WRITTEN QUESTION P-1030/03 by André Brie (GUE/NGL) to the Council. The first CWC (Chemical Weapons Convention) Review Conference.
Date: 2003-03-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Iraq, UN convention, United States, chemical weapon, international law

C 280 E/116

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

21.11.2003

Reply

(22 July 2003)

The Council recalls that the EU, in all political dialogue meetings with China, underlines the importance it
attaches to respect for human rights, including the freedom of religion and belief. It will continue to do so
on every possible occasion. At every session of the human rights dialogue with China, the EU urges the
Chinese authorities to respect the human rights of the followers of Falun Gong. In addition, the EU Heads
of Mission in Beijing and in Hong Kong follow developments in the human rights area very closely.

On 15 April 2003, the EU issued a statement on Article 23 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong.

The European Union will continue to follow this issue closely.

(2003/C 280 E/132)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1030/03

by André Brie (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(20 March 2003)

Subject: The first CWC (Chemical Weapons Convention) Review Conference

With the approach of the first CWC (Chemical Weapons Convention) Review Conference, scheduled for
April 2003, I’d like to draw the attention of the Council to reliable information that the US military has
initiated research and development of so-called non-lethal chemical agents for a wide range of possible
civilian and military purposes. Moreover, during a meeting of the House of Representatives Armed Services
Committee (on 5 February 2003) Mr Donald Rumsfeld not only announced his wish to use chemical
weapons in a possible war against Iraq but also attacked the ‘straitjacket’ imposed by bans in international
treaties on using those weapons. This would be illegal under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention
which prohibits development, production and use of chemical weapons and the 1925 Geneva Protocol,
which bans the use of chemical weapons as a method of warfare.

In the light of these developments:

(cid:1) Is the Council aware of this problem?

(cid:1) What is its position towards such an anachronistic position (when on the one hand UN Resolution
1441 tries to disarm Iraq of exactly those weapons (among others), and on the other hand the US
Government threatens to use them)?

(cid:1) What does it intend to do to encourage the active defence of the CWC against attempts to undermine

this unique international disarmament instrument and to uphold the rule of law?

Reply

(22 July 2003)

The Council considers that the first Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention is a key
event in the life of this multilateral instrument, which is virtually unique in many respects.

Member States have reiterated their commitment to several key aspects of the implementation of the
Chemical Weapons Convention. Among these key aspects are the universality of the Convention, the
principle that all countries having ratified the Convention must adopt national implementing legislation for
the Convention which is as complete as possible, and the principle of compliance (and possible use of
challenge inspections).

21.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 280 E/117

The Conference also provides for the opportunity to uphold the prohibition on use, as defined by Articles 1
and 2 of the Convention. The prohibition is the very basis of the Convention. Member States are of the
view that there can be no room for compromise in this area. This means that monitoring compliance with
the Convention, even by countries that are not States parties, is a key and irreplaceable task.

(2003/C 280 E/133)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1125/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) by the municipality of Terni

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 Terni, urgently need to use
European funds to regenerate areas in industrial decline and to reduce imbalances in social and economic
development,

Can the Commission state:

1. whether the municipality of Terni has submitted projects for the ERDF?

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

3. whether this funding has been used?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 2003)

Terni municipality is partly eligible for assistance from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
under the Umbria SPD (single programming document) for 2000-2006.

The Umbria SPD has been approved by Commission decision (1) and provides for ERDF financing of
EUR 150,5 million for total public expenditure of EUR 221,7 million.

Since the Umbria SPD is a programme with decentralised management, the authority responsible for
carrying out operations is the Umbria region (cid:1) which has laid down project selection criteria in the
programming supplement and is responsible for appraising applications. The Honourable Member could
therefore appropriately ask that authority for detailed information on the projects presented and financed
for Terni municipality.

(1) COM(2001) 2119 final.