WRITTEN QUESTION P-3614/02 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Imports of raw materials from Morocco and the European leather industry.
Date: 2002-12-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Morocco, association agreement (EU), export restriction, leather industry, quantitative restriction, trade dispute

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/15

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2003)

The Commission shares the concern over the recently adopted Belarusian Law on Freedom of Conscience
and Religious Organisations. The effects of this law amount to a serious violation of religious freedom.
The Union expressed its concern before the law was signed by President Lukashenko, by means of a joint
demarche of Union Heads of Mission to the Belarusian authorities (Deputy Foreign Minister Sychov) in
October 2002. The Union also issued a statement in the Permanent Council of the Organisation for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on 10 October 2002 urging President Lukashenko not to sign
the draft law.

It was a matter of deep regret to the Union that the draft was signed into law on 31 October 2002, and a
further statement was issued by the Union in the Permanent Council of the OSCE on 14 November 2002
urging the Belarusian authorities to reconsider this legislation, and inviting the OSCE Advisory and
Monitoring Group (AMG), currently located in Vienna, to monitor the implementation of the law closely
and to report to the Permanent Council. The Union is ready to raise specific cases of violations in Belarus
of OSCE commitments to freedom of conscience and religious belief.

lack of progress in democratic reform and the
The Union remains seriously concerned at the general
growing deterioration of individual freedoms and rights of expression in Belarus; and in the light of the
effective closure of the OSCE’s AMG in Minsk at the end of 14 October 2002, Member States have
decided, at the November General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), to refuse to issue visas
for President Lukashenko, the Head of the Presidential Administration, the Prime Minister and four
government ministers as well as the Chairman of the Committee of State Security.

The Union maintains that links with and assistance for actors in civil society in Belarus should continue
and EUR 5 million is allocated under the 2002-2003 TACIS Action Programme for this purpose.
In addition, in the context of Union-OSCE co-operation, we will soon begin on a two-year programme to
support democratic forces and civil society. The Commission will keep the effectiveness of its projects
under review, but, in view of this ongoing financial assistance, the Commission does not believe that it
would be a prudent response to the new law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations to
close the TACIS office in Minsk.

(2004/C 70 E/015)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3614/02

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 December 2002)

Subject: Imports of raw materials from Morocco and the European leather industry

In view of the fact that the European leather industry is having great difficulty in importing hides from
Morocco, what action is the Commission taking (or is it intending to take) under the EU-Morocco
Association Agreement in order to remedy this state of affairs, which is seriously affecting the industry and
undermining the competitiveness of the businesses working within it?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2003)

The Commission is fully aware of the impact of export restrictions applied by Morocco on raw material
available to the Union industry. The Commission has attracted the attention of the Moroccan authorities to
this fact and to the provisions of the Association Agreement between Morocco and the Community.
According to this agreement, there should be no quantitative restriction in trade (export and import)
between both parties.

Moreover, the Moroccan authorities have mentioned that export restrictions were instaured following a
huge increase in their export of raw hides as a consequence of the major epidemics in the cattle
worldwide. They also mentioned that this surge in demand led to a critical shortage of raw material for
their domestic industry.

C 70 E/16

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

Representations have been made to Morocco in this regard but so far without any significant change
or elimination of the export restrictive measures. The Commission will look into the market and supply
situation of the products in question with European industry to verify to what extent the Moroccan
allegations of short supply can be corroborated on the basis of a factual analysis. Obviously, the burden of
proof to demonstrate that a shortage of supply exists is incumbent on the Moroccan side. The question
will then be raised during the next Association Council due to take place by the end of February 2003,
where the Commission will consider the possibility of
the Association
Agreement with Morocco to seek redress of the situation.

invoking the provisions of

(2004/C 70 E/016)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3646/02

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 December 2002)

Subject: Detention of Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva

As the Commission is aware, Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva, the chairman of the Cuban Human Rights
Foundation and the Brotherhood of the Independent Blind People of Cuba, has been detained in prison in
Holguín, Cuba, since March 2002 (see written question E-1458/02 (1)).

Is the Commission also aware that he is being assaulted and beaten, and is in danger of dying of
malnutrition?

Will the Commission take action and bring pressure to bear on the authorities there in order to secure an
end to the violent treatment meted out to human rights activists in Cuba?

(1) OJ C 28 E, 6.2.2003, p. 109.

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2003)

The Commission is being kept informed regularly of the situation of Mr Gonzalez Leiva. According to its
information the human rights activist weighed only 90 pounds at the beginning of January 2003 due to a
fast he began on 4 September 2002 and which he ended on 25 December 2002 in order to protest
against the accusations against him and other activists involved in the case.

The Commission has repeatedly drawn the attention of
the Cuban authorities to the situation of
Mr Gonzalez Leiva and the human rights situation in general. As with other partner countries, the internal
human rights situation is and will
relationship with Cuba.
The Commission believes that a policy of engagement and dialogue is the most likely to help bringing
about a positive evolution in this respect.

remain an important aspect of our

(2004/C 70 E/017)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3648/02

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 December 2002)

Subject: Freedom of religion in Laos

As the Commission is aware, freedom of religion hardly exists in Laos.

Is the Commission also aware that between June and August 2002, at least 39 Christians were detained in
Laos because of their beliefs and that they are being held in prison under appalling conditions?

Will the Commission bring pressure to bear on the authorities in Laos to secure the release of these
prisoners and a change in policy on freedom of religion?