WRITTEN QUESTION E-2388/02 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Desecration of Jewish graves at the Rome Verano cemetery.
Date: 2002-08-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, Italy, Jew, antisemitism, approximation of laws, cemetery, competence of the Member States, human rights, public awareness campaign, xenophobia

17.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 92 E/163

Reply

(19 December 2002)

1.

As concerns the protection of telecommunication traffic data, the Council recalls the:

(cid:1) Council Resolution of 17 January 1995 on the lawful interception of telecommunications (1),

(cid:1) Convention of 29 May 2000 on mutual assistance in criminal matters between the Member States of

the European Union (2) and the Protocol of 16 October 2001 to this Convention (3), and

(cid:1) European Parliament and Council directive 2002/58/EC of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of

personal data and the protection of privacy in the telecommunications sector (4).

If

2.
Commission or a Member State.

further provisions are necessary,

the Council will examine any initiative coming from the

(1) OJ C 329, 4.11.1996, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 197, 12.7.2000, p. 1.
(3) OJ C 326, 21.11.2001, p. 2.
(4) OJ L 201, 31.7.2002, p. 37.

(2003/C 92 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2388/02

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 August 2002)

Subject: Desecration of Jewish graves at the Rome Verano cemetery

On 18 July 2002, a date corresponding to the Fast of Ab 9, a day of mourning in the Jewish calendar,
more than forty Jewish graves were desecrated at the Verano cemetery in Rome. The entire city was
appalled at this despicable act, the first anti-Semitic attack of such alarming seriousness to have occurred in
Rome in many years.

What action will the Commission take in the wake of the barbaric desecration of the Verano cemetery?

How will it prevent and respond to the long series of anti-Semitic outrages of the kind perpetrated, before
the Rome incident, in Strasbourg, Marseilles, and Brussels?

How will it combat the crazed subculture which, by fomenting hatred of the Jews while demonising the
state of Israel, leads to shameful episodes of the sort that occurred in Rome?

Is in a position to ascertain whether anti-Semitic organisations are pursuing a calculated strategy and
perhaps cooperating on an international basis?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2002)

The Commission resolutely condemns all forms of racist, xenophobic or anti-Semitic violence, which
constitute an intolerable violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms on which the Union is
founded and which are shared by all Member States. It reiterates its commitment to combating racist,
xenophobic and anti-Semitic phenomena by all the means for which the Treaty makes provision.

In this connection, the Commission would point out that it is not empowered to administer justice in the
Member States and that it is the responsibility of the Member States’ judicial authorities to take criminal
justice measures with respect to the events referred to by the Honourable Member, should they see fit to
do so.

C 92 E/164

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

In its conclusions of 25 and 26 April 2002 on combating racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia, the
Council reiterated, in particular, that there is a need to approximate national law on combating racism and
xenophobia, while at the same time guaranteeing respect for the constitutional rules and principles relating
to human rights and fundamental freedoms, and stressed the importance of the proposal for a Framework
Decision on combating racism and xenophobia which the Commission presented in November 2001 (1)
and which is currently under discussion within the Council.

Moreover, the Commission has already taken significant action to combat racism and xenophobia and to
increase public awareness of these issues in areas including employment, immigration and asylum policy,
support for refugees, education, research and external relations.

Finally, the European Monitoring Centre for Racism en Xenophobia also has an important role to play in
consciousness-raising and disseminating best practice from the Member States.

(1) COM(2001) 664 final, OJ C 75 E, 26.3.2002.

(2003/C 92 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2391/02

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: European funding for Belgium and the city of Antwerp

(2 August 2002)

The Commission subsidises through its various funds many laudable projects in the EU Member States.
Can it state how many EU subsidies Belgium receives and what the exact amounts of subsidy are for the
cities of Ghent and Antwerp?

Can the Commission state the precise amount of subsidies paid in 1999, 2000 and 2001 to Belgium?

Can the Commission state the precise amount of subsidies paid in 1999, 2000 and 2001 to projects in the
city of Antwerp?

Can the Commission state the precise amount of subsidies paid in 1999, 2000 and 2001 to projects in the
city of Ghent?

What type of subsidies have been granted in Antwerp?

What type of subsidies have been granted in Ghent?

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(28 November 2002)

In view of the length of its answer, the Commission is sending it direct to the Honourable Member and to
Parliament’s Secretariat.

(2003/C 92 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2399/02

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission

(5 August 2002)

Subject: Legislation banning the sale of air weapons to young people under 18

In the interests of public health and safety will the Commission consider bringing forward legislation
banning the placing on the market of air guns and air pistols for sale to young persons under the age of
18 years? If not, why not?