WRITTEN QUESTION E-0598/03 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. The EU and Brazil.
Date: 2003-02-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Brazil, EU Member State, Mercosur, association agreement, cooperation policy, development aid, election programme, market access, negotiation of an agreement (EU), presidential election, trade agreement

21.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 280 E/69

(2003/C 280 E/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0588/03

by Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(28 February 2003)

Subject: Freedom of association in Romania

Following the reply of 27 June 2002 to my question E-1377/02 (1), in which the Commission states that
freedom of association is covered by the Copenhagen criteria, new developments have occurred in
Romania. The Bucharest Court of Appeal has just confirmed the decision to refuse registration to
Romania’s first regional party, the Liga Transilvania-Banat. The Court stated, inter alia, that regionalism
and subsidiarity are principles that run counter to the unitary and indivisible character of the Romanian
state.

Is the banning of a democratic political party compatible with the spirit of the accession criteria defined in
Copenhagen? Does the Council intend to ask the Romanian authorities for an explanation?

(1) OJ C 28, 6.2.2003, p. 100.

Reply

(22 July 2003)

The Council recalls to the Honourable Member that Article 49 of the EU Treaty provides that any
European State which respects the principles of
for human rights and
fundamental freedoms and the rule of law may apply to become a member of the European Union.
Therefore the Council attaches the utmost importance to the respect, by the candidate countries, of the
principles of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. With regard to Romania, the Council notes
that the Commission’s 2002 Regular Report on Romania’s progress towards accession concluded that, in
general, Romania continued to fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria. The report also stated, more
specifically, that ‘The Romanian Constitution provides for the freedom of association and the freedom of
assembly. Both of these rights are respected in practice.’

liberty, democracy, respect

The Council does not intend to comment on a specific ruling of a Romanian court, which, according to
available information, can be further appealed both at other levels of the domestic judicial system and in
relevant international fora such as the European Court of Human Rights. If it turns out that there has been
a violation of the fundamental principles mentioned above, the European Union will, especially in the light
of
the Copenhagen criteria for accession, make the appropriate representations to the Romanian
authorities, particularly within the framework of the bodies established by the European Agreement.

(2003/C 280 E/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0598/03

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(28 February 2003)

Subject: The EU and Brazil

What measures does the Council intend to take to strengthen relations with Brazil and Mercosur, following
the recent election of President Luiz Inácio da Silva and the options for working together now opened up
in his programme?

Reply

(21 July 2003)

1.
The Council of the European Union, at the occasion of the election of President Luiz Inácio da Silva,
had the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to continue its excellent relations with Brazil and to
further enhance political dialogue, trade relations and economic links with that country. At the same
occasion, the Council expressed the EU’s confidence in the strengthening of the Brazilian economy and its

C 280 E/70

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

21.11.2003

potential for further growth. It indicated it looked forward to working closely with the new Brazilian
Government, also with a view to strengthening Mercosur, and reiterated the EU’s commitment to continue
to make further progress in the ongoing EU-Mercosur negotiations.

leaders have had the opportunity of meeting President Lula da Silva since the
Several EU political
beginning of the year, and have reaffirmed the importance they attach to the strengthening of EU-Brazil
relations. The Council has taken note with great satisfaction of repeated declarations made by President
Lula da Silva in favour of a more integrated Mercosur as well as of closer relations with the EU.

2.
The Council has, at several occasions, renewed its commitment to intensify and deepen the existing
political, economic, trade and co-operation relations between the EU and Mercosur. It has noted with
satisfaction the progress made by the EU-Mercosur Bi-regional Negotiations Committee with a view to
establishing an interregional strategic association to cover political, economic, trade and co-operation
matters. The Council has also recognised that the association process should support and stimulate the
development of Mercosur countries and contribute to the reduction of existing socio-economic disparities
between the two regions. It was also agreed that the ultimate objective of the trade negotiations is the
achievement of further effective access to their respective markets, on the basis of progressive and
reciprocal trade liberalisation in accordance with the WTO rules.

With the above principles and objectives in mind, the EU negotiators will pursue their task with a view to
reaching as soon as possible a comprehensive association agreement with Mercosur in order to deepen the
political, co-operation and economic relations between the two regions.

(2003/C 280 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0604/03

by Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop (PSE) to the Council

(3 March 2003)

Subject: Establishment of an agency for the promotion of linguistic diversity

At the beginning of February 2003 the European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages (EBLUL) held a special
meeting in Charleroi at which it adopted a resolution calling in particular on the European Union to set up
an agency responsible for promoting linguistic diversity and language learning (a model for which could be
the Vienna-based European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia).

In view of the particular wealth and variety of languages in the European Union and the fact that, in a
little over a year, 10 new countries will join the EU, and given that over 40 million people in the EU
currently speak a minority language on a daily basis (whereas (cid:1) for want of a legal basis, amongst other
things (cid:1) there is no real policy for protecting and promoting minority languages in the EU), what does the
Council think of the proposal adopted by the EBLUL? Does it not consider the establishment of such an
agency in the EU to be essential as a means of implementing a proper policy designed to promote
linguistic diversity and language learning in an enlarged EU? Would it be willing to consider such a
proposal with an eye to the future?

Reply

(21 July 2003)

Since the Council has not received any proposal concerning the establishment of an agency of the kind
advocated by European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages, it is not in a position to make any comments.