WRITTEN QUESTION E-3924/02 by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission. Death of the Chechen Salman Raduyev in a Russian gaol.
Date: 2003-01-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Russia, cooperation policy, democracy, human rights, prison system, prisoner, war of independence

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/205

(2003/C 155 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3918/02

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 January 2003)

Subject: EU-wide health card

The Commission’s action plan for skills and mobility (1) states (paragraph 3.2.1):

… an EU-wide health card should be introduced, aimed at transforming the relevant European paper
forms into an electronic card. Card holders will be able to claim access to immediately necessary
health care in a Member State other than the one where they are insured, the latter being nevertheless
responsible for the cost. The Commission will present a proposal for the introduction of an EU-wide
health card early in 2003 for agreement by 2004.

The proposal was subsequently submitted to the March 2002 Barcelona European Council. Paragraph 33
of the latter’s conclusions state that:

The European Council welcomes the Commission Action Plan …

Does the Commission envisage an approximate date for the presentation of the proposal? What stage has
been reached in the preparatory work? What will be the cost of introducing the EU-wide health card and
how will it be financed?

(1) COM(2002) 72.

Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2003)

After consulting the Member States within the Administrative Commission on Social Security for Migrant
Workers, the Commission plans, by the end of February 2003, to adopt a communication on the
introduction of the European health insurance card. This will put forward a timetable for gradually
replacing the paper forms giving access to health care in another Member State under the coordination
arrangements for national social security schemes provided for by Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 of the
Council of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons and their
families moving within the Community (1).

On the question of the cost of introducing the European health insurance card, the Commission is not in a
position to give a reply at this stage. The cost will depend on Member States’ chosen means of introducing
the card and the technology used, and will be borne by them individually. The communication referred to
above, which will give details of the different options, will put the Member States in a better position to
decide on the means of introducing and financing the card. Nevertheless, the Commission considers that
replacing the paper forms with the European health insurance card will have major benefits for the
Member States in terms of streamlining administration and accelerating reimbursement procedures. The
overall cost of introducing the card should therefore also be seen against the productivity gains it will
mean for the social security institutions.

(1) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971.

(2003/C 155 E/226)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3924/02

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(14 January 2003)

Subject: Death of the Chechen Salman Raduyev in a Russian gaol

On Sunday 15 December 2002 the Russian Ministry of Justice announced the death, at the age of 35, of
Salman Raduyev (cid:1) the first of the Chechen commanders to be arrested, tried and sentenced to life

C 155 E/206

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.7.2003

imprisonment for the hostage-taking in Kisljar in 2001 (cid:1) on 14 December 2002 in the infirmary of the
‘White Swan’ prison in the city of Solikamsk, Siberia (Perm region). It took him several days to die
following an internal haemorrhage caused, according to Russian sources, by old war wounds which had
‘never completely healed’.

On Monday, 16 December, an article in the Russian newspaper Kommersant, reproduced in the
Süddeutsche Zeitung, reported statements made anonymously by prison staff, according to which Raduyev
was said, by his cell-mate, to have been beaten to death after having opposed a surprise search of his cell
by his guards. Salman Raduyev was one of the witnesses whose testimony was used to back the Russian
Justice Ministry’s request to Denmark and Great Britain for the arrest and extradition of Akhmed Zakaiev.
Raduyev allegedly claimed that Zakaiev had taken part personally in kidnappings and terrorist acts. In the
same article the Kommersant suggested an interpretation of events according to which Raduyev might
have been forced to testify against Zakaiev and then been eliminated.

Is the Commission aware of these allegations and if so, how did it react? What official steps does it intend
to take to ensure that light is thrown on the real circumstances of Mr Raduyev’s death? More generally,
how does the Commission rate Russia’s ability to fulfil the duties of a constitutional state?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 2003)

The Commission is aware of the death of the convicted Chechen Salman Raduyev in prison in Solikamsk
in December last. It is also aware of certain allegations surrounding Mr Raduyev’s death and it hopes that
these will be investigated in a prompt, independent and impartial manner. The Commission calls for all
such allegations to be forwarded to the relevant Russian authorities,
including Duma Human Rights
Ombudsman Mironov, for investigation. The findings of such an investigation should certainly be made
public. The Commission will follow developments in this matter closely.

The Commission underlines that the implementation of shared values in the fields of democracy and
human rights underpin the EU-Russia Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation and are key elements in
the EU-Russia partnership. The Commission will, therefore, continue to raise the issue of respect for
human rights within the framework of the EU’s bilateral political dialogue with the Russian Federation.

It is also important to recall that the Commission promotes respect for human rights and democracy in
Russia through a number of projects that are financed under the European Initiative for Democracy and
Human Rights. These activities are implemented in cooperation with civil society and international
organisations such as the Council of Europe. The Tacis programme is also active in this domain.

(2003/C 155 E/227)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0003/03

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(16 January 2003)

Subject: Vietnam’s legal reform strategy

Despite Vietnam’s commitment to move towards the rule of law in accordance with an internationally-
funded 10-year ‘Legal Reform Strategy’ programme, the Vietnamese Government has:

(cid:1) continued to introduce extensive legislation which seriously restricts human rights and criminalises the
peaceful exercise of
freedom of opinion, expression, religion, association and the press; recent
legislation includes increased controls on the Internet (June 2002), a prohibition on satellite TV for all