WRITTEN QUESTION P-0556/03 by María Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Commission. European funding and the banning of women from Mount Athos.
Date: 2003-02-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, EU financing, Greece, historic site, religious tourism, sexual discrimination

C 65 E/34

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

Reply

(17 November 2003)

The EU remains concerned about the sentences of stoning to death continuing to be applied by the Sharia
Courts. The Presidency, on behalf of the European Union, has reacted to those infringements referred to by
the Honourable Member. The EU welcomed in its declaration of 27 March 2002 the acquittal of Safiya
Hussaini after being sentenced to death by stoning. The EU then followed closely the case of Amina Lawal,
also sentenced to death by stoning and expressed, in the declaration of 21 August 2002, its deep concern
about the decision of the court of appeal dismissing the appeal lodged by Amina Lawal. It will continue to
monitor developments in this case in the future.

In both these cases and in the political dialogue at HoMs level the EU continues to reiterate its position on
the death penalty and encourages the Government of Nigeria to continue to work towards the abolition of
the death penalty and the prevention of all
inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment.

forms of cruel,

The European Union will continue to use its political dialogue with Nigeria to press for further progress in
this matter.
in
particular, human rights and human dignity with particular reference to women (1).

It urges the Nigerian authorities to fully respect

their international obligations and,

In addition, the EU attaches great importance to the role of civil society and supports in particular human
rights and other non-governmental organisations active in this area.

As pointed out in the question, cooperation between the EU and Nigeria takes place in the framework of
the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000. Respect for all human rights and
fundamental freedoms is an essential element of this Agreement, as stipulated in Article 9. Article 96 of the
Cotonou Agreement opens the possibility for the signatories of the Agreement to engage in consultations
when a Party has failed to fulfil an obligation stemming from i.a. respect for human rights. These
consultations occur if political dialogue has failed. If consultations are refused or fail, appropriate measures
may be taken which may include the suspension of development cooperation.

(1) Barcelona European Council, 15/16 March 2002.

(2004/C 65 E/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0556/03

by María Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Commission

(20 February 2003)

Subject: European funding and the banning of women from Mount Athos

The European Parliament has recently adopted two motions for resolutions (Swiebel and Izquierdo Rojo
reports) in which it opposed the banning of women from Mount Athos. It should also be borne in mind
that the monastery region of Mount Athos has been granted aid to restore and renovate monasteries and
preserve cultural treasures, which belong to both men and women.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. How much European funding has been allocated for this purpose?

2. Does the Commission not take the view that it is mandatory for the acquis communautaire to be

applied, in line with the EU’s fundamental principles?

3. What European Economic Area funding mechanism has been used to benefit the region economically?

4. Under the Community support framework for Greece,

in what specific way is such aid granted
through the structural funds? What criteria have been used to define the fields of structural adjustment
and economic development?

13.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65 E/35

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

1.
The Honourable Member is referred to the table which is sent directly to the Honourable Member
and to Parliament’s Secretariat, submitted by the Greek authorities, and containing a list of the projects in
the monastery region of Mount Athos that have been co-funded by the Structural Funds.

The Honourable Member is referred to the reply given by the Commission to Written Question

2.
No E-1055/01 by Mr Glyn Ford (1).

3.
The Honourable Member is referred to the second table which is sent directly to the Honourable
Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat, submitted by the secretariat of the European Economic Area and
containing a list of the projects in the monastery region of Mount Athos that have been funded by its
Financial Mechanism.

Under the 2000-2006 Community Support Framework for Greece, projects being proposed for
4.
inclusion in Community programmes and for co-funding by the European Structural Funds, are selected by
the Greek authorities in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Community Support Framework
for Greece and the individual operational programmes (agreed with the Member State and adopted by the
Commission), as well as those set out in the Programming Complement document and in the criteria for
the selection of projects (adopted solely by the Member State).

(1) OJ C 318 E, 13.11.2001.

(2004/C 65 E/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0576/03

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 February 2003)

Subject: Declassification of woodlands in Greece

The Greek Parliament’s legislation drafting committee recently finished drafting a Ministry of Agriculture
bill on the protection of forest ecosystems, the establishment of a forestry register, the regulation of real
rights in respect of forests and woodlands in general and other provisions.

According to forestry experts, if this bill is adopted, the classification of 5 000 hectares per prefecture as
forests and woodlands will be called into question, which may lead to the declassification of a total of
170 000 hectares throughout Greece, given that
the country’s 34 prefectures contain woodlands.
Environmental bodies have complained that the bill means that hundreds of thousands of hectares will
fall victim to arbitrary development and landgrabbing.

In parallel with the Ministry of Agriculture’s bill, the Ministry of the Environment, Regional Planning and
Public Works and the Ministry of Finance are drawing up a joint ministerial decision which provides that,
following declassification under the bill in question, areas of land that have been illegally developed may
be ceded to the illegal developers at a price and may be built on as unplanned building projects, since,
according to statements by the Secretary of State for the Ministry for the Environment, Regional Planning
and Public Works, the concept of unplanned building project will be abandoned by 2004.

Given the fact that Greek woodlands are increasingly scarce and given also the chaotic state of town
planning and housing in Greece and the Commission’s previous statement that ‘Member States must avoid
any action that may lead to a further deterioration of the forestry situation on their territory’, does the
Commission consider that the bill in question is compatible with Community policy on the protection of
forests and the environment generally? Does it also intend to make any recommendations to the
competent Greek authorities to prevail upon them to honour the commitments they have assumed both in
the European Union and at international meetings?