WRITTEN QUESTION E-0974/03 by David Bowe (PSE) to the Council. Falun Gong.
Date: 2003-03-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, EU relations, Hong Kong, freedom of religious beliefs, fundamental rights, human rights

21.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 280 E/115

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 2003)

As a result of the ‘Best Procedure’ project on Education and Training for entrepreneurship, an Expert
Group Report on existing measures to promote entrepreneurship education in Europe was finalised in
November 2002 (1). The document offers a picture of entrepreneurship teaching through formal education
(cid:1) from primary school to university (cid:1) in the Member States and Norway.

The report acknowledges the existence in most cases (cid:1) although to varying degrees (cid:1) of a national policy
commitment to promote the teaching of entrepreneurship, but notes that the requisite activities and
programmes are not yet generally available to students. Although many interesting experiences do exist
throughout Europe, they are not normally integrated into national structures or curricula, and teacher
training is insufficient. Initiatives are often isolated, taken by individual institutions, by partnerships or by
local authorities. Frequently, they are driven by external actors and not by the education system itself.
Entrepreneurship is more likely to be seen as an extra-curricular activity.

Furthermore, a lack of detailed national figures on the numbers of schools involved in entrepreneurship,
and the numbers of students taking part, makes it difficult to monitor progress.

The report also highlights some well established examples of good practice, with a particular focus on
‘learning by doing’, for instance by means of students at secondary level creating and running mini-
companies during one school year.

The report suggests possible action to be taken at various levels.
it calls for national
administrations to carry on converting the existing commitment into concrete measures, ranging from
changing the national curriculum to providing incentives to the schools or training the teachers.

In particular,

On that basis, a follow-up to this initiative (cid:1) open to candidate countries (cid:1) has already been launched
aiming to establish a methodology for achieving progress in this area. This work will lead to a new, more
policy-oriented report. Final results are expected by July 2003. The whole process aims at encouraging
is carried out jointly by the
policy change (cid:1) one of the essential
Commission and by the national administrations concerned (cid:1) and may eventually lead to proposing
national targets, to be reached on a voluntary basis by the participating countries.

features being that the project

(1) The Report is available (in 12 languages) on the Enterprise DG web pages, at the following address:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/entrepreneurship/support_measures/training_education/index.htm.

(2003/C 280 E/131)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0974/03

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Council

(26 March 2003)

Subject: Falun Gong

Following the announcement by the Hong Kong Government of
substantial concessions in the
implementation of the controversial anti sedition laws (Article 23 legislation) after widespread public
concern over the possible curtailment of basic freedoms in the territory, what plans does the Council have
for monitoring developments in Hong Kong and ensuring that restrictions on freedom of religion and
belief in China are a recurrent item on the agenda of the EU-China human rights dialogue?

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).