WRITTEN QUESTION P-1407/02 by Marco Pannella (NI) to the Commission. Vietnam.
Date: 2002-05-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Viet Nam, action programme, cooperation policy, development aid, fundamental rights, human rights, imprisonment, rule of law

6.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/103

1. When may the European Parliament expect to be given access to the answer?

2. What stage has been reached in transposing the Directive? If there had been a failure to comply with
the implementing legislation, what conclusions would the Commission draw, where necessary, from a
delay in transposing the Directive?

(1) OJ L 228, 16.8.1973, p. 3.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 2002)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the answer it gave to written Question E-

1.
3611/01 by Mr Sakelleriou (1).

2.
The requirements of the first Council Directive 73/239/EEC of 24 July 1973 on the coordination of
laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the taking-up and pursuit of the business of
direct insurance other than life assurance, were transposed into British law by the Lloyd’s Act 1982 and
the Insurance Companies Act 1982. The focus of the Commission’s enquiries is not on transposition but
on the effective application of the Directive’s requirements (2).

(1) OJ C 172 E, 18.7.2002, p. 96.
(2)

Further details can be found on the official Commission Press Release, IP/01/1880, 20.12.2001.

(2003/C 28 E/115)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1407/02

by Marco Pannella (NI) to the Commission

(13 May 2002)

Subject: Vietnam

In recent months the Vietnamese authorities have arrested or placed under ‘administrative’ detention
(under directive No 31/CP) Mr Le Chi Quang, a lawyer accused of criticising the conduct of the Vietnamese
Communist Party as regards the signing by Vietnam of the Treaty on borders with the People’s Republic of
China on 30 December 1999 and 25 December 2000; Mr Tran Khue, a research worker, who sent a letter
to Jiang Zemin when he visited Hanoi, giving his views on the aforementioned treaty; Dr Pham Hong Son,
who was arrested for translating pro-democracy texts published on the website of the United States
Embassy in Hanoi; Mr Nguyen Van Minh, who defended Father Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly; Mr Bui Minh
Quoc, a journalist and poet condemned for visiting the border regions handed over by Hanoi to the
People’s Republic of China. The detention of these people (cid:1) as well as that of many other Vietnamese
democrats (cid:1) confirms the deterioration of the situation in Vietnam, where, despite more favourable
economic conditions, the exercise of fundamental rights is still forbidden and repressed by the authorities
in Hanoi. What practical steps has the Commission taken to obtain the release of the abovementioned
people? Could the Commission draw up a detailed list of the programmes it finances or co-finances whose
precise aim is to establish democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms in Vietnam,
and state the proportion (cid:1) in financial terms (cid:1) of the total value of cooperation programmes funded or
co-funded by the Commission that they represent? Finally, the European Parliament has repeatedly called
for the Commission to take resolute action to bring about the release of the Venerable Thich Huyen
Quang and the Venerable Thich Quang Do, respectively Patriarch and Secretary-General of the Unified
Buddhist Church of Vietnam. What steps has the Commission taken so far, and what results have they
achieved?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2002)

The Delegation of the Commission in Hanoi, together with the diplomatic missions of the Member States,
monitors closely human rights developments in Vietnam and participates in all actions to convey the
Union’s concerns to the Vietnamese authorities. Human rights issues are also discussed at meetings of the
EU-Vietnam Joint Commission.

C 28 E/104

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

The Commission is aware of the cases of Messrs. Le Chi Quang, Tran Khue, Bui Minh and Dr. Pham Hong
Son. It has not yet been possible to obtain confirmation of the situation of Mr Nguyen Van Minh, but
enquiries are continuing. The situations of Thich Huyen Quang, who remains under administrative
detention in Nghia Hanh Pagoda, Quang Ngai Province, and Thich Quang Do, confined to Thanh Minh
monastery in Ho Chi Minh City also remain of concern.

The Delegation of the Commission will continue to raise particular issues and individual cases of concern
through the appropriate diplomatic channels.

The Community-Vietnam Country Strategy Paper 2002-2006 and National
Indicative Programme
2002-2004, prepared in consultation with the Member States and the Government of Vietnam, was
approved by the Commission on 15 May 2002. The strategy directs the Community-Vietnam co-operation
programme at two focal areas: the enhancement of human development, particularly through support for
integrated rural development, targeting some of the poorest provinces, and support in the field of
education; and integrating Vietnam into the international economy, by assisting continued reform towards
a market-oriented economy and supporting Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO),
together with some actions designed to alleviate the social consequences of economic reforms. Cross-
cutting themes in the implementation of the Strategy will include environmental protection, culture and
education, gender equality, the promotion of human rights, and good governance as an integral part of the
co-operation programme.

Information on projects financed under the previous Community-Vietnam Country Strategy (cid:1) which was
also focused particularly on development in the poorer rural areas, health and education, as well as
support for economic reform (cid:1) is also provided in the new Country Strategy Paper, which is published on
the External Relations web site (1). In addition to these actions under the Community-Vietnam bilateral co-
operation programme, the Commission has also supported one project in Vietnam under the European
Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/vietnam/csp/index.htm.

(2003/C 28 E/116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1414/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 May 2002)

Subject: Meningitis bacteria in dry babyfood

Researchers at the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands have confirmed that the bacterium
(also known as Yellow Pigmented Enterobacter Cloacae), which can cause
Enterobacter sakazakii
meningitis in new-born babies and the elderly, has been ‘found regularly’ in dry babyfood. Somehow or
other, this bacterium manages to get into the tower driers used in the production of babyfood. Most other
pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella, can be prevented and eliminated by means of very strict hygiene
at the production plant, but not Enterobacter sakazakii.

Is the Commission aware of this problem?

Has this phenomenon resulted in infants who consume dry babyfood becoming infected with meningitis?
How many such cases have there been, both in absolute and in relative terms? How many babies have died
of meningitis after being infected with Enterobacter sakazakii in dry babyfood? If the Commission does not
have any information about this, will it make inquiries into the matter?

What measures will the Commission take in order, if possible, to prevent meningitis infections via dry
babyfood in future?

Can the Commission say whether (cid:1) in the light of the above (cid:1) breast-feeding is preferable to dry
babyfood? If so, what will the Commission do to draw the attention of the people of Europe to this fact?