WRITTEN QUESTION P-0306/03 by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Human rights situation in Zimbabwe.
Date: 2003-02-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cotonou Agreement, EU national, Zimbabwe, human rights, non-governmental organisation, political violence, torture

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/597

Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries
not members of the Community (1), which states that a Community industry has to file a complaint with
the Commission. This complaint should contain sufficient evidence as regards injury and dumping. So far,
no such complaint has been received. In the event that such information is brought to the attention of the
Commission, the evidence will of course be examined expeditiously.

As regards the current multilateral negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda, the Community
proposes that all World Trade Organisation (WTO) Members agree to reduce all tariff duties considerably
by compressing them into a flatter range of tariffs to eliminate tariff peaks and high tariffs. Given that the
main goal of this round is sustainable development, and since exceptions and further sheltering of sectors
can only result in distortions and costs that developing and least developed countries can ill afford, the
mechanism shall apply without sheltering of any sector. This does not prevent the Community, though,
from proposing implementation timetables that are in keeping with our economic sensitivities.

(1) OJ L 56, 6.3.1996.

(2004/C 88 E/0610)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0306/03

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 February 2003)

Subject: Human rights situation in Zimbabwe

Is the Commission aware that the Amani Trust, a human rights organisation which works with victims of
torture, has received threats to fire-bomb its offices and that the organisation has had to suspend its
activities as a result?

Is the Commission also aware of the fate of Job Sikhala, MDC MP, Gabriel Shumba, a legal officer with the
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Charles Mutama, Bishop Shumba and T. Magaya? Medical evidence
has indicated that the five men were tortured with electricity.

Is the Commission prepared to arrange an inquiry into the cases of these individuals and the current
position of the Armani Trust and publish the findings through an answer to this question?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2003)

The Commission is aware of the facts raised by the Honourable Member, which can be seen as concrete
examples of the current decline in the human rights state of affairs in Zimbabwe. Reports received from
the Commission’s Delegation in Harare confirm the increased incidents of politically motivated violence,
some of which are raised by the Honourable Member.

inhuman treatment and torture of members of

The Union reacted by issuing, on 20 February 2003, a declaration expressing its concern over the recent
arbitrary arrests,
the opposition and civil society
organisations. The Union calls on the government of Zimbabwe to end all harassment, intimidation and
violence against them. It urges the government and all political stakeholders to open serious dialogue to
overcoming the current overwhelming problems facing Zimbabwe on the humanitarian, social and
economic fronts.

is one of the
The respect of human rights, which form part of the essential elements of Cotonou,
conditions under constant review in the framework of the 18 February 2002 Council Decision concluding
consultations under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. Therefore, the Commission follows the human
rights situation closely and has taken and will continue to take appropriate measures in response to the
deteriorating situation in this country. However, the Commission is not in a position to conduct inquiries
and report on individual cases.

C 88 E/598

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

The Commission deplores the harassment to which the Amani Trust was subject and which obliged it to
cease operations. It was an independent and reputable organisation offering assistance to victims of all
forms of organised violence, whose work in difficult circumstances in Zimbabwe was always appreciated.

(2004/C 88 E/0611)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0401/03

by Roy Perry (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 February 2003)

Subject: Transparency in the application of broadcasting legislation in the Czech Republic

In its latest Regular Report on the Czech Republic (1), the European Commission criticised that country’s
‘continued lack of
transparency and stability in relation to questions of ownership and control of
commercial TV stations’. It noted that ‘a second such dispute has now arisen that may also have to be
solved in international arbitration courts’. The Commission furthermore notes that the Czech Council for
Radio and Television Broadcasting ‘should ensure the timely, objective and effective application of
broadcasting legislation’ and that ‘it remains particularly important to establish and supervise effectively a
transparent and predictable regulatory framework’.

How will the Commission continue to monitor the handling by the Czech authorities of the problems of
the past, such as the TV3 case which is mentioned by the Regular Report (‘the second such dispute’),
whereby EC investors were discriminated against in a licence transfer decision of the Czech Council for
Radio and Television Broadcasting? Are any specific actions planned by the Commission?

(1) SEC(2002) 1402, Chapter 20, pages 99-101, of 9 October 2002.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(13 March 2003)

The concerns expressed by the Commission in its 2002 Regular Report (1) reflect the two ongoing disputes
concerning foreign investment in Czech commercial television stations and the additional mid-2002
disagreements (now apparently solved) within the Czech Republic about control of the largest commercial
channel. That these three issues were able to develop suggests that measures should be taken by the Czech
authorities to improve matters in the sector via the amendment of relevant legislation, the modification of
regulatory practice, or a combination of the two.

The 2002 Report also sought to highlight the central role that the regulator plays in such an environment,
particularly at a time when (following recent adoption of new legislation) precedents are set and its
authority must be established.

The audio-visual ‘acquis’ does not detail specific requirements about broadcasting sector regulation, nor
about the licensing processes which have been at the centre of the TV3 dispute. The Television Without
Frontiers Directive (2) requires that Member States be in a position to effectively implement the ‘acquis’,
which gives the Commission grounds to express concerns with the general state of regulation in the sector,
and call for improvements (cid:1) but not to require exact models of regulation or licensing.

There have been numerous contacts between Commission officials and parties interested in the TV3
dispute and the Commission continues to follow developments very closely. Allegations of discrimination
are taken very seriously by the Commission, as are the duties attached to the monitoring of Candidate
Countries. The Commission will reflect developments in this sector as appropriate when presenting its
2003 Monitoring Report.