WRITTEN QUESTION E-2620/02 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. The precedent set by recent decisions by Spain for the functioning of parliamentary democracy in the European Union.
Date: 2002-09-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European election, Spain, civil rights, democracy, election, political participation, political tendency

10.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 161 E/29

The Commission is not aware of a widespread discussion on the future of the national sides of the euro
coins. The citizens of Europe became familiar with the euro coins very quickly and the different national
sides did not appear to be a source of confusion, but rather a source of interest. The new European
currency is a great success and at the current stage there is no need to discuss possible future changes, as
this could indeed contribute to confusion among the public.

At the present stage, it is hard to predict the pace at which national sides will be added, as this will not
result from the accession process as such (2004), but rather from the subsequent entry of these countries
into the euro area.

(2003/C 161 E/030)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2619/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 September 2002)

Subject: The right of all political movements to organise and participate in parliamentary elections and the

resultant rights

1.
Does the Commission agree that it is part of the essence of parliamentary democracy within the EU
that every political movement, no matter how controversial others may consider its aims to be, has the
right to solicit support for its views, to participate in parliamentary elections at the various levels of
administration, to express its opinions on that basis in parliamentary debate and if possible to contribute
to the taking of majority decisions and the formation of majority coalitions?

Does the Commission furthermore agree that, on the basis of this principle, it is quite possible, when
2.
courts sentence criminal or violent individuals, to temporarily strip them of their right to stand for
election, and for courts to prohibit organisations if they are proved to have carried out acts of violence,
but that it is never possible to deny the right of organisation or the right to participate in elections at local,
regional, national and European level to adherents of a political point of view which a majority regard as
undesirable?

3.
Does the Commission agree that a situation must be avoided which could encourage the belief
among adherents of any political movement that they have no hope whatsoever of achieving their aims by
peaceful parliamentary means, and that on the contrary it is desirable that those who, deplorably, have
hitherto pursued their objectives by using violence should be better integrated into parliamentary
democracy, particularly in order to ensure that no one applauds terrorism?

4.
Judicial and parliamentary organs of the Spanish State have recently taken a decision which is not
confined to combating an organisation that uses violence but which prevents adherents of a particular
political viewpoint, irrespective of the name or legal personality assigned to it, from continuing to organise
as a party and to participate in elections. Does the Commission consider this decision compatible with the
democratic principles referred to in questions 1 and 2 above?

(2003/C 161 E/031)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2620/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 September 2002)

Subject: The precedent set by recent decisions by Spain for the functioning of parliamentary democracy in

the European Union

1. What precedent has Spain’s decision about the right to exist of Herri Batasuna (and hence Euskadiko
Herritarrok) set for the functioning of parliamentary democracy at all levels in the present and future
Member States of the EU? Will it now be easier for parliamentary majorities and governments to exclude
from participation minorities whom they detest?

2.
Does the Commission expect that political movements which have many supporters will be made to
disappear by declaring them illegal, or will the main effect of this effort to eradicate them ultimately be to
render parliamentary democracy incomplete and impair its credibility?

C 161 E/30

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

10.7.2003

In the Commission’s opinion, can parliamentary democracy still function properly in the Basque
3.
country (Euskadi, País Vasco) and Navarre regions if in May 2003 a party which at present holds a
majority of the seats on some municipal councils is excluded from participating in the elections and if in
June 2004 it does not have the opportunity to put forward candidates for election in order to remain
represented in the European Parliament?

4. Will the next European Parliamentary elections be legally valid if parties with genuine support among
the electorate are excluded by Member States from participating in them?

5. What can the Commission do to contribute to the complete preservation of the parliamentary
democracy which exists in Spain, including in the regions of Euskadi and Navarre, and to help guarantee
the right to participate of left-wing Basque nationalists in the next elections to the European Parliament?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2619/02
and E-2620/02 given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2002)

The Commission would point out that the issues raised by the Honourable Member relating to political
movements in general and participation in general elections in a specific Member State are matters for the
Member States.

On the other hand, regarding the elections to the Parliament, both the existing Act of 1976 (1) and the
proposed Decision amending the Act (2) provide that the electoral procedure in the elections to the
Parliament shall be governed in each Member State by its national provisions. This concerns also rules and
conditions for political parties to put candidates and to participate in the elections.

It is therefore not for the Commission to answer the specific questions put by the Honourable Member.

(1) Act concerning the election of representatives of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, annexed to

Council Decision 76/787/ECSC, EEC, Euratom of 20 September 1976, OJ L 278, 8.10.1976.

(2) Draft Council decision (8964/2002) amending the Act concerning the election of representatives of the Parliament
by direct universal suffrage, annexed to Council Decision 76/787/ECSC, EEC, Euratom of 20 September 1976.

(2003/C 161 E/032)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2628/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(18 September 2002)

Subject: Soaring prices of goods in Greece

Since the introduction of the euro in Greece and other Member States, there has been a steep and
consistent rise in the prices of all basic goods and public and private services, which has led workers and
the public at large to protest against their diminishing incomes by boycotting the market.

In his reply to my previous question (E-2639/01 (1)), the Commissioner responsible, Mr Solbes Mira, said
that, in the short term, the introduction of the euro will have ‘only a marginal effect on inflation’ while
‘in the medium term it will help make for better control of prices’.

1. Has the Commission investigated the causes of the major price rises seen in Greece? Has there been a

similar level of speculative price increases in the other Member States?

2. Has it checked whether these price rises are reflected in the consumer price index announced by the

Member States?