WRITTEN QUESTION P-0818/03 by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission. Return of Mrs Petacci's private letters to her heirs by the Italian State.
Date: 2003-03-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Court of Human Rights, Italy, archives, competence of the Member States, correspondence, cultural object, family, protection of privacy, public administration

C 280 E/92

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

21.11.2003

EUR 77 million has been allocated to respond to emergency needs, equivalent to 295 250 MT of food aid.
The remaining EUR 21 million (77 500 MT-equivalent) is in the last stages of the Commission’s approval
procedure. Most of the Community food aid is to be distributed between March and June 2003, which is
considered the most critical period.

The question as to whether substantially larger allocations will be needed is difficult to answer at this stage.
In late December 2002, some estimates of those in need of food aid reached 14,2 million: these were later
revised downwards to 11,3 million. While there still remain severe food shortages, the positive and prompt
response from donors has, for the moment, prevented the situation from deteriorating further. Substantial
supplementary requirements for the remainder of 2003 are not expected. Early indications are that the
2003 Belg rains have begun ahead of time. However, given the susceptibility of Ethiopia to food crises,
this could change unexpectedly.

In addition to the Community’s allocations, some EUR 46 million has been provided by Member States
under bilateral agreements, bringing the total contribution from the Union to EUR 148 million. This Union
response to the food crisis is estimated to constitute roughly 30 % of the global response to assessed needs
to end-2003, 58 % of which is now covered. Co-ordination between Commission and Member States has
been close, especially in Addis Ababa. A co-ordination meeting on the crises in both Southern Africa and
the Horn of Africa was also held in Brussels, on 4 February 2003, in an effort to develop a common
Union approach on the short, medium - and longer-term responses to the crises. The meeting allowed for
a more efficient, harmonised response to the crisis and provided greater awareness of the contributions of
individual Member States, and the Union as a whole, to the present emergencies.

Both the Commission and government of Ethiopia are committed to addressing the longer-term problem
of chronic food insecurity. Tackling food insecurity is vital in order to avoid the recurrence of transitory
food shortages. Adverse climatic conditions and interruptions to trade act as ‘triggers’, which spark off
such crises and are not in themselves the sole cause. In Ethiopia structural causes (cid:1) such as weak markets,
poor transport infrastructure, lack of assets, problems of land tenure and lack of opportunities outside the
sphere of agriculture (cid:1) are at the root of chronic food insecurity. Food security has been given priority
attention under the Cotonou Agreement. In October 2002, a EUR 25 million Food Security Programme, in
the form of budgetary support, was agreed for Ethiopia. Furthermore, under
the 9th European
Development Fund, EUR 54 million has been provided for the 2002-2007 period, specifically for food
security projects. These projects will focus on improving market efficiency, providing adequate storage
facilities, improving competitiveness in internal trade, increasing land productivity, improving agricultural
techniques and ensuring access to inputs, all with the aim of increasing production and the overall food
supply. Other programmed activities include provision of safety nets, improvement of social services, and
diversification of livelihoods. Further to this, a substantial allocation (EUR 211 million) has been made to
the transport sector. An adequate roads network is necessary to ensure the market sector operates
efficiently. This,
is a prerequisite to guaranteeing long term food security. This continued
commitment should gradually reduce Ethiopia’s vulnerability to food shortages and the threat of recurring
famine.

in turn,

(2003/C 280 E/098)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0818/03

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission

(11 March 2003)

Subject: Return of Mrs Petacci’s private letters to her heirs by the Italian State

For some ten years, the heirs of Mrs Claretta Petacci, who died tragically in 1945 along with Benito
Mussolini, have been petitioning the Italian State Central Archives and other competent bodies in vain for
the return of Mrs Petacci’s personal writings, in particular her private letters and personal diaries.

21.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 280 E/93

The Italian State’s continuing refusal to meet this request represents a serious breach of human rights, since
it has no legitimate interest in retaining these private letters, which the family of Claretta Petacci wish to
conserve and protect out of due respect for the personal and private feelings of a completely innocent
woman, who was barbarously murdered together with Benito Mussolini.

Will the Commission call on the competent Italian authorities to respect the human rights that have clearly
been breached in this case?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2003)

The Commission does not have a general competence as regards the fundamental rights under the terms of
the treaties on European Union and establishing the European Community. It could intervene only in the
event of violation of the fundamental rights in the field of application of Community legislation, which
does not seem to be the case related to the property of the letters of the late Mrs Petacci. Indeed the
regulation of property comes under the responsibility of the Member States. In fact, Article 295 of the EC
‘This Treaty shall in no way prejudice the rules in Member States governing the
Treaty provides that:
system of property ownership’.

It should be noted that a person who considers that her or his fundamental rights were violated has
possibility to apply to the European Court of Human Rights after exhausting domestic remedies.

(2003/C 280 E/099)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0822/03

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 March 2003)

Subject: Sovereign rights of the EU

Can the Commission confirm that the sovereign rights of the European Union are derived from the
sovereign rights transferred to the EU by the Member States?

Are there any EU sovereign rights which are not derived from the Member States?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 2003)

The European Union does not have any sovereign rights.
It exercises the powers which have been
conferred upon it by the Treaties (in particular Treaty on the European Union, EC Treaty and Euratom
Treaty) in conformity with the rules laid down in the said Treaties.

(2003/C 280 E/100)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0823/03

by Christel Fiebiger (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(18 March 2003)

Subject: Ban on Nifursol

Authorisation for Nifursol, currently the only substance available as a feed additive for the prevention of
blackhead disease in turkeys (Histomoniasis) is to be withdrawn as from 31 March 2003 for reasons linked
to consumer protection. This will pose serious problems for turkey farms: