WRITTEN QUESTION P-1940/02 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Satellite agency in Rome.
Date: 2002-06-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU office or agency, Italy, project management, research programme, satellite navigation, seat of institution

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/249

transmitted by the members of the network. Therefore the Commission continuously reminds the Member
States that the good functioning of the system depends on the timely transmission of information as
detailed and complete as possible.

Growing interest from third countries demonstrates the positive perception of the Rapid Alert System for
Food and Feed by food control authorities world-wide.

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that confidence in the rules and procedures relating
to food safety and communication are essential. In the particular case of the contamination by nitrofen, the
Commission has constantly reacted to all media enquiries,
issued a specific press release and posted
information on the web-site of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection.

(2002/C 301 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1940/02

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(26 June 2002)

Subject: Satellite agency in Rome

For several months now the Italian media (cid:1) particularly the Rome newspapers (cid:1) have been talking about
the possible siting in Rome of a European Multimodal Satellite Navigation Agency, coming under the
Galileo programme. The mayor of Rome has also stated on several occasions that Rome might manage to
be chosen as host city for the agency, which would lead to the creation of approximately one hundred and
twenty thousand jobs. The mayor recently said that the decision on the matter should have been taken at
the Seville summit, but had been postponed until early July.

However, Council Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 (1) of 21 May 2002 paints a different picture. Under the
provisions of the regulation, over the next four years the programme is to be managed by a joint
undertaking based in Brussels and made up of representatives of the fifteen Member States and of private
following which, starting in 2007, during the deployment stage, the satellites will be
undertakings,
launched through the European Space Agency, with their management subsequently being entrusted to
consortia of private companies coming under the control of the European Union.

Given the above, would the Commission state:

(cid:1) whether the Galileo programme provides for the setting up of a European Multimodal Satellite

Navigation Agency, and if so, what resources are to be allocated to the agency;

(cid:1) whether the agency might be based in Rome and whether it is likely to lead to the creation of

approximately one hundred and twenty thousand jobs;

(cid:1) what future developments are provided for in the Galileo programme?

(1) OJ L 138, 28.5.2002, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2002)

The fourth paragraph of Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 of 21 May 2002 setting up the
Galileo Joint Undertaking states that its seat shall be located in Brussels.

The purpose of the Joint Undertaking, set up for a period of four years (from 2002 to 2005), is to manage
only the development phase of the programme.

C 301 E/250

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

Management of the subsequent phases (deployment and operational phases) will be entrusted to a private
entity (concession) following a call for tenders to be issued by the Joint Undertaking.

No decision has been taken as to the possible setting-up of a European multimodal satellite navigation
agency. Consequently, its location, resources and the number of people which it would employ are of
course unknown.

(2002/C 301 E/265)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1947/02

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Repression of trade union movements

(3 July 2002)

A recent report by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) notes a disturbing
increase in the repression of trade union movements worldwide and the growing tendency towards
persecution of trade unionists, refusal to recognise trade unions or negotiate with them, dismissals,
imprisonment and even the physical elimination of trade unionists. According to the report, trade union
rights are being curtailed in a number of applicant countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland,
Romania) as well as in Member States (Spain, the UK, Germany).

Given that the Copenhagen criteria stipulate that respect for fundamental rights is an essential condition
for the applicant countries and that the Charter of Fundamental Rights (cid:1) in particular Article 12 thereof (cid:1)
states that ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association at all
in particular in political, trade union and civic matters’, will the Commission say whether the
levels,
applicant countries fulfil the above criteria and whether and to what extent
trade union action is
persecuted in those countries? What is the situation in the Member States in the light of the report’s
indication that some of them have a poor record in this respect?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(19 August 2002)

The Union is made up of states which, as stipulated in Article 6(1) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU),
are founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,
and the rule of law.

In accordance with Article 6(2) TEU, the Union shall respect fundamental rights as guaranteed by the
European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and as they result
from the constitutional traditions common to the Member States, as general principles of Community law.
These fundamental rights include the right of association. In addition, Article 12 of the EU’s Charter of
Fundamental Rights guarantees the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association at all
levels, in particular in political, trade union and civic matters.

As Community law now stands, it is up to national courts to punish violations of fundamental rights, for
example union rights. According to established case law, the Court of Justice is responsible for ensuring
that fundamental rights are observed by the Community’s legislative and executive powers and by the
Member States only where they fall within the scope of Community law.

As part of the enlargement process, regular reports provide updates on the situation in the candidate
countries in terms of compliance with the Copenhagen criteria and, in particular, fundamental rights.