WRITTEN QUESTION E-1184/02 by James Nicholson (PPE-DE) to the Council. Persecution of Christians in China, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam and Burma.
Date: 2002-04-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, EU relations, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar/Burma, Viet Nam, freedom of religious beliefs, religious discrimination

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/93

For officials in category C or D, overtime can be compensated with time off or by remuneration (4). Some
Services use their own practical arrangements for the compensation of overtime, but within the framework
of these provisions.

Commission decisions affecting staff are taken only after consultation with the representative staff unions
or, where appropriate,
for example, the Commission decision on
flexitime was adopted only after consultation with the staff unions (5).

the Staff Committee. Accordingly,

On 4 April 2001 (6), after negotiations with staff unions, the Commission concluded a new agreement on
resources available for the staff representation. This agreement has been signed by six representative
unions. It provides, inter alia, for reduction in the maximum number of posts made available to the staff
unions from 21 to 12 posts. Support
for elected representation in the Staff Committee has been
strengthened. The arrangements are now similar to those used in several Member State administrations.

is currently being negotiated with seven unions in order

Following the Commission decision of 5 December 2001 another general agreement, known as the
Framework Agreement,
to update the
arrangements for the Commission’s relations with the staff unions which have been largely based on an
agreement made nearly 30 years ago in 1974. In the same decision, the Commission formally adopted
general provisions concerning the ‘concertation’ procedures (‘operational rules’) and provisions concerning
industrial action which had been concluded after negotiations with the representative staff unions at an
earlier stage. Those improvements are already in operation.

The Commission does not pay salaries of staff employed directly by unions (OSPs). According to the
information at the disposal of the Commission, only one representative OSP employs external staff ‘extra
muros’ and that employment is financed by membership fees.

On the basis of the agreement on resources between the Commission and the staff unions, unions that are
parties to the agreement have at their disposal a maximum of 12 seconded Commission officials as well as
specified and limited financial resources that can, inter alia, cover contracts for auxiliary staff employed by
the Commission. Under the terms of that agreement, at present, 12 officials are formally seconded to, and
4 auxiliary agents are working for, staff unions. The agreement also allows for the release of officials from
service duties for clearly determined periods and tasks and currently, five officials are formally released
from service duties (one of them on a part-time basis) awaiting either reintegration or the finalisation of
decisions concerning their secondments to the Staff Committee.

Finally, in some working locations of the Commission with a small number of personnel, staff unions are
still offered (cid:1) on an ad hoc basis decided by local managers (cid:1) support in the exercise of their activities.
This is no longer compatible with the general agreement and will be phased out.

(1) Staff Regulations, Article 57.
(2) Commission Decision 13 January 1967.
(3) Staff Regulations, annex V.
(4) Staff Regulations, Article 56 and annex VI.
(5) Administrative Information No 672, 25 April 1991.
(6) Commission Decision 15 June 2001.

(2002/C 309 E/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1184/02

by James Nicholson (PPE-DE) to the Council

(25 April 2002)

Subject: Persecution of Christians in China, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam and Burma

It would appear that
persecution and human rights violations continue to occur.

in spite of earlier assurances given by the respective governments religious

Would the Council indicate what representations have been made to the respective governments and what
meaningful assurances have been received regarding protection of the religious freedoms of Christians in
China, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam and Burma?

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’.