WRITTEN QUESTION E-0192/03 by Lennart Sacrédeus (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Indian priest imprisoned without charge in Qatar.
Date: 2003-01-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Christian, EU relations, Qatar, arrest, cooperation agreement (EU), freedom of religious beliefs, human rights

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.

C 78 E/698

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

On 9 December 2002, he was arrested with no reason given. Two weeks later, on 23 December, he was
released on bail but was told to return to India by 22 January 2003 at the latest.

If that does not happen, Mr Chellappa will be re-arrested. The authorities gave no reason for the arrest on
this occasion either.

Mr Chellappa has been a priest in a community of Christian Indians in Qatar. His family and friends
suspect that the reason for his arrest is connected with his faith and Christian activities.

In what way does the Commission work to influence governments in such cases and what is the
established practice? Is the Commission aware of the above case? Is the Commission able to take any
action on this specific matter concerning human rights and religious freedom?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2003)

The Commission does not have any precise information on the case raised by the Honourable Member.
Without a delegation in the country, it is difficult to obtain details.

If it possesses the necessary evidence, the European Union can intervene in individual cases of abuse of
human rights by making representations to the authorities of the countries concerned. The appropriateness
of such representations is assessed on a case by case basis through a confidential consultation procedure.

In addition it should be pointed out that the Commission is in the process of negotiating a free trade
agreement between the Community and the Gulf Cooperation Council which would include the human
rights clause as one of the essential elements. The Commission has also put a proposal to the Gulf
Cooperation Council on opening a political dialogue on human rights. The purpose of this dialogue would
be to regularly discuss issues of respect for fundamental rights as enshrined in particular in the Universal
Declaration on Human Rights and its complementary International Covenants, and to encourage the GCC
party states which have not yet signed and ratified these instruments to do so. Individual cases might also
be raised during this dialogue.

(2004/C 78 E/0747)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0281/03

by Ulpu Iivari (PSE) to the Commission

(3 February 2003)

Subject: Reform of the common fisheries policy and restoration of wild salmon stocks

Baltic wild salmon are very important for recreational fishing and hence for tourism in the northern part
of the Gulf of Bothnia and northern Finland. However, wild salmon are currently being overfished at sea
and in estuaries, and they are often fished at the wrong times. As a result, salmon are being prevented
from migrating to their spawning rivers, or at least their migration is being seriously disrupted.

The European Union’s fisheries policy completely disregards the issue of restoring wild salmon stocks in
the Baltic, although the EU’s competence extends to the Member States’ sea and river fishing. In the Baltic,
the EU uses its authority over salmon fishing only as a member of the Baltic Sea Fishery Commission, and
restrictions on fishing mainly take the form of fishing quotas for each species.