WRITTEN QUESTION E-3888/02 by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission. New wave of repression in Tunisia.
Date: 2003-01-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Tunisia, economic situation, freedom of association, freedom of expression, government violence, human rights, repression, right to justice

C 280 E/32

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

21.11.2003

Reply

(21 July 2003)

The work conducted since the Helsinki European Council has enabled the European Union to define the
variety of measures needed successfully to carry out the full range of Petersberg tasks, including the most
demanding among these. The military capabilities and forces required by the EU to meet the headline goal
have been spelt out in detail and are listed in a capability catalogue, which is regularly reviewed according
to the principles approved at the Nice European Council.

Two Capabilities Commitment Conferences, one held under the French, the other under the Belgian
Presidency, made it possible to draw together the specific national commitments corresponding to the
military capability goals set by the Helsinki European Council. Member States committed themselves, on a
voluntary basis, to making national contributions corresponding to the capabilities required to attain the
headline goal. Those commitments have been set out in a forces catalogue. Analysis of that catalogue
confirms that by 2003, in keeping with the headline goal established at Helsinki, the European Union will
be able to carry out the full range of Petersberg tasks, but that certain capabilities need to be improved in
both quantitative and qualitative terms in order to maximise the capabilities available to the Union.

Accordingly, at the Conference on Military Capability Improvement (CIC) held on 19 November 2001
Member States identified the remaining shortcomings and agreed on an action plan to remedy them. That
plan is based on national decisions (a bottom-up approach) aimed at rationalising Member States’
respective defence efforts and on increased synergy between national and multinational projects.

(2003/C 280 E/032)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3888/02

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(13 January 2003)

Subject: New wave of repression in Tunisia

On 11 December 2002, Judge Mokhtar Yahyaoui, President of the Centre for the Independence of the
Judiciary (CIJ) and a founder member of the International Association for the Support of Political Prisoners
(IASPP), was the victim of a violent attack in the street by plain-clothes agents while on his way to his
lawyers’ office, and on 14 December he was arrested arbitrarily by men in plain clothes and later released.
On 13 December,
in the capital, police officers laid siege to the office of two human rights lawyers,
Mr Nourredine Bhiri (Treasurer of the National Campaign for the Independence of the Judiciary) and
Mrs Saida Akremi
(Secretary-General of the IASPP), attacking them and their two children (aged 13
and 15). Mrs Akremi was taken away by the police and released only after seven hours of illegal
imprisonment. Dr Tahar Mestiri (medical doctor and member of the National Council on Liberties), who
was due to examine Mrs Akremi, was attacked and prevented from visiting her. On the same day, many
other lawyers and human rights activists were attacked by the political police. On 13 December, political
police arrested five former prisoners of conscience in Gafsa (southern Tunisia), including: Mr Ali Chortani,
who was tried and sentenced in 1991 to eight years’ imprisonment, and is well known for his activities
within the Tunisian League of Human Rights in Gafsa and within the Nahdha movement; Mr Lotfi Dassi;
Mr Mohsen Nouissi and two other former prisoners of conscience who have not yet been identified from
the town of Gafsa. Moreover, issue 885 of the weekly magazine ‘Réalités’, published on 12 December, was
withdrawn from sale because it contained an article on the situation in prisons in Tunisia. On
14 December, the author of the article, the journalist Hedi Yahmed, was brought before the Public
Prosecutor. Since 12 December, three vehicles of the political police have besieged the home of the
journalist Abdallah Zouari in the village of Medenine. On 16 December, Mr Mohamed Jmour (Secretary-
General of the Tunisian bar council and human rights campaigner) was savagely attacked by plain-clothes
police officers in Tunis.

What information does the Commission have about this latest wave of brutal repression against pro-
democracy activists in Tunisia? What is the Commission’s evaluation of the development of the economic
and social situation in Tunisia? Does the Commission believe that the Union’s policy towards Tunisia is
politically tenable?

21.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 280 E/33

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(31 January 2003)

The Commission notes with concern that Tunisia continues to be intolerant of dissidents and human rights
freedom of association and
activists. Despite certain encouraging signs towards the end of 2002,
expression are still not sufficiently tolerated. The Commission is aware of the particular case of Judge
Mokhtar Yahiaoui and its recent repercussions and has raised the matter with the Tunisian authorities
without, however, receiving any significant information.

Concerning the economic and social situation in Tunisia, the Commission encourages and supports the
reform efforts of the Tunisian Government and, here, there have been significant structural improvements,
particularly by comparison with the situation in the region as a whole. Although 2002 was difficult for the
economy (fourth consecutive year of drought, the fallout on tourism of the Djerba attack), the underlying
economic indicators are sound. On the social side there have been a number of remarkable gains (access to
housing, guaranteed minimum wage, social welfare fund) which makes Tunisia one of the most advanced
of the Southern Mediterranean countries. However,
fragile and the Commission
continues to monitor the situation carefully.

the balance is still

The European Union’s policy with regard to Tunisia,
formulated by the Member States and the
Commission in the forums designated for the purpose in the Treaty, is evolving constantly in the light of
the political and economic situation. In particular, the policy takes account of the essential elements
regarding democracy and human rights laid down in the Association Agreement, and also of Tunisia’s
other international commitments.

(2003/C 280 E/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3910/02

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Discriminatory nature of vehicle financing in Finland

(14 January 2003)

The Finnish vehicle import regulations have recently been amended to prevent them impeding competition
and discriminating against private and/or parallel importers. In practice, however, the individual consumer
still has to fall back on traditional importers dealing in given makes only because financing agreements are
at present impossible to obtain unless cars are purchased through such dealers. The biggest financial
institutions operating in Finland are Nordea and OPR, and there are several smaller providers as well.
However, in reality they all appear to be following the same line of conduct.

Is the Commission aware of the situation in Finland regarding the vehicle financing market and does it
oversee the manner of giving effect to competition in this area? Does it consider the prevailing practice to
be in accordance with EU competition laws and what action does it intend to take? Do other Member
States have similar practices that might obstruct the implementation of Commission decisions to liberalise
competition?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2003)

The Commission has not been made aware of any difficulties regarding the market for financing of the
purchase of new motor vehicles in Finland. The Commission is, therefore, not in a position to assess
whether or not
the practice described by the Honourable Member is compatible with Community
competition rules.

Based on the information provided, it seems that the problem described by the Honourable Member relates
to the behaviour of Finnish financial institutions. In such a case it is in the first place the task of the
Finnish competition authority to take action based on Community competition rules or on Finnish
competition law.