WRITTEN QUESTION P-1186/02 by Jacques Poos (PSE) to the Commission. Destruction of Palestinian infrastructure financed by the EU.
Date: 2002-04-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU relations, Israel, Palestine, international affairs, military intervention, war damage

C 309 E/94

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

Reply

(3 October 2002)

The Council, in its global approach to human rights, supports promotion of respect for the freedom of
religion and belief, whatever the faith of those concerned. It has raised particular concerns regarding
respect for this freedom with the Governments of China and Vietnam. In the case of China, these concerns
have not been restricted to the rights of Christians, but have extended to other religious groups including
Muslims and Buddhists. The Governments concerned have, in each case, responded that they do indeed
respect this fundamental freedom. The Council would assure the Honourable Member that it will continue
to monitor respect for this and other fundamental freedoms in these countries and elsewhere, whenever
and wherever exercise of those freedoms may be put at risk.

The Council would like to bring to the attention of the Honourable Member that on 11 March the
European Union issued a declaration welcoming the peace agreement signed on 12 February for the
Indonesian province of the Moluccas, as an important step forward in the reconciliation of the Muslim and
Christian communities. In the declaration the European Union urged the government of Indonesia to take
the necessary measures against intruders seeking to disrupt the ongoing peace process in the province.

(2002/C 309 E/108)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1186/02

by Jacques Poos (PSE) to the Commission

(22 April 2002)

Subject: Destruction of Palestinian infrastructure financed by the EU

Following the mass destruction and numerous acts of vandalism perpetrated by the Israeli army as part of
its recent campaign to reoccupy the Palestinian autonomous territories, can the Commission reassess the
damage caused to infrastructure financed by the EU and its Member States?

Given that basic legal principles call for reparation to be paid for the damage, what does the Commission
intend to do to obtain the appropriate compensation from Mr Sharon’s government?

Will the Commission undertake to assist the Palestinian Authority in its efforts to obtain fair reparations
by all means available to it by law?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 May 2002)

In the wake of the extensive destruction caused by the Israeli offensive (Operation Defensive Shield) into
the West Bank, the international donor community is in the process of assessing the damage which has
been inflicted on cities, villages and refugee camps of the West Bank. This work has only just begun and it
is expected to take some weeks before having an exact assessment of the damage. It is reasonable to
presume, nonetheless, that the overall cost of reconstruction shall run into the hundreds of millions.

The Commission shall, in parallel, and in close coordination with Member States, assess the damage which
has been inflicted on Community-financed infrastructure and update the list which it had presented to the
General Affairs Council of 28 January 2002.

The General Affairs Council reserved the right to take appropriate action vis-à-vis Israel and to ‘claim
reparation in the appropriate fora’.