WRITTEN QUESTION P-2502/02 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. International Criminal Court.
Date: 2002-09-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EEC Treaty, International Criminal Court, Romania, United States, accession criteria, accession to the European Union, bilateral agreement

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/65

Likewise, there are no grounds for determining the existence of a serious and persistent breach within the
meaning of Article 7 on the Treaty of the European Union.

The Commission accordingly feels that it has no power to take the measures referred to by the Honourable
Member.

If, however, the situation in question constituted a violation of a right or a freedom, the matter should be
brought before the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, after all other means of redress have been
exhausted.

(2003/C 192 E/063)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2502/02

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(2 September 2002)

Subject: International Criminal Court

Following the USA’s refusal on 1 July to ratify the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC),
it has signed a bilateral agreement with Romania concerning exemption for Americans from the ICC.
Given that Romania is applying for membership of the EU, and in view of the USA’s clear intention to
sign bilateral agreements of the same nature with other applicant countries, could the Commission say
whether it intends, in addition to expressing its displeasure, to take additional measures with regard both
to the USA and the various pre-accession countries in order to prevent the institution of the International
Criminal Court being undermined from the very outset?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 November 2002)

It is correct that since last summer, the United States has approached a number of countries, including
Member States and candidate countries, with a view to negotiating bilateral agreements on non-surrender
of nationals of the other party to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Commission attaches great importance to preserving the full integrity of the Rome Statute and has
taken part in the discussions aiming at a common European Union line on this issue. A common line was
adopted by the Council on 30 September 2002 by way of conclusions and guiding principles which
provide a common basis for Member States to respond constructively to the US without undermining the
integrity of the Rome Statute or the good functioning of the ICC. The Commission concluded in its 2002
Regular Report on Romania (1) that the bilateral Agreement with the US to which the Honourable Member
refers does not comply with these guiding principles.

Since then, the EU has sought to ensure the coherence of policies on the ICC taken by the Member States
and by candidate countries. In particular, the Presidency has been active in informing candidates and
associated countries about the Council conclusions and guiding Principles.

(1) COM(2002) 700 final.

(2003/C 192 E/064)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2551/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 September 2002)

Subject: Growing problems arising from inequality of opportunity on the market for owner-occupied
properties in the border areas around the Netherlands due to differences in housing costs

1.
Is the Commission aware that, within a short period of time, nearly all the plots in the new Pieper-
Werning 1 housing estate in Bad Bentheim (Lower Saxony, Germany) have been sold to purchasers from
the area around the towns of Enschede and Hengelo in the nearby Netherlands, rapidly increasing the