WRITTEN QUESTION E-0872/03 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Draft Regulation on trade in torture equipment.
Date: 2003-03-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: cruel and degrading treatment, executive competence, export licence, proposal (EU), torture, trade regulations

C 51 E/54

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

This question clearly refers to each Member State’s stability and convergence programme since those
programmes began to be agreed, together with the outturns since that point. Will the Commission further
show a summary table for each variable and each stability and convergence programme detailing the
difference between the projection and the subsequent outturn for each Member State?

(1) OJ C 192 E, 14.8.2003, p. 107.
(2) See page 13.

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2003)

In response to the question, a set of tables is being transmitted direct to the Honourable Member and to
Parliament’s Secretariat showing two key variables submitted by all the Member States in their stability and
convergence programmes, real gross domestic product (GDP) growth and the general government budget
balance as a percent of GDP. Since 1998 there have been five successive rounds of these programmes. The
first round of stability and convergence programmes was submitted between end 1998 and early 1999.
The latest and fifth round of programme was submitted between end 2002 and early 2003.

for each Member State,

The left-hand side of each table shows,
the targets/forecasts in successive
programmes and the actual outcome taken from the Commission’s Autumn 2002 Forecast. When
programmes contain different scenarios, one of the estimates is provided in the table while the other
scenarios are summarised as footnotes. The budget balance excludes the one-off receipts between 2000
and 2002 from the sale of universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS)
licenses (details in
footnotes). The right-hand side of the table calculates the difference between the targets/forecasts and the
actual outcome.

A table is included showing inflation outcomes for each Member State over the period 1997-2002
(harmonised indices of consumer prices (HICP) definition). A table detailing performance-to-target has not
been compiled because it is only for Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom that the assessment of
inflation and monetary policy developments, in the context of their convergence programmes, is relevant.

Further information, including the texts of the stability and convergence programmes for each Member
State, can be found at the following Commission website. http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/
about/activities/sgp/scplist_en.htm.

(2004/C 51 E/055)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0872/03

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(20 March 2003)

Subject: Draft Regulation on trade in torture equipment

With regards to the draft proposal for a Council Regulation concerning trade in certain equipment and
products which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel,
inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment; does the Commission take the view that the EU should have prior scrutiny
regarding applications to competent authorities for authorisation for export
transactions and other
activities?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2003)

On 30 December 2002, the Commission made a proposal for a Council Regulation concerning trade in
certain equipment and products which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel,

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Official Journal of the European Union

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inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (1). In March 2003, the Council made a decision on the
attribution of this proposal to some of its working groups. These working groups are now examining the
substance of this proposal.

the EC Treaty, which establishes exclusive Community
The proposed legal base is Article 133 of
competence for the common commercial policy. Fully in line with the notion of a common policy, the
proposal, which is still to be examined in Council, foresees a written consultation procedure involving all
competent authorities of the Member States and the Commission, for all decisions on applications for an
authorisation to export or to render services. The proposal foresees that, if consensus cannot be reached,
the Commission will have the power to decide, after consultation with the Member States in a
management committee. That procedure is one of the procedures foreseen in a Council Decision on the
exercise of implementing powers (2).

The procedural arrangements proposed by the Commission allow prior scrutiny of authorisations for
export transactions by all competent authorities and the Commission. They should ensure that all available
information about instances of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, in
third countries is taken into account.

(1) COM(2002) 770 final.
(2) Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing

powers conferred on the Commission, OJ L 184, 17.7.1999.

(2004/C 51 E/056)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1004/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(27 March 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the Daphne programme by the municipality of Ancona

In September 2002, the monitoring committee of the Italian Ministry for Economic Affairs issued a report
on the spending of EU funds.

The report reveals the alarming slowness and inefficiency with which EU funds are allocated to projects by
some regional authorities.

The grave concerns about the inadequate use of European funds by local authorities have frequently been
echoed by the Commission.

Bearing in mind that some local authorities, such as the municipality of Ancona, urgently need to use
European funds to combat the abuse of women and children,

can the Commission state:

1. whether the municipality of Ancona has submitted projects for the Daphne programme?

2. whether the municipality of Ancona has secured funding for these projects?

3. whether this funding has been used?