WRITTEN QUESTION P-0771/03 by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Commission. Right to religious freedom in Cambodia.
Date: 2003-03-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cambodia, freedom of religious beliefs, national law

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/79

The Commission welcomes the decision of the Government of Vietnam to elaborate an action plan for
legal reform, based on the Legal Means Assessment, which has been established with the support of the
international donor community. The Union, Commission together with the Member states, has repeatedly
urged the Government of Vietnam to strengthen its respect for political and religious freedoms, as well as
to further strengthen economic and social
in its
declaration at the Consultative Group meeting in Hanoi in December 2002. Moreover, the Commission
and the Member States have declared that they will welcome any possibility to support the Vietnamese
government in measures to strengthen the governance and public administrative reforms, to improve
human rights, to prepare for the signing and implementation of additional international conventions in
human rights and in other areas where assistance could be helpful.

freedoms. The Union has expressed this request

The Commission Delegation, together with the representatives of the Member States, will continue to
follow closely the human rights situation in Vietnam and take appropriate action.

(2004/C 33 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0770/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(6 March 2003)

Subject: Suspected infringement procedures and recording of infringements notified to the Italian Republic

pursuant to Article 85 of the EC Treaty

With reference to Article 85 of the EC Treaty:

(cid:1) will the Commission give details of the number and nature of the suspected infringement proceedings
notified to the Italian Republic and, in each case, will it say when the procedure was opened and for
what infringement, whether it was initiated at the request of a Member State or automatically and
what stage it has now reached?

(cid:1) will the Commission say whether infringements have been recorded for which the Italian Republic has
not yet adopted the necessary corrective measures and, in each case, will it say when the procedure
was opened, and for what infringement, whether it was initiated at the request of a Member State or
automatically, and what measures the Commission asked to be adopted and when?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 2003)

The Commission took one formal decision within the meaning of Article 85 (2) of the EC Treaty in 1987
with regard to Alitalia.

For the rest, the Commission does not have sufficient details of the matter to be able to investigate the
problem raised and is not, therefore, in a position to answer the question at the moment. It would ask the
Honourable Member to specify its question. Article 85 of the EC Treaty does not provide for any
notification to Member States.

(2004/C 33 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0771/03

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Commission

(6 March 2003)

Subject: Right to religious freedom in Cambodia

Last Friday the Ministry for Religious Affairs of Cambodia adopted a directive forbidding all public
proselytising activities. The provision is clearly aimed at preventing possible religious tensions and
protecting the privacy of the Cambodian people. The government’s initiative appears to have been

C 33 E/80

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

prompted by the practice followed by some religious communities, such as the evangelical churches, of
campaigning from door to door. The Under-Secretary of State for Religious Affairs, Dok Narin, has said
that: ‘some Christian groups are not good. They are forcing people to convert’.

Is the Commission aware of this provision? What will it do to avert the risk of this directive being used to
discriminate against religious groups disliked by the government? What pressures will it bring to bear to
ensure that Cambodians fully enjoy the right to religious freedom, which, as established by Article 18 of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, includes the freedom to change religion or belief and the
freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest one’s religion or
belief in teaching practice, worship and observance?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2003)

The Commission is well aware of the Directive of the Ministry of Cults and Religious Affairs issued on
14 January 2003, which aims at preventing inter-religious conflicts by enforcing instructions issued on
21 August 1999.

While it is true that according to the Directive, some Christian proselytising activities are forbidden, such
as door-to-door visits ‘since these actions disturb the daily life of the people and create situations of
insecurity that affect social peace’, the Directive also states that it is compulsory to respect religions other
than yours own and it is forbidden to criticise or smear them. This is also valid for Buddhism, the State
religion in Cambodia. Any activity leading to inciting religious hatred or conflict is also prohibited.

Religious freedom in Cambodia is guaranteed by article 31 (Chapter III) of the Constitution. In the absence
of an in dept-analysis at this stage, the Directive as well as measures adopted until now by the Ministry of
Cults and Religious Affairs, which are put in place to avoid the risks of religious conflicts, do not appear to
violate the Universal Declaration on Human Rights nor the provisions of the Cambodian Constitution.

The Commission does not find any reason, at present, to believe that the government will use this
Directive to discriminate against any particular religious groups.

(2004/C 33 E/076)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0772/03

by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 March 2003)

Subject: Ruling of the Netherlands Competition Authority (NMA), Case No 2269, concerning the shrimp

wholesale trade and fisheries regarding price agreements

Is the Commission aware of the ruling of the Netherlands Competition Authority (NMA), Case

1.
No 2269, concerning the shrimp wholesale trade and fisheries regarding price agreements?

2.
Is the Commission prepared to enter into consultations with the producer organisations and
representatives of the Netherlands Government in the very near future to consider which agreements
should be made?

Does the Commission agree that the NMA ruling is at odds with European policy to encourage

3.
producer organisations to take a sustainable approach to our fish stocks?