants.

A large share of financial cooperation between the EU and its Member States and Morocco is allocated to
projects relating to migration, including the management of Morocco/EU border controls, EUR 40 million
of the cost of which will be financed by MEDA funds. A mission of experts from the Member States and
the Commission will travel to Morocco in July to evaluate Morocco’s specific needs. Moreover, Morocco is
the main beneficiary of budget heading B7-667, a new instrument for financing migration projects.

The Commission is conducting exploratory discussions with a view to concluding a readmission agreement
which could also provide for the readmission of third-country nationals illegally resident in an EU Member
State who had entered the EU from Morocco. Although Morocco refused for a long time to conclude such
an agreement, it has now expressed its willingness to do so and formal negotiations could begin soon.

In general, the Seville European Council on 21 and 22 June 2002 invited the Council and the Commission
to press ahead with implementation of Article 299(2) of the Treaty, which recognises the specific nature of
the outermost regions, and to submit suitable proposals for their special needs to be taken into account
through the various common policies, in particular transport policy, and in the reform of certain policies,
in particular regional policy.

(2002/C 309 E/097)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1108/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(18 April 2002)

Subject: Measures against the Israeli Government

In the face of Israeli troops’ full-scale and illegal invasion of the Palestinian autonomous territories, the
European Union has, unfortunately, confined itself to mere advice to Sharon not to take matters to
extremes with the President of the Palestinian Authority. It also continues to insist that the Middle East is a
matter for the USA and not Europe, whilst refusing to take practical measures against
the Israeli
Government as it did at a very early stage and in drastic fashion against Yugoslavia during the events in
Kosovo.

12.12.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/85

Will the Council take measures against the Israeli Government for the crime it is committing against the
Palestinians, peace and humanity and, in more specific terms, will it suspend the cooperation agreement
between the European Union and Israel forthwith until the siege of President Arafat in Ramallah is ended
and Israeli troops have withdrawn from the autonomous territories of the Palestinian Authority?

Reply

(30 September 2002)

The Council does not share the analysis offered by the Honourable Member. Indeed,
it has, on the
contrary, actively pursued an end to the recent senseless confrontation in the Middle East in concert with
its partners, notably the United States, Russian Federation and United Nations. It is convinced that such
coordinated international action offers the best prospect for a political resolution of the conflict based on
UNSCRs 242 and 338, and the principle of land for peace. The Council does not intend to suspend the
Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement with Israel.

(2002/C 309 E/098)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1109/02

by Christos Zacharakis (PPE-DE)
and Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Council

(18 April 2002)

Subject: Protection of human rights in Algeria

In the light of the flagrant violations of human rights which have occurred in Algeria and of the new
framework for cooperation between the EU and the Mediterranean countries which, in accordance with
the Union’s decision, must be based on the principles of human rights, how will the Council ensure that
the human rights situation in Algeria is taken up as a specific topic for discussion at all meetings held in
the context of the EU-Algeria Association Council, in application of the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation
process (Barcelona process)?

Reply

(3 October 2002)

The Council is keeping a close watch on matters concerning respect for human rights in Algeria. In 1997
it instituted a political dialogue with Algeria at ministerial level. This is where the Council, represented by
the Troika, regularly raises issues relating to respect for human rights and strongly urges that any
departure from this or any abuse, even as part of the fight against terrorism, be avoided.

The Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement was signed with Algeria in Valencia on 22 April 2002
and will come into force following the assent of the European Parliament and ratification by the Member
States. Respect for human rights is an essential element of this Agreement which guides the Parties’
external and domestic policies. Moreover, it institutionalises regular political dialogue at various levels,
particularly within the Association Council, on all matters of mutual interest.

As long as respect for human rights poses a problem in Algeria, human rights questions will feature on the
agenda for the political dialogue, whether that established in 1997 or that to be institutionalised by the
Association Agreement, once it comes into force. At the political dialogue meeting in Brussels on
5 December 2001, the EU requested Algeria to provide it with information on the fate of a number of
missing persons and asked it to cooperate with UN mechanisms and with NGOs in the area of human
rights. A meeting of the same nature took place in Algiers on 5 June 2002, providing another opportunity
to continue discussion of these matters with the Algerian authorities.