WRITTEN QUESTION E-1435/02 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. The return of state terror in Guatemala.
Date: 2002-05-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Guatemala, human rights, rule of law, violence

C 92 E/56

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

It should be noted that on the basis of the mandate of the European Council of Barcelona of 14 March
2002, the EIB is currently proceeding with the preparation of a Euro-Mediterranean Investment Facility.
According to the mandate, this Facility will be complemented with the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership
arrangement and an EIB representative office located in the area. It will enhance the Bank’s current
activities in the region and particularly focus on private sector development, which is recognised as a
priority. It was also decided in Barcelona that a decision on whether to incorporate the newly created
facility in an EIB majority owned subsidiary will be considered one year after the launching of the new
facility, on the basis of its performance. The latest Ecofin meeting of 4 June 2002 has called for the facility
to be launched before the end of autumn 2002.

(2003/C 92 E/057)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1426/02

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(23 May 2002)

Subject: Use of the euro

Which countries outside of the twelve have been authorised to issue euro coins, and what procedure is
necessary for such authorisation?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 2002)

In addition to the twelve participating Member States, three countries not belonging to the Union have
been authorised to issue euro coins: the Principality of Monaco, the Republic of San Maríno and the
Vatican City.

This stems from the Maastricht negotiations where it was agreed (Declaration No 6 annexed to the Treaty)
‘… that the monetary relations between Italy and San Maríno and the Vatican City and between France and
the Principality of Monaco remained unaffected by the Treaty establishing the EC …. The Community
undertakes to facilitate the renegotiations of the existing arrangements as might become necessary …’.
On 31 December 1998 the Council granted a mandate to France and Italy respectively to negotiate on
behalf of the Community (Council Decisions 1999/96/EC, 1999/97/EC, 1999/98/EC of 31 December
1998 on the position to be taken by the Community regarding an agreement concerning the monetary
relations with the Principality of Monaco, the Republic of San Maríno and Vatican City (1)). In 2001
monetary agreements were concluded by the Italian Republic, on behalf of the Community, with the
Republic of San Maríno (2) as well as with the Vatican City and, on its behalf the Holy See (3). The same
year, a similar monetary agreement was reached between the Government of the French Republic, on
behalf of the Community, and the Government of His Serene Highness the Prince of Monaco (4). All three
agreements provide for the issue of limited quantities of euro coins by the States concerned.

(1) OJ L 30, 4.2.1999.
(2) OJ C 209, 27.7.2001.
(3) OJ C 299, 25.10.2001.
(4) OJ L 142, 31.5.2002.

(2003/C 92 E/058)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1435/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

Subject: The return of state terror in Guatemala

(23 May 2002)

Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú today had to go back to Guatemala, where she is the object of
death threats, to attend the funeral of her co-worker Guillermo Ovalle, murdered by repressive paramilitary
forces (cid:1) protected or tolerated by the government (cid:1) which do not respect the peace agreements, and

17.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 92 E/57

continue to threaten, humiliate, terrorise and massacre Guatemala’s indigenous majority. What steps has
the Union Presidency taken vis-à-vis the Guatemalan Government to prevent these acts of terrorism? Does
the Presidency intend to take appropriate measures to sanction the Guatemalan Government?

Reply

(16-19 December 2002)

1.
The Council views with the greatest concern all the threats and assaults made against indigenous
people, as well as against judges and members of the judicial authorities, human rights activists, journalists
leaders. The Council has repeatedly condemned these acts, which impede progress in
and political
strengthening the rule of law, and has urged the Government of Guatemala to protect those targeted and
have the incidents investigated, so that legal action can be taken to punish those responsible. With respect
to the specific case of the murder of Sr Guillermo Ovalle, the verification done by the UN Verification
Mission in Guatemala (Minugua)
the
perpetrators correspond to an act of common criminals. However, since a number of other cases, initially
believed to be the acts of common criminals, were later proven to have been motivated by political
reasons, Minugua continues to verify that all official enquiries do not exclude other hypotheses. The
Council will therefore continue to follow closely this case to ensure that it is properly investigated and
urge that those responsible are brought to justice.

the general characteristics of

the case and of

indicates that

2.
On 24 April, on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the murder of Bishop Gerardi, the Council
reiterated to the Guatemalan government its concern at the persistant intimidation, threats and aggresion
suffered by members of the human rights organisations, journalists and law officers. In May the Spanish
Presidency, accompanied by various EU Ambassadors and colleagues from donor countries participated in
a demarche to the Vice President expressing concern over human rights issues, notably the threats to those
working in this field.

The Council maintains a constructive dialogue with Guatemala based on respect for human rights
3.
and the implementation of the Peace Accords both bilaterally and in the framework of the San Jose
dialogue.

(2003/C 92 E/059)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1465/02

by Elizabeth Lynne (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 May 2002)

Subject: Planespotters’ trial in Greece

On 8 November 2002, 12 British citizens and two Dutch nationals were arrested in Greece for allegedly
taking photographs inside a military base following an air show. They were kept in prison in Kalamata
without charge or trial for a period of almost six weeks.

They were eventually released on bail and went to court on charges of espionage. Some of them were
convicted to 3 years imprisonment and others to one-year suspended sentences.

A number of irregularities however occurred during their trial.

The prosecution’s case was based on an anonymous document from the security services and was
supported in court by a middle-ranking Greek Air Force officer. He refused however to answer any
pertinent cross-examination points by the defence on the grounds that he did not know or that they were
matters of national security. Moreover all the oral and written evidence given by three experts was rejected
in favour of this anonymous document.