WRITTEN QUESTION E-0452/03 by Frank Vanhecke (NI) to the Council. Participation of Robert Mugabe at the EU-Africa summit on 3 April.
Date: 2003-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, France, Zimbabwe, agrarian reform, food shortage, human rights, international sanctions, land reform, official visit, summit meeting

21.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 280 E/55

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2003)

The Commission has opened a complaint on the issues raised by the Honourable Member for bad
application of Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain
public and private projects on the environment (1), after amendments by Council Directives 97/11/EC of
3 March 1997 (2), 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (3) and 92/43/EEC of
21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (4). This complaint is
under assessment.

The information given by the Honourable Member has been added to the above- mentioned complaint file.

Should the Commission come to the conclusion that Community law is being breached in the specific
case, it would not hesitate, as the guardian of the EC Treaty, to take all necessary measures, including
infringement procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, in order to ensure the observance of relevant
Community law.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
(3) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(4) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2003/C 280 E/057)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0452/03

by Frank Vanhecke (NI) to the Council

(19 February 2003)

Subject: Participation of Robert Mugabe at the EU-Africa summit on 3 April

Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s dictator, was received by President Chirac at the start of this month despite
the international sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the European Union in February last year. The
sanctions will end on 18 February 2003 but are expected to be extended because Mugabe has failed to
make any effort to improve the human rights situation in his country. The United Kingdom is refusing to
receive the dictator.

Mugabe is also reported to be attending the EU-Africa summit on 3 April.

Can the Council confirm that Robert Mugabe will be attending the summit?

Does the Council not consider that his participation is incompatible with the sanctions imposed by the
Union against Zimbabwe?

Does the Council support the decision by the French diplomatic service to receive Mugabe when London is
refusing to do so?

How will the Council ensure that the legal situation of the expropriated white farmers in Zimbabwe is put
right in the future?

Reply

(22 July 2003)

When adopting the targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe in February 2002, the Council stated that a
certain number of conditions had to be met before the sanctions could be lifted. Since these conditions had
still not been met, the Council reaffirmed them when it decided to extend the targeted sanctions on
18 February 2003 (1). The Council continues to be concerned about the plight of the Zimbabwean people
and remains convinced that the fast-track land reform programme has aggravated the already precarious
food situation in the country. In response to the illegal occupation of farms in Zimbabwe, the EU already
made a clear appeal to the government in March 2000 to ensure respect for the law and to maintain

C 280 E/56

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

21.11.2003

public order and civil security. At the same time, the EU reaffirmed its support for orderly and transparent
agrarian reform, which respects the rights of all citizens and is compatible with the requirements of
Zimbabwe’s economic development.

As far as the Lisbon Summit is concerned, it was concluded that it was in the best interests of EU-Africa
relations to postpone the summit, which was to be held in Lisbon on 5 April 2003.

As for the organisation of the France-Africa Summit, the Council would inform the Honourable Member
that France stated its intention to issue a visa to President Mugabe so that he could attend this summit in
accordance with the procedure set out in Common Position 2002/145/CFSP; it was noted that there were
no obstacles within the Council to his participation.

(1) OJ L 46, 20.2.2003.

(2003/C 280 E/058)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0469/03

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 February 2003)

Subject: Conversion to the euro

Now that the first anniversary of the introduction of the euro has passed we can see that the actual
conversion process was fast but that people have still not adjusted mentally. Most citizens of the euro zone
are still calculating prices in their national currencies.

The fact that payment is in euros only does not mean that people have forgotten the old currencies. The
great majority of users of the new currency have yet to adjust mentally.

Does the Commission intend to make tangible proposals to try to solve the problem of mental adjustment
to the euro?

Does it consider that the displaying of prices in both currencies has had a positive effect? Will
recommend this practice to future members of the monetary union?

it

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2003)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that the psychological switch to the euro of citizens
is a gradual process. The Eurobarometer, a survey regularly conducted on behalf of the Commission,
showed in November 2002 that 42,2 % of the euro area respondents calculate most often in euro when
they purchase everyday goods. Conversely, 32,4 % indicated to still think more often in national currency.
These rates drop significantly as far as major purchases (e.g. a house or a car) are concerned. In these cases
only 12,5 % of respondents calculate most often in euro on average in the euro area.

The Commission acknowledges that a complete mental switch to the euro necessarily takes some time.
However,
in order to speed up this process the Commission has recommended in agreement with
EuroCommerce in its recent Communication (1) to the sectors concerned to gradually phase-out the dual
display of prices and to discontinue it by 30 June 2003 at the latest, while informing their customers well
in advance of this change.

(1) The introduction of euro banknotes and coins (cid:1) one year after, COM(2002) 747 final of 19 December 2002.