WRITTEN QUESTION E-2474/02 by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Council. Disaster fund for flood victims.
Date: 2002-09-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, EU financial instrument, Germany, accession to the European Union, aid to disaster victims, emergency aid, financial aid, flood, natural disaster

12.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 137 E/85

(2003/C 137 E/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2445/02

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(28 August 2002)

Subject: Condemnation of 16 members of the Falun Gong movement in Hong Kong

On 14 March 2002, 16 members of the Falun Gong movement (four Swiss nationals, one New Zealander
and 11 citizens of Hong Kong) were carrying out a peaceful hunger strike outside the Chinese Liaison
Office in Hong Kong, in support of their demand that killings of innocent people in China must stop. It is
clear from various photographs and video recordings that they were demonstrating in a peaceful fashion,
represented no threat to law and order and were not obstructing pedestrians. Despite this, the Hong Kong
police removed them by force. On 15 August 2002, the demonstrators were put on trial and charged with
obstructing the traffic and attacking the police. The trial ended with them being found guilty of
‘obstructing law and order’, as well as on six other charges, and they were sentenced to payment of a fine
of HKD 29 300 (approximately EUR 3 750).

What information does the Commission have on these events? What action has it taken, or what action
does it intend to take, to secure the annulment of the sentences handed down to these 16 members of the
Falun Gong movement? In more general terms, what action has the Commission taken, or what action
does it intend to take, to put pressure on the Hong Kong government to ensure respect for fundamental
rights, and, especially, freedom of expression, freedom of religion and belief and the freedom to meet and
demonstrate in public?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2002)

The Commission is aware of the decision of a Hong Kong court issued on 15 August 2002 against
16 Falun Gong practitioners who had demonstrated in front of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s
Republic Government in Hong Kong. They had been charged for public obstruction and other offences
during that demonstration. The Court fined each defendant between EUR 150 and EUR 500.

With respect to the Falun Gong situation in mainland China, the Union has on several occasions urged
China to review harsh sentences imposed on Falun Gong practitioners, through demarches as well as
through the structured Union/China dialogue on Human Rights.
the Commission has
requested China to ensure that safeguards of a fair trial, including adequate legal representation, are fully
respected. Concern about the violations of the human rights of the followers of Falun Fong was also
expressed in the March 2002 conclusions of the General Affairs Council on Human Rights in China. As to
Hong Kong, it is the first time that Falun Gong members have been collectively prosecuted as a result of
actions organised by the group. According to our information, the Court’s verdict is currently subject to
appeal.

In particular,

including respect for the rule of law and
In terms of the overall political situation in Hong Kong,
fundamental rights, the Commission considers that four and a half years after the hand-over of Hong Kong
to China, the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle continues to work reasonably well, and that Hong
Kong, in general, preserved its rule of law, human rights, civil liberties and free and open society. However,
since the actual implementation of these principles has indeed given rise to some debate and uncertainty,
the Commission will continue to follow the developments in Hong Kong very closely.

(2003/C 137 E/097)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2474/02

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Council

(6 September 2002)

Subject: Disaster fund for flood victims

In recent weeks, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic have all been hit by unprecedented flooding.

C 137 E/86

Official Journal of the European Union

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12.6.2003

Thousands of people have seen their homes wrecked and their livelihoods destroyed.

The damage caused by the floods runs into several billion euros.

In the face of this disaster, can the Council answer the following questions:

1.

Is the Council in favour of creating a specific EU disaster fund so that the damage caused by disasters
in the Member States can be repaired as quickly as possible?

2.

If so, what steps are being considered on the Council’s part with a view to setting up a disaster fund?

3. When are the first concrete measures for the fund’s creation likely to be taken?

Reply

(18 February 2003)

As the Honourable Memer is aware, the European Union has acted very quickly so as to be able to give a
rapid response, in particular in financial terms, to the terrible disasters caused by the flooding in Austria,
Germany and some of the candidate countries in August 2002. The Council would remind her that the
debate held by the European Parliament on the flooding on 3 September 2002, the President of the
Council informed the European Parliament of its political support for setting up such a fund.

The European Commission presented a draft
Interinstitutional Agreement between the European
Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the financing of the European Union Solidarity Fund on
11 September 2002, and a proposal for a Council Regulation establishing the European Union Solidarity
Fund on 18 September 2002.

The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission held a trialogue meeting concerning the
Interinstitutional Agreement
in Strasbourg on 23 September 2002. All parties showed considerable
flexibility in the light of the urgency of the matter and committed themselves to reaching agreement on
the full mechanism as soon as possible in order to allow effective assistance to be given to the populations
affected by the flooding as quickly as possible in 2002.

On 16 October 2002 a joint guideline concerning the abovementioned Regulation was agreed by the
Council’s preparatory bodies.

Lastly, the Council would point out that the question of the financing of the European Union Solidarity
Fund was resolved under an Interinstitutional Agreement of 7 November 2002 between the European
the Council and the Commission (1). The Fund was established by Council Regulation
Parliament,
(EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 (2).

(1) OJ C 283, 20.11.2002, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3.

(2003/C 137 E/098)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2491/02

by Pere Esteve (ELDR) to the Commission

(2 September 2002)

Subject: Planning agreement involving Real Madrid football club and the free competitive market

On 7 May 2001, the President of the Madrid autonomous region, the Mayor of Madrid and the President
of Real Madrid football club signed an agreement on the development of a site located in the district of
Fuencarral-El Pardo and bounded by the streets Paseo de la Castellana, Avenida de Monforte de Lemos,
Calle de Pedro Rico and Calle del Arzobispo Morcillo. Under this agreement, the administrations concerned
undertake to take all necessary action with a view to changing the classification for planning purposes of
the (approximately) 120 ha on which the existing Real Madrid sports complex is located. This means that
30 000 m2 of land hitherto classified as being for ‘private sporting use’ will be reclassified as being for all-
purpose ‘tertiary’ use (offices, commercial establishments, hotels, etc). It is planned to build, on this
reclassified site, four 54-storey towers, whose sale and/or exploitation would bring in considerable extra
income for Real Madrid. This would allow the club to pay off its considerable debt and provide it with a