WRITTEN QUESTION E-0118/03 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Delineation of the European Union's final borders.
Date: 2003-01-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European integration, European neighbourhood policy, accession criteria, enlargement of the Union, external border of the EU

C 78 E/696

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2003)

The implementation of Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds
and, in particular, the specific aspect of spring hunting has been negotiated in the framework of the
accession negotiations on the environment chapter with Malta.

The Commission confirms that any use of derogations must be in conformity with each of
the
requirements of Article 9 of the Directive. Malta has committed itself to fully implement, as from
accession, the Directive. If Malta wishes to allow spring hunting on the basis of the exceptions foreseen by
Article 9 of the Directive, for instance in relation to turtle dove and quail, it would need to ensure that all
these requirements are met.

The use of derogations is decided by Member States in accordance with these requirements and reported
retrospectively to the Commission. The Commission confirms that it will take all necessary measures to
ensure that the terms of the Directive, and in particular those related to the use of derogations, are fully
implemented by Malta as from accession in accordance with the outcome of the Accession Negotiation.

In particular, as regards the Ornis Committee, Malta has issued at the end of January 2003 a regulation
establishing it. Subsequently, a call for applications for membership from non-governmental organisations
has been issued and was closed on 5 February 2003. It is expected that the selection of the members as
well as the official appointment of the chairman of the committee will be concluded by March 2003.

(2004/C 78 E/0744)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0118/03

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Delineation of the European Union’s final borders

(28 January 2003)

The signature of the Accession Treaty in Athens on 16 April 2003 will definitively open the way for ten
new countries to join the European Union on 1 May 2004, once that Treaty has been ratified by the
current Member States and by the ten new Member States.

Many analysts believe that we should take the opportunity provided by this enlargement to definitively
establish what the final borders of the European Union should be, because the EU cannot go on expanding
for ever.

Does the Commission not feel that in order to lay the bases for discussions on this subject it should
sponsor an in-depth study by a select group of eminent figures and scholars in this field on where the
European Union’s borders should end, based on Europe’s conception of its own culture and civilisation,
which are the unequivocal identifying signs of a common and identical geographical background?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2003)

in
As the Honourable Member is aware,
Article 6(1) of the Treaty on the European Union may apply to become a member of the Union’ in
accordance with Article 49 of the Treaty on the European Union. The principles set out in Article 6 of the
Treaty are the following: ‘liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the
rule of law, principles which are common to the Member States.’

‘Any European State that respects the principles set out

After the accession of 10 new members in 2004, the Union has taken the commitment to support
Bulgaria and Romania in their efforts to become members in 2007. In March 2002, the Commission plans
to propose revised Accession Partnerships for these two countries, as well as for Turkey, ‘a candidate state
destined to join the Union on the basis of the same criteria as applied to the other candidate states’ as
specified by the Copenhagen European Council in December 2002.

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/697

The Copenhagen European Council declared that the Union remains determined to avoid the creation of
new dividing lines in Europe and to promote stability and prosperity within and beyond the new borders
of the Union.

The European Council reaffirmed the European perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans in the
Stabilisation and Association Process as stipulated by the European Council in Feira (19/20 June 2000).

With regard to relations between the enlarged Union and its neighbours, the European Council stated that
enlargement will strengthen relations with Russia, and expressed the wish that relations with Ukraine,
Moldova, Belarus and the southern Mediterranean countries be enhanced, based on a long-term approach
promoting democratic and economic reforms, sustainable developments and trade.

The Commission will soon bring forward proposals to that end.

(2004/C 78 E/0745)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0120/03

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Border fishing dispute at the mouth of the Guadiana

(28 January 2003)

The fishing dispute taking place at the mouth of the River Guadiana on the border between Spain and
Portugal has reached such an intensity that fishermen from the coastal villages in Huelva (Spain) have
complained that the Portuguese navy has fired shots at them.

It is for this reason that these Spanish fishermen have called for suspension of the current fishing
agreement until the Portuguese navy undertakes not to open fire, because according to them it was a
miracle that nobody died in the attacks by the Portuguese patrol-boat, which was ‘shooting to kill’.

Given the powers that the Commission has in the area of fisheries under the CFP, what initiatives has it
taken to resolve this fishing dispute, how far will it intervene with the Portuguese authorities to prevent
the Portuguese navy from continuing to fire on Huelva fishermen, and will it act as an arbitrator to find a
compromise solution to the dispute?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(24 February 2003)

The Commission has received no request from the national authorities to take any action over incidents
that have occurred at the mouth of the Guadiana.

It falls to the national authorities to apply the Community or national rules in force and to their judicial
bodies to impose penalties on those who break them.

In any case it goes without saying that the Commission wishes fishing in this zone to be conducted under
satisfactory conditions for all parties.

(2004/C 78 E/0746)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0192/03

by Lennart Sacrédeus (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Indian priest imprisoned without charge in Qatar

(31 January 2003)

Mr Arokiyasamy Stanislas Chellappa is a Christian Indian who has lived and worked as an engineer in
Qatar on the Arabian peninsula for 22 years together with his wife, Ester, and their 12-year old son.