WRITTEN QUESTION E-3110/02 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Crimes committed by the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon.
Date: 2002-10-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Israel, Middle East, Palestine question, crime against individuals, the EU's international role

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/91

Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 allows the Member States substantial scope as regards modulation of the
rates of contribution of the Funds. Determination of the real rate of aid may vary depending, for example,
on the multiplier effect required for a project to be carried out. The Commission would stress that an
increase in the rate of Community part-financing would, for a given level of finance, reduce the number of
projects which could receive Community aid. Such a measure would not solve the difficulties experienced
in implementing the Structural Funds, which do not lie in the rates of part-finance applied but rather in
the capacity of the Member States to implement the programmes in the time allowed by the rules. That is
why, at the meeting on 7 October referred to above, the Commission made specific proposals designed to
simplify, clarify, coordinate and make more flexible the management of the Structural Funds, all of which
represent ways of improving their implementation.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2003/C 155 E/102)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3104/02

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(29 October 2002)

Subject: Ban on Batasuna

In early September the Basque political party Batasuna was outlawed. Many Basques,
irrespective of
whether or not they support Batasuna, see this as a political and strategic move to suppress the aspirations
of many democratic and peaceful Basques. Human rights are being restricted in an unacceptable way. So
far no evidence has been produced that would justify a ban.

Does the Council share the view that the only way of finding a solution is through democratic political
negotiations? If so, who does the Council see as the negotiating partner on the Basque side in this road to
a peaceful settlement? If not, does the Council support the chosen path of confrontation, conflict and
violence?

Reply

(3 March 2003)

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that, although, under Article 33 of the TEU, the
maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal security remain an area for which Member
States alone are responsible, combating terrorism is in the Union’s common interest. The Council would
draw attention here to the anti-terrorist legislation adopted by the Union.

The Council would point out that, under Article 6(1) of the TEU, the Union is founded on the principles of
liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, principles
which are common to the Member States.

(2003/C 155 E/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3110/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(29 October 2002)

Subject: Crimes committed by the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon

During the last few days the Israeli Army has killed dozens of people, including children, in the Occupied
Territories on the orders of the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon. When will the Council unequivocally
politically condemn the Israeli
leader for these crimes against humanity and impose the necessary
sanctions?

C 155 E/92

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.7.2003

Reply

(3 March 2003)

The European Union is indeed gravely concerned about the continued clashes between Israelis and
Palestinians and deeply saddened at the almost daily loss of lives among the civilian population. The EU
will continue to ask both parties to show maximum restraint and to do their utmost to bring an
immediate end to violence and terror, and will not refrain from repeating this, also to the Israeli side.

At the same time, it has to be stressed that it is up to the parties themselves to seek peace through a
process of negotiations. For its part, the European Union remains ready (cid:1) in close co-operation with the
Quartet and all parties concerned (cid:1) to continue to assist in the efforts at finding a final and just settlement
to the Middle East conflict.

(2003/C 155 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3112/02

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 October 2002)

Subject: Legality or otherwise of intercepting vessels on the high seas

An increasing number of people are being illegally trafficked into the European Union by sea, with many
arriving in Greece and Italy from the Balkans and others into Spain having departed from North Africa.
The authorities are able to arrest some of the illegal
immigrants and traffickers, but are insufficiently
resourced to deal with the problem effectively. Many of those who arrive subsequently make their way to
other Member States.

Some months ago there were suggestions by Tony Blair, amongst others, that Member States most
vulnerable to such activity should be assisted by the navies of other Member States.

The United States has for many years intercepted on the high seas vessels bound for the US from Haiti and
returned those on board to Haitian territory. Can the Commission indicate whether it believes that it
would be legal for European Union Member States to intercept on the high seas vessels which were
believed to be involved in people-trafficking, even if there were no suggestion of piracy (long recognised in
customary international law as a crime over which there is universal jurisdiction), and would the legality of
such an interception be affected by whether or not the vessel was properly registered under a flag, whether
it was believed to be carrying contraband, including psychotropic substances, or believed in any way to
pose a threat to the intercepting state or its citizens?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2002)

Illegal immigration by sea gets serious and continuous attention within the Commission. The Council
presented a comprehensive plan to combat illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings in the
Union on 28 February 2002 and a comprehensive plan for the integrated management of the external
borders of the Member States on 13 June 2002, which are based on the Commission’s Communications
on the respective subjects. The proper implementation of measures on this matter as identified in these
plans is of major importance to this problem. Consequently, the Commission welcomes the recently
planned joint operations and activities of the Member States in the Mediterranean region.

Within the framework of the comprehensive plan to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking in
the Union and stating the need for the adoption of appropriate legislative and/or operational initiatives at
European level aimed at improving sea border controls, the Council invited the Commission to conduct a
feasibility study to see how these controls could be improved. The feasibility study is ongoing and the
conclusions will be available at the end of the first semester of 2003.