WRITTEN QUESTION E-0478/03 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Lifting of secrecy surrounding dubious financial transactions via the Republic of Cyprus.
Date: 2003-02-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community acquis, Cyprus, USSR, Yugoslavia, accession to the European Union, capital transfer, corruption, financial legislation, money laundering, outflow of capital

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/43

Does the Commission see a risk that a measure of this kind, which has now been approved by the
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newly elected Turkish Parliament, will not lead to reconciliation, the bridging of long-standing differences,
human rights improvements and greater scope for legal democratic opposition, but above all to further
tension as a result of the increase in the number of prisoners punished for their opposition to the civil
rights restrictions imposed by the government and forces of law and order?

Is this development consistent with the Copenhagen criteria that Turkey is required to satisfy before

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negotiations on accession to the EU can begin?

6. What is the Commission doing to prevent Turkey from once again becoming a breeding ground for
violent resistance by opposition groups protesting against what is felt to be permanent injustice?

7. What is the Commission doing to ensure that the human rights situation in Turkey does not
deteriorate further and that there is an end to pointless repressive legislation?

Source: Netherlands edition of Metro, 7 February 2003.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2003)

The Commission is aware of the human rights situation in the South-East of Turkey and of reports of
various human rights organisations,
including the Turkish branch of the Human Rights Organisation
(IHD).

The Commission is monitoring closely the situation of hunger strikes in Turkey. In its Regular Report of
2001 (1), the Commission reported that in Autumn 2000, the Turkish Government decided to implement a
reform of the prison system replacing large dormitories (up to 80 prisoners in one room) with a system of
small cells shared by one to three inmates (F-type high security prisons). This led to violent demonstrations
and hunger strikes, which related not merely to improvement of prison conditions but also to other
demands. In its Regular Report of 9 October 2002 (2), the Commission noted that the hunger strikes
protesting against the F-type prisons continued. The death toll is now at 64.

The Commission is of the opinion that the continuing loss of life as a result of hunger strikes is deplorable.
The Commission is aware of efforts taken by the Turkish authorities to put an end to the hunger strikes. It
is also aware of the recent legislation amending Articles 307/a and 307/b of the Turkish Penal Code related
to prison sentences applying to people calling for hunger strikes.

The Commission will continue to monitor closely the situation of human rights in Turkey, including the
hunger strikes and the situation in the South East of the country, and raise these issues as appropriate with
the Turkish authorities.

The Commission will give an assessment of the human rights situation in Turkey in light of
Copenhagen political criteria in its annual Regular Report to be published later in 2003.

the

(1) COM(2001) 700 final.
(2) COM(2002) 700 final.

(2004/C 33 E/041)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0478/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 February 2003)

Subject: Lifting of secrecy surrounding dubious financial transactions via the Republic of Cyprus

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millions of euro left civil-war-torn Lebanon and the states of

Is the Commission aware that during the 1990s large sums of money amounting to hundreds of
the disintegrating Soviet Union and

C 33 E/44

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

Yugoslavia through banks established in the southern part of Cyprus, and that some of these money flows
were recorded in Cyprus as ‘investments’ and the rest were channelled to other areas regarded as tax
havens?

2.
Does the Commission refute the fact that a mysterious firm, Antexo Trade Ltd, headed by former
officials of the Beogradska Bank, played a key role in financial transactions with foreign countries and that
all data concerning these transactions and the company were kept secret from the public as far as possible,
partly with the help of the national central bank of Cyprus, and that those who dared to report what was
going on, such as the newspaper Alithia and the businessman, P. Djordjevic, were threatened or put under
pressure to leave the country?

Does the Commission consider that secrecy of this kind surrounding possible money-laundering is

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appropriate for an EU Member State?

Is the Commission aware that even after the law was changed in 1996 in order to combat money-
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laundering through Cyprus, such transactions in fact continued,
including large transactions valued at
hundreds of millions of Deutschmark in 1998, and that once again the banks and the government
maintained the highest possible degree of secrecy and one of
the candidates in the forthcoming
presidential elections is alleged to have been involved?

5. What additional measures are required to ensure that Cyprus complies speedily, and before its
accession to the EU on 1 May 2004, not only on paper but in practice with EU financial regulations
concerning inexplicable money flows and how does the Commission intend to ensure that these measures
are introduced in good time?

Source: Netherlands TV2, ‘Twee Vandaag’ news programme, 8 February 2003.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2003)

The Commission has addressed the matter of money laundering in detail in all the Regular Reports on
Cyprus’ progress towards accession.

In the 2002 Report (1) it was stated that Cyprus has implemented all the necessary legislation in the area of
money laundering and put in place the necessary administrative capacity.

Further progress is still expected in terms of completing the reinforcement of the administrative structure
of the Unit for Combating Money Laundering (MOKAS) with the recruitment of the approved additional
staff.

The Commission continues to monitor how Cyprus is meeting the commitments it has made in the
accession negotiations. A recent monitoring mission to Cyprus has shown that the country is generally
meeting its commitments. A comprehensive monitoring report will be presented six months before
accession.

(1) COM(2002) 700 final.

(2004/C 33 E/042)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0485/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(20 February 2003)

Subject: Centenary of the first flight by the Wright Brothers (cid:1) Funding of a project in Eastern Europe

In June 2003 the Aero Club di Latina flying and parachuting school plans to organise a major cultural
event, with the patronage of the Italian Prime Minister and air force, namely an air cruise, on the occasion
of the centenary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight, along the same lines as the cruise once embarked on
by Italo Balbo in the eastern Mediterranean.