WRITTEN QUESTION P-3497/02 by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission. Human rights violations in Iran.
Date: 2002-12-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Iran, United States, cooperation policy, economic sanctions, human rights, religious discrimination, the EU's international role

13.3.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

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On the other hand, the Commission fully shares the security concerns that have motivated the United
States initiative and recognises the importance of taking concrete steps to ensure, as quickly as possible,
a common level of security control on both sides of the Atlantic. This can best be done through a formal
Community/United States agreement offering mutually agreed standards for controls of all cargo exports
and ensuring strengthened customs co-operation in respect of transport security. It has been suggested to
American Customs to expand Container Security Initiative (CSI) as quickly as possible to all Community
ports which meet mutually agreed minimum standards of interest, as a pilot phase, together with those
ports covered so far by bilateral declarations between American Customs and Member States. These pilot
ports shall
then serve as experiments to allow the establishment of a longer-term comprehensive
Community/United States co-operation framework on security.

The Commission has pursued this objective with the United States’ authorities in various meetings between
the Commission and American Customs officials. Both sides recognise the importance of co-operation to
ensure both better security and facilitation of legitimate trade. In the discussion a number of major
principles for future co-operation were stressed, most particularly reciprocity, common standards for the
selection and performance of controls to increase security and at the same time facilitation for legitimate
trade.

It is hoped that these discussions will, in the near future, lead to a commonly agreed response to these
security concerns.

(2004/C 65 E/013)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3497/02

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(2 December 2002)

Subject: Human rights violations in Iran

There is at present worldwide concern at the increasing violations of human rights in Iran, in particular
cases of torture and cruelty and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,
including stoning,
amputation and public executions. There is also evidence of increasing discrimination against religious
minorities, in particular the ongoing persecution of the Bahai community. The undertaking of ‘constructive
dialogue’ with Iran could be complemented by a transparent and independent tool for monitoring and
evaluating the human rights situation in the form of a ‘Special Rapporteur’ to objectively evaluate progress.

What specific steps are being taken to ensure Iran’s progress in moving towards a more tolerant and
peaceful society with a more open debate on human rights, and what plans are envisaged to effectively
measure such advance?

The EU has recently revived relations with Iran despite the US line undermining EU policy.
is
commented that troops deployed by the US in the Persian Gulf and the use of economic sanctions puts
Iran under perceived immediate threat and that under such circumstances it is not difficult for the radicals
to find an audience. It could prove very difficult for the EU to reach out to reformers in Iran if the US is
isolating and characterising Iran as being part of an ‘axis of evil’.

It

What pressure is the EU putting on the US to reconsider its positions on a policy of isolation and
sanctions towards Iran and engage in a more ‘constructive dialogue’ with Iran as is the current policy of
the EU?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2002)

In relation to Iran the Union conducts a policy of engagement through semestrial Comprehensive Dialogue
Meetings, bilateral
through demarches, and via the United Nations (UN).
On 21 October 2002, the General Affairs and External Relations Council endorsed the strategy to start a
Human Rights dialogue with Iran on the basis of the recommendations of the exploratory Troika mission

talks at Ministerial

level,

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13.3.2004

dispatched to Tehran 30 September-1 October 2002. The Iranian government has demonstrated a political
will
to enter into a Human Rights dialogue, which would be regularly assessed with the help of
benchmarks. In this context, it can be noted that Iran has signalled its readiness to receive UN thematic
rapporteurs.

The opening of negotiations with Iran on a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) linked to instruments
on political dialogue and counter-terrorism, will (cid:1) inter alia (cid:1) be linked to parallel progress in the human
rights field. This is the approach of the political package defined at the European Council
in Sevilla
(21/22 June 2002) and formally adopted on 12 July 2002 (an ‘indissociable whole’ composed of the TCA
and the separate but inter-related instruments on political dialogue and counter-terrorism).

Naturally, the Commission remains concerned about the Human Rights situation in Iran. The repressive
measures against democratic institutions, civil society and the media, are disturbing. The lack of rule of
law, arbitrary arrests and discrimination against minorities, are cause for concern. Recourse to cruel,
inhuman, and degrading punishments is unacceptable.

The Union, including the Commission, continues to act through the instruments at its disposal, within the
framework of the Comprehensive Dialogue and its global Iran policy. The Union regularly discusses its Iran
policy with the United States,
in
particular those under the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act.

including its disagreement of the American sanctions towards Iran,

(2004/C 65 E/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3502/02

by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission

(10 December 2002)

Subject: Bear bile farming in China

Would the Commission inform me as to what influence and assistance the Commission is offering the
Chinese Government in order to stop the cruel practice of farming bears for their bile?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2003)

China has traditionally used bear bile for medical purposes. Since the 1980’s commercial ‘bear farming’ has
been used to obtain bile for traditional Chinese medicines.

The Commission is aware that this practice arose because of increasing conservation concerns about the
killing of wild bears for this purpose. Nevertheless, the Commission also shares the Honourable Member’s
concern over the possible implications of such a practice for animal welfare. The Union has one of the
highest animal welfare standards in the world and public awareness regarding animal welfare is high.
Furthermore, a comprehensive set of legislation has been adopted that covers a wide range of issues
relating to animal well being.

The Commission’s policies promote the improved protection and respect for the welfare of animals as
sentient beings, both internally and internationally, since it is of the opinion that high animal welfare
standards must be ensured globally.

The Community will continue to actively pursue substantive negotiations on animal welfare and is
co-operating at the international level in order to improve animal welfare policies world-wide. To do so, it
seeks to develop high multilateral standards within the framework of specific international conventions,
mainly within the framework of the Council of Europe and the World Organisation for Animal Health.