WRITTEN QUESTION E-0594/03 by Matti Wuori (Verts/ALE), Bart Staes (Verts/ALE)and Elisabeth Schroedter (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. EU support for the indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation.
Date: 2003-02-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Russia, aid policy, indigenous population, life expectancy, living conditions, protection of minorities, public awareness campaign

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Official Journal of the European Union

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6.2.2004

concerning forced sterilisation of Roma women, the strong warning from the rapporteur for the European
Parliament J.M. Wiersma and the testimony here in Belgium of Roma women seeking asylum in our
country all point to the same conclusion: practices which we thought belonged to a dark and distant past
are still common.

Some women have told me that they were forced to undergo sterilisation, others that they were sterilised
whilst under anaesthetic during a Caesarean section. Yet others have spoken of financial assistance being
provided for sterilisation under the family planning budget.

The Slovak minister responsible for minorities is setting up an inquiry, but, according to news agency CTK,
writing on 30 January 2003, the minister also envisages the institution of proceedings against the authors
of the report.

Will the Commission be pressing for a detailed, objective national
it be examining
critically the results of such an inquiry against the background of Slovakia’s accession to the EU? If so,
could the Commission forward to me the results and measures to be taken by the Commission in
response? If not, does the Commission consider this form of reproductive policy not to contravene human
rights?

inquiry and will

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2003)

The Commission is aware of the allegations, recently published in a report of the ‘Center for Reproductive
Rights’, that Roma women are being sterilised without their consent or with coerced consent by doctors in
Eastern Slovakia.

The Member of the Commission responsible for Enlargement has immediately addressed this issue in a
letter to Slovak Prime Minister Dzurinda, underlining that these allegations are a matter of serious concern
and if proved to be true, would constitute a serious breach of human rights, provided the public
authorities have supported, tolerated or not taken proper legal actions in this respect. Moreover, he has
investigations, to remedy
asked the Slovak authorities to vigorously carry out the necessary criminal
possible discriminatory measures and keep the Commission informed about the proceedings.

According to the Commission’s information,
the competent authorities have launched the criminal
investigations, with a special investigation team being set up. The Roma advisor to the Ministry of Interior,
this team. The Ministry of Health and the Slovak
a Roma himself, has been assigned to consult
Gynaecological Society have been closely associated with the investigations. A preliminary inspection of
the latter institutions to one of the hospitals, mentioned in the report, has not confirmed the allegations, so
far. Finally, the Council of Europe has been invited by Slovakia to conduct a fact-finding mission in Eastern
Slovakia.

The Commission will continue to closely monitor
the
investigations. It will consider further measures, if appropriate and necessary and will, of course, keep the
Parliament informed.

the further proceedings and outcome of

(2004/C 33 E/053)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0594/03

by Matti Wuori (Verts/ALE), Bart Staes (Verts/ALE)
and Elisabeth Schroedter (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(28 February 2003)

Subject: EU support for the indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation

The indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation are approximately 200 000 in number, distributed
among 40 distinct groups with rich cultural heritages. Most of these peoples continue to live in the
traditional way. They are spread over huge areas, often without basic transport and communication
structures. They are the first to be affected by the serious environmental threats (linked to the presence of
gas and oil extraction plants, whose products are exported to the European Union) and the effects of
climate change. Their estimated life expectancy is 25 years lower than the average life expectancy of the
population of Russia.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Has the Commission supported the indigenous peoples as a target group under TACIS or other
Community programmes in the past five years? Could it provide a list of these projects?

How does the Commission monitor application of the principles of prior consultation, equal participation
and the right of veto of the indigenous peoples in the context of projects affecting them? (See the Council’s
conclusions of 30 November 1998 on indigenous peoples in the developing countries.)

How does the Commission keep itself informed of the situation of the indigenous peoples in the Russian
Federation, particularly as regards human rights, but also at the socio-economic, environmental and
cultural levels?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(2 April 2003)

The Commission is aware of the very particular situation of indigenous peoples living in Russia as well as
the difficulties they face.

The EC has funded several technical assistance projects, with the aim of promoting awareness of issues
affecting indigenous peoples and improving their access to education.

In addition to a certain number of more general projects which relate to ethnic relations (and which
therefore touch on questions relevant to indigenous peoples), two projects funded by the European
Initiative for Democracy & Human Rights (EIDHR) specifically target Russian indigenous peoples.

The first project, which runs until April 2003, aims to raise the awareness of the Russian population about
the rights and problems of minority indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East. This project
has, inter alia, created a cycle of 12 weekly educational radio programmes for Radio Russia. The second
project, which aims to extend the possibilities of the indigenous peoples of Siberia to obtain high level
education, will be launched soon.

The EIDHR is a demand-driven programme. The Delegation of the Commission in Moscow seeks to make
sure that all interested non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are aware of Commission EIDHR calls for
tender as they are announced, including NGOs of indigenous peoples.

The Commission closely follows the situation with regard to indigenous peoples in Russia by for example
maintaining contacts with organisations working to promote the rights of indigenous peoples. One
example is the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (Raipon), an NGO representing the
interests of northern indigenous peoples in Russia. NGOs of this type regularly take part in calls for tender
run by the Commission.

(2004/C 33 E/054)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0608/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(3 March 2003)

Subject: Angola: Budget 2003 (cid:1) Government’s Economic and Social Programme for 2003/2004

In reply to question E-2862/02 (1) of 10 October 2002 on the same subject (by the author of the present
question), the Commission, in the person of Commissioner Poul Nielsen, stated on 4 December 2002: ‘As
regards information on the implementation of the 2002 budget and the preparation of the 2003 budget,