WRITTEN QUESTION E-0732/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Guinea-Bissau: human rights.
Date: 2003-03-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Guinea-Bissau, human rights, political situation, voluntary organisation

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/73

(2004/C 33 E/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0721/03

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Prestige: setting up a European civil protection force

(11 March 2003)

On 19 December 2002 the European Parliament adopted a resolution on safety at sea and measures to
alleviate the effects of the Prestige disaster. Paragraph 20 calls for the setting up of ‘a European civil
protection force capable of responding to natural and industrial disasters, to create a legal framework for
European responses to disasters and to appoint a Commissioner responsible’.

What measures has the Commission taken or does it intend to take in response?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

The Treaty establishing the European Union does not allow for a European Civil Protection Force.
Consequently, a Commission co-ordination mechanism to facilitate reinforced co-operation in civil
protection assistance interventions (1) entered into force on 1st January 2002. Civil protection measures at
Union level have strictly to respect the principle of subsidiarity.

The Union Response Centre, established in the above-mentioned framework, co-ordinates the assistance
offered by the Member States in case of accidents.

Moreover, the Commission is also running a specific action programme in the field of response to marine
pollution (2).

Finally, the Commission already announced its intention to ammend the Regulation creating the European
Maritime Safety Agency in order to allow EMSA to purchase or lease anti-pollution ships in cases of
maritime pollution in the Union.

(1) Council Decision 2001/792/EC, Euratom of 23 October 2001 establishing a Community mechanism to facilitate

reinforced cooperation in civil protection assistance interventions, OJ L 297, 15.11.2001.

(2) Decision No 2850/2000/EC of 20 December 2000 of the Parliament and of the Council setting up a Community

framework for cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution, OJ L 332, 28.12.2000.

(2004/C 33 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0732/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(11 March 2003)

Subject: Guinea-Bissau: human rights

Recently there has been a spate of reports that trade unionists, human rights activists, leaders of opposition
parties and those of various associations have been arrested in Guinea-Bissau. These reports come on top
of others of severe restrictions on freedom of expression (RTP-Africa delegation, local radio stations and
other media), and on other fundamental rights, making the gloomy overall picture of the economic,
financial, social and political situation prevailing in Guinea-Bissau even blacker. Now, to complete this
picture of general collapse, comes the news that the legislative elections originally scheduled for April will
probably be postponed, on the grounds that the requisite funding simply cannot be found.

How has the Commission monitored the on-going deterioration of the situation in Guinea-Bissau and what
measures has it taken, in particular with regard to protecting human rights and putting an end to political
persecution there? Does the Commission believe that the EU could provide funding for the electoral

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Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

process, and thus help to ensure democratic developments in Guinea-Bissau? What other measures does
the Commission intend to take, either on its own or in cooperation with other countries and international
organisations, with a view to promoting Guinea-Bissau’s return to democratic normality?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 2003)

Within the context of its political dialogue with the authorities of Guinea- Bissau, the Commission closely
follows, in a permanent and regular way, the on-going deterioration of the situation as described by the
Honourable Member. A political dialogue encompassing a regular assessment of developments concerning
respect for human rights is provided for in article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement.

The Commission is willing to consider requests for financial support to the electoral process.

The Commission will continue to participate in a political dialogue with the authorities of Guinea-Bissau,
which may be intensified depending on the evolution of the situation.

(2004/C 33 E/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0739/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 March 2003)

Subject: Increasing spread of AIDS in countries with a low standard of living through poor medical

practice for injections and blood transfusions

Is the Commission aware of the article published in the February 2003 issue of the International
1.
Journal of STD and AIDS, a medical
in which David
Gisselquist, John Potterat and others say that the spread of AIDS in Africa differs significantly from the
spread of sexually transmitted diseases, that there is also a high incidence of AIDS in children between five
and 10 years old whose mothers are not infected, and that AIDS occurs remarkably frequently in
population groups with the highest level of education and health care?

journal covering sexually transmitted diseases,

2.
Does the Commission agree with the authors of the article referred to in paragraph 1 that poor
practice in blood transfusions and injections rather than sexual promiscuity may be contributing to the
further spread of HIV/AIDS?

3.
Does the Commission have comparable data from the applicant countries where, as a result of
relative isolation, the spread of HIV/AIDS initially lagged behind that in Western Europe, but where there
has subsequently been a sharp increase ever since cuts in the spending required to ensure good medical
care or restrictions on access to health care for lower income groups as a result of the collapse of national
health insurance systems for all?

4.
To what extent is the EU involved in programmes in non-member countries to combat HIV/AIDS
which have so far focused exclusively on sexually transmitted diseases and paid virtually no attention to
poor practice and other shortcomings in medical treatment?

5. What can the Commission to do to ensure that the real causes of the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS
throughout the world are better understood and that any changes required in methods of combating this
disease are introduced as soon as possible?

Source: Netherlands newspaper, De Volkskrant, 25 February 2003.