WRITTEN QUESTION E-0199/03 by Margot Keßler (PSE) to the Commission. Western Sahara — Visit of European Parliament Ad Hoc Delegation — Human Rights.
Date: 2003-02-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Morocco, Western Sahara, freedom of assembly, human rights, political violence

C 84 E/714

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

A European troika paid a visit to Iran on 16/17 December 2002 in connection with the launching of the
human rights dialogue between the EU and Iran. According to a press release from the Danish Presidency,
the dialogue took place in an open and constructive atmosphere. Is there a connection between the troika
visit and the Iranian government’s decision to issue an invitation to a UN Special Rapporteur on violence
against women?

The European Parliament has always called for pressure to be exerted to ensure that women’s rights are
respected whenever agreements are concluded between the EU and third countries. A human rights clause
is to be included in the agreement with Iran. To what extent will this clause also lay down stringent
conditions in the area of women’s rights? How will the EU be able to monitor and enforce compliance
with this clause? Will the possibility of suspending the agreement if Iran should fail to respect women’s
rights, or human rights in general, also be built in?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(10 March 2003)

The negotiations with Iran on a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) are linked to negotiations on
political dialogue and counter-terrorism. This is in line with the political package defined by the General
Affairs and External Relations Council in June and formally adopted on 12 July 2002. In accordance with
the relevant praxis regarding Community Agreements the Council has decided that this TCA shall contain
a standard Human Rights clause, which in case of grave violations would entail appropriate measures.

As the Honourable Member points out, a specific Union-Iran Human Rights dialogue was launched in
Tehran 16/17 December 2002, based on the Council conclusions of 21 October 2002. This dialogue takes
the form of a restricted session at governmental level, led by the Troïka on the Union side and addresses
all Human Rights issues of concern. It is complemented by a round-table involving Union and Iranian civil
society representatives. Two major themes were addressed during the round-table held in December 2002:
discrimination (including discrimination against women) and prevention of
regards
discrimination against women, the Union made clear that it regarded Iran’s accession to the relevant
international convention (CEDAW), which Iran is currently studying, would be a very important step. The
same approach was followed for the invitations by Iran of United Nations thematic rapporteurs, including
the one on violence against women, scheduled to visit Iran in 2003.

torture. As

The emerging Human Rights dialogue has been launched without pre-conditions, but it is to be regularly
assessed through the use of benchmarks. The dialogue also feeds into the semi-annual EU-Iran
Comprehensive Dialogue meetings which are ongoing since 1998.

The Commission has been informed (cid:1) in connection with the Human Rights dialogue in December 2002
as well as during the visit of the Member of the Commission responsible for External relations to Iran
3/5 February 2003 (cid:1) that a moratorium on stoning is in effect since late 2002.

(2004/C 84 E/0802)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0199/03

by Margot Keßler (PSE) to the Commission

(3 February 2003)

Subject: Western Sahara (cid:1) Visit of European Parliament Ad Hoc Delegation (cid:1) Human Rights

The European Parliament Ad Hoc Delegation for the Western Sahara visited Laayoune, the capital of this
non-self-governing territory, on 12 March 2002. A meeting with members of the civil society, including
Saharawi human rights activists, was held in Laayoune Parador Hotel.

The meeting took place at the request of the European Delegation, which raised the question of the safety
of the civil society members. The Delegation chair, Catherine Lalumiere MEP, promised to give every
guarantee that
the participants in the meeting would not undergo intimidation by the Moroccan
authorities following this meeting. After their meeting with the MEPs, the president and a large number of

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Official Journal of the European Union

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members of the local human rights NGO ‘Forum for Truth and Justice: Sahara Section’ who participated in
the meeting were prosecuted by the occupying Moroccan authorities. The Saharawi participants were the
president of
the NGO, Mr Moutik Lahoussine, Mr Eddymaoui Abdessalem, Mr Ennassiri Ahmed,
Mr Elmoussaoui Edkhil and Mr Mohamed Elmoutaouikil.

Mr Moutik Lahoussine was fired from his job (in the company Sepomer Sahara SARL) due to his meeting
with the European Parliament Ad Hoc Delegation. The other members of the Saharawi delegation were
detained on several occasions and prosecuted for political reasons.

Several members of the Sahara section of the Truth and Justice Forum and Saharawi human rights
militants have currently been targeted by intimidation measures.

What is the European Commission doing against these violations of human rights?

As the Kingdom of Morocco is the occupying power in Western Sahara, what kind of action at diplomatic
level is the European Commission taking in this respect to improve the situation of the above-mentioned
persons who met the Ad Hoc Delegation?

What kind of measures can the European Commission provide concerning the next European Parliament
missions to this non-self-governing territory?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2003)

The relations between Morocco and the Union are governed by the Association Agreement and the
questions related to human rights as well as those connected with the Western Sahara are treated in the
framework of the political dialogue (Article 2) during the Association Councils and Committees.

In the future months, the Union and Morocco are expected to engage in a even more constructive dialogue
on the questions of democratic principles and human rights which will lead to the possibility of discussing
alleged cases of ill-treatment, including the present one.

Regarding the next missions of the Parliament to the territory of the Western Sahara, which are organised
by the services of the Parliament, the Commission remains at the Honourable Member’s disposal for any
information she might consider necessary.

(2004/C 84 E/0803)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0243/03

by Nirj Deva (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 February 2003)

Subject: Kenya Westlands-St Austins road scheme

Will the Commission ensure that it complies with its duty under Article 288 (ex 215) to make good any
damage caused by its institutions or by its servants in the performance of their duties in the light of
suggestions made by local people at the instigation of Lutz Salzmann, former Head of the EU Delegation
in Kenya, in 1996?

Will the Commission fund the borehole that has been requested by the local community in the light of the
destruction of the water table and the contamination of the general water supply brought about by
contractors working for the EU?

Will it also consider supporting the creation of a health clinic in the Rungiri/Gitaru area to counteract the
respiratory damage which affects local people and was caused by the contractors during construction
work?