WRITTEN QUESTION E-3416/02 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Religious freedom.
Date: 2002-12-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Hungary, State aid, equal treatment, financial aid, freedom of religious beliefs, religious institution, statistical method, tax on income

C 65 E/8

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

Regarding the Community submission to the WTO on market access for non-agricultural products, there
seems to be some misunderstanding as to its content. In fact, the initiative is aimed at meaningful
liberalisation through elimination of tariff peaks and high tariffs as well as reduction of tariff escalation in
all sectors and by all countries, but does not put forward any specific percentage for tariff reduction
As regards the specific case of textiles, the Community proposal aims at full reciprocity as tariffs for
textiles and clothing should be brought within a same narrow common range by all WTO Members. For
the Union such move does also require that non-tariff barriers are substantially reduced by all Members in
order not to frustrate the increase in market access gained through tariff reduction. By removing peaks and
high tariffs, the proposal is intended to achieve improved effective access on markets of interest to the
Union industry, and to stimulate South-South trade through greater access to developing countries
markets, whose increasing importance for developing countries’ exporters cannot be underestimated.

the final elimination of quotas in 2005 as foreseen in the ATC,

Since the Commission is not envisaging any de facto anticipation of the elimination of the Agreement on
Textiles and Clothing (ATC) quotas, the question of assessment of its impact is not relevant. As regards the
impact of
the Commission has
commissioned a study, not yet completed, as to the possible impact of the elimination of quotas in 2005.
Moreover,
interested parties
(of which importers, exporters, industry, trade unions, consumers, government representatives) to assess
the consequences of such elimination and the future of the textile and clothing industry globally.

in May 2003, the Commission is organising a major conference with all

Since the Commission is not envisaging anticipating any wholesale elimination of quotas before they are
due to expire in 2005, there should be no question of providing any compensation in favour of Union
industry, all the more since the agreements such as the one with Brazil are based on a balance of market
access between the two parties.

Finally, the Commission would like to remind the Honourable Member that the ATC constitutes a delicate
outcome of multilateral trade negotiations putting an end to a policy of more than thirty years of trade
protection, during which period the industry hopefully had the opportunity to benefit and to restructure in
order to prepare for the liberalisation at hand. At this juncture, it is not conceivable to go back on this
important achievement of the Uruguay Round. In the specific case of Portugal (cid:1) as the question has been
raised (cid:1) it is essential to recall that, an exceptional measure via a ECU 400 million grant of financial
assistance to Portugal for a specific programme for the modernization of the Portuguese textile and
in 1995 (1). This
clothing industry for the period 1995 to 1999, has been taken by the Council
Community assistance was meant
to the new
requirements of the international situation and increasing international competition following the ATC.
The Commission trusts that such initiative has borne its fruits.

to enable the Portuguese textile industry to adapt

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 852/95 of 10 April 1995 on the grant of financial assistance to Portugal for a specific

programme for the modernisation of the Portuguese textile and clothing industry, OJ L 86, 20.4.1995.

(2004/C 65 E/008)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3416/02

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 December 2002)

Subject: Religious freedom

Act 1990/IV entitled ‘Religious Institutions and Freedom of Conscience and Religion’ is a cornerstone in
the 1989 regime change in Hungary. Based upon the Declaration of Human and Civil Rights, and the
separation of Church and State as guaranteed by the Hungarian constitution, law 1990/IV emphasises the
equality of all Hungarians, regardless of their world-views. It sets forth equal rights and equal obligations
for all religious organisations and directs that
funds to religious
institutions must be objective.

the disbursement of government

13.3.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 65 E/9

Last year, the previous Hungarian Government introduced law 2001/LXXIV (PA 153). The law proposed a
new way to disburse funds to religious organisations (cid:1) one that replaced the annual voluntary declaration
by taxpayers, with ambiguous statistics derived from a recent and controversial census.

This law is allegedly unconstitutional,
contravenes the spirit of Act 1990/IV.

it discriminates against 98 % of religious organisations and it

Does the Commission believe Act 1990/IV reflects the EU’s concern for human rights and religious

1.
freedom?

Does the Commission consider law 2001/LXXIV (PA 153) to be in conformity with the EU’s concern

2.
for human rights and religious freedom?

3. Would the Commission urge the Hungarian Government to repeal law 2001/LXXIV (PA 153) before
it takes effect on 1 January 2003? Would the Commission encourage the Hungarian Government to
remain faithful to the ideals of Act 1990/IV, which could serve as model legislation for other Member
States?

(2004/C 65 E/009)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3459/02

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 December 2002)

Subject: Religious freedom in Hungary

Hungary, on the threshold of admission into the EU, still maintains a 15-year old tradition of religious
apartheid and violation of human rights.

The previous Hungarian Government introduced law LXXIV, 2001 (PA 153). This law radically alters how
taxpayers’ support for religious institutions is determined. It replaces the explicit annual declaration of
taxpayers by ambiguous statistics derived from a recent census relating to citizens’ natal faith.

This law is inequitable and unconstitutional, designed to favour a few well-established religions at the
expense of other faiths.

In view of the European Union’s principles of respect and tolerance, will the Commission urge the
Hungarian Government to repeal this law as a condition of accession?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3416/02 and E-3459/02
given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2003)

The freedom of religion and the separation of State and church are guaranteed in the Hungarian
Constitution (1). Today, there are altogether 104 officially recognised religions in Hungary.

The 1997 Law on the financial conditions of the religious and public activities of the churches regulates
the State financial support to churches. Under this law, the Hungarian State allocates at least 0,8 % of the
income tax revenues to churches. Taxpayers may indicate in their income declaration the church of their
choice as a recipient of 1 % of their income tax. If necessary, the State makes available supplementary
resources to reach the target of at least 0,8 % of the income tax revenues, using as key of repartition
between the beneficiary churches, the relative percentages arising from the taxpayers declarations.

In addition to State subsidies, churches may, from 1 January 2001, benefit from tax deductible gifts from
natural and legal persons under strict conditions set out in a law passed in 2000 (2). The list of the
churches meeting these conditions is published every year in the Hungarian Official Journal.