WRITTEN QUESTION E-1372/02 by Bob van den Bos (ELDR) to the Council. EU-Burma relations.
Date: 2002-05-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, International Labour Organisation, Myanmar/Burma, ethnic group, international sanctions, military regime, political prisoner, political situation, protection of minorities, slavery

12.12.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/115

reactors of the same vintage in operation in the EU. This state of affairs reinforces the need to closely
monitor the closure commitments and to give special attention during the remaining operation time to
measures aimed at ensuring a high level of operational safety. Bulgaria committed itself to definitely close
down units 1 and 2 before the year 2003, and to decide on the occasion of the updating of the energy
strategy which will be completed in 2002, the dates of the definitive closure of units 3 and 4, which will
be before the originally envisaged closure dates of 2008 and 2010 respectively. In this context, the EU
underlined its understanding that the closure of units 3 and 4 will take place in 2006 at the latest. Indeed
for units 3-4, it is only by the early and satisfactory completion of the planned upgrading programme that
the existing deviations from safety requirements and practices widely applied within the EU can be limited
to such an extent that the continued operation of units 3 and 4 for a limited time, with firm closure
commitments, could be justified from the point of view of the Council Working Party on Nuclear Safety.

The EU will continue to monitor the situation of nuclear safety in Bulgaria until accession. To this end a
‘peer review’ mechanism has been set up under the auspices of the Council. The review will be finalised in
the accession
time to permit an overall evaluation of Bulgaria’s situation before the conclusion of
negotiations with Bulgaria. To sum up, the Council stresses the safety aspects of the closure commitments,
the need for their timely implementation and to monitor them closely.

(2002/C 309 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1372/02

by Bob van den Bos (ELDR) to the Council

(14 May 2002)

Subject: EU-Burma relations

The EU’s common position on Burma is due for review by 29 April.

The situation in Burma is still giving cause for concern: no attention whatsoever is being paid to the
fundamental requirements of human rights and democracy. No substantial progress has been made in the
past few months in the secret talks between the military junta (SPDC) and the NLD opposition party. At
least 1 500 political prisoners are still behind bars, while forced labour is still practised in many parts of
Burma. And the many ethnic minorities in Burma have still not been brought into the normalisation
process.

1.
Does the Council share the view that as long as the situation in Burma as regards human rights and
the abovementioned areas does not improve, the European Union must maintain its current common
position? If not, why not?

Is the Council prepared to recommend excluding Burma from the ASEM meeting in September? If

2.
not, why not? If so, how?

In the autumn of 2001 the ILO called on all countries, employers’ organisations and labour
3.
organisations to reconsider their relations with Burma in view of the large-scale and unconcealed practice
of forced labour in that country. Is the Council prepared to take action forthwith to prevent the ILO stance
on Burma from possibly being toned down by other Asian countries? If so, how?

Reply

(3 October 2002)

As the Honourable Member may be aware, the Council extended its Common Position on Burma/
Myanmar for a further six months on 22 April. It has since welcomed the release from house arrest of
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on 6 May. The Council believes that her release will prove to be of significance

C 309 E/116

Official Journal of the European Communities

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12.12.2002

only if it results in faster and more substantive progress towards national reconciliation, respect for human
rights including the release of political prisoners, the end of minority abuse and the return of democracy in
Burma/Myanmar. When renewing the EU Common Position in October 2001, the Council agreed to
reconsider the EU Common Position at any time, should developments in Burma/Myanmar so require.
That continues to be the case.

At the June 2002 meeting of the ILO, the Spanish delegate, on behalf of the EU and Associate Members,
welcomed the appointment of an Interim ILO Liaison Officer to Burma/Myanmar. However, concern was
expressed over the many reforms still required if forced labour is to be permanently ended. In view of the
only limited progress made, the EU noted that any possible consideration of removing the ILO measures in
place against Burma remains some way off.

Burma/Myanmar is not a member of ASEM and will not therefore be attending the ASEM Summit in
September.

(2002/C 309 E/136)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1390/02

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(15 May 2002)

Subject: Security and human rights

Following the tragic events of 11 September, serious concerns have arisen over the way in which national
security has become the overarching concern of many governments to the detriment of human rights, with
secondary, parallel systems for the dispensation of justice being created in many cases.

Recently Amnesty International, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and other non-governmental
organisations published an open statement addressed to the United Nations Commission on Human
Rights, asking states to ensure that any measures taken to tackle terrorism complied with their human
rights obligations. The above-mentioned non-governmental organisations expressed their support for Mary
Robinson’s appeal for the creation of a mechanism to monitor the human rights impact of anti-terrorism
measures taken by states, and requested the High Commissioner to produce a report on the effects of such
measures on human rights, which will lead to recommendations for their effective observance.

What is the Council’s position in relation to the views of the non-governmental organisations and
Mrs Robinson, and does it intend to take steps to support and implement them?

Reply

(30 September 2002)

At the Laeken European Council the European Union reaffirmed ‘its total solidarity with the American
people and the international community in combating terrorism with full regard for individual rights and
freedoms’ (paragraph 17 of the conclusions).

During the last session of the UN Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the European Union actively
supported a Mexican draft initiative on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while
encountering terrorism. However, Mexico decided to suspend the presentation of the initiative when it
became clear that its final adoption by CHR was, unfortunately, far from guaranteed. In principle, this
important initiative will be submitted to CHR next year.

The Council has not taken a position yet on the High Commissioner’s proposals mentioned by the
Honourable Member.