WRITTEN QUESTION E-0007/03 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Council. Assistance for the victims of the Prestige oil tanker disaster.
Date: 2003-01-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, economic consequence, indemnification, maritime safety, oil pollution, tanker

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/131

Reply

(8 May 2003)

The Council
is aware of the allegations concerning the death of Mr Raduyev in a Russian prison in
December 2002. It considers that the allegations should be brought before the competent authorities in
Russia. The Council will follow this case closely.

The Council will continue to take advantage of the numerous political dialogue meetings with Russia at all
the strategic
levels to underline that democracy and respect of human rights are key elements of
partnership between the EU and Russia. The Council will also continue to underline that progress in the
reform process in Russia,
for the further
development of relations. The Council stands ready to support the Russian authorities in this context.

including strengthening of

the rule of

is essential

law,

(2003/C 222 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0006/03

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Council

(16 January 2003)

Subject: Decision of the judicial authorities in the Russian Federation to regard Colonel Budanov as

temporarily insane

On 16 December 2002, after the fourth psychiatric report in the trial of the Russian Army Colonel Yuri
Budanov for strangling the Chechen adolescent Elza Kungayeva in March 2002, the Colonel was judged to
be ‘not criminally responsible’ and ‘temporarily insane’.

Given the Russian authorities’ declared intention to present the Budanov trial as the start of a judicial
response to the accumulation of human rights violations, war crimes and crimes against humanity
perpetrated over a period of years in Chechnya, what is the Council’s opinion of this verdict? Does the
Council not take the view that with this verdict the Russian authorities have given members of the military
and paramilitary forces a signal of absolute impunity when it comes to crimes committed in connection
with operations in Chechnya? What initiatives do the Council and Member States intend to take on this
matter in the relevant international (Council of Europe, UN Commission on Human Rights, OSCE, etc.)
and bilateral bodies?

Reply

(8 May 2003)

The Council has naturally followed the controversy surrounding the verdict of insanity passed on Colonel
Budanov over an incident at a time when he held a responsible position in charge of a military division.
As a general principle, however, the Council does not express any opinion concerning legal verdicts.

(2003/C 222 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0007/03

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Council

(16 January 2003)

Subject: Assistance for the victims of the ‘Prestige’ oil tanker disaster

The sinking of the ‘Prestige’ oil tanker last November, and the resultant oil spill, has been, without a doubt,
the greatest ecological disaster in modern Spanish history and has claimed thousands of victims. Indeed the
Copenhagen European Council expressed its regret and grave concern regarding the serious accident of the

C 222 E/132

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

‘Prestige’ oil tanker off the north-west coast of Spain (see paragraphs 32, 33 and 34 of the Conclusions).
The Council described the damage caused to the marine and socioeconomic environment, and the threat
to the livelihood of thousands of people, as intolerable.

What concrete steps did the Council take to help the victims by 31 December 2002? In addition to its
commitment to take precautionary measures to avoid any similar future disasters, are any measures being
taken to provide Spain with additional financial assistance?

Reply

(13 May 2003)

The Council would refer
to its reply to Questions E-3563/02 put by
Brice Hortefeux, E-3581/02, E-3582/02, E-3583/02, E-3584/02, E-3587/02 and E-3589/02 put by Camilo
Nogueira Román, E-3625/02 put by Paolo Costa and others and E-3761/02 put by Emmanouil
Bakopoulos on the same subject.

the Honourable Member

(2003/C 222 E/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0011/03

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Value of the euro against other world currencies

(10 January 2003)

The Commission informs me in its answer to my question No E-0177/02 (1) of 5 February 2002 that the
European Central Bank (ECB) publishes reference values for 28 currencies.

Can the Commission provide a list of those currencies among the 28 which appreciated or depreciated
against the euro between its introduction on 1 January 1999 and the end of 2002,
indicating the
percentage change in the exchange rate between the currency concerned and the euro?

(1) OJ C 301 E, 5.12.2002, p. 28.

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(10 February 2003)

Given that it is the ECB that collects and publishes this information, it may be better to consult the source
directly. At the ECB web site (http://www.ecb.int/stats/eurofxref/) information can easily be found about
reference rates, based on the regular daily concertation procedure between central banks within and
outside the European System of Central Banks. Historical series of a subset of the reference rates are also
published in the Monthly Bulletin.

(2003/C 222 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0012/03

by Helle Thorning-Schmidt (PSE) to the Commission

(20 January 2003)

Subject: Port services

In February 2001, the Commission presented a proposal for a directive on market access to port services,
which was revised in February 2002.

As a result of the events of 11 September 2001, the American authorities have implemented a set of rules
requiring various degrees of certification/identification of employees handling freight to the USA, including
dockers.