WRITTEN QUESTION E-1230/03 by Freddy Blak (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Enhanced legal cooperation.
Date: 2003-04-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law - national law, criminal procedure, judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the EU, legal system, rights of the defence

C 78 E/362

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

ICT equipment

treatment in employment and occupation (3), dealing with equal access to employment that refers to the
accessibility of
in the workplace. The Directive applies the principle of reasonable
accommodation. Also the Framework Directive refers to accessibility of products and services but does not
dictate the way in which this would happen. Actions are planned to implement the goals of this Directive
but there is no intention in any way to inhibit the European manufactures to market products in the world
market. On the contrary it is recognised in the world market, in countries like United States, Canada,
Australia that accessibility is a feature that adds value in the market. Furthermore, as mentioned before
only accessible products can be sold to the United States administration and this is the largest purchaser of
ICT products and services in the world. The Commission is firmly convinced that developing accessible
products in Europe will enlarge their market possibilities.

(1) CEN: European Committee for Standardisation Cenelec: European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation

ETSI: European Telecommunications Standards Institute.

(2) OJ L 108, 24.4.2002.
(3) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000.

(2004/C 78 E/0381)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1230/03

by Freddy Blak (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(2 April 2003)

Subject: Enhanced legal cooperation

Following a visit to a Danish national who is imprisoned in Spain, I now realise that European legal
cooperation leaves much to be desired. The person concerned has been in prison since 28 November
2001 accused of murder. On 14 January 2002, the accused’s lawyer sent an international court order to
the Spanish Ministry of Justice, to be forwarded in turn to the Danish Ministry of Justice, with a view to
summoning a witness for questioning. More than a year later, this international court order has still not
left the Spanish Ministry of Justice.

It is appalling that such sluggish procedures can delay and prolong legal cases. To date, no formal charge
has yet been made against the accused.

Will the Commission therefore say what initiatives it intends to take to enhance European cooperation in
this field?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

The Commission has no competence to intervene with regard to the detention by the Spanish authorities
of a Danish citizen accused of murder to which the Honourable Member refers in his question, which falls
entirely within the responsibility of the Member States concerned.

In the event that an excessive length of detention is regarded by the individual as a possible breach of his
or her rights under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms (ECHR), he or she has (cid:1) after all domestic remedies have been exhausted (cid:1) the right to make
an application to the European Court of Human Rights.

It should, also, be noted that the Commission currently is considering the question of pre-trial detention
and alternatives to such detention at a European level. This initiative is based on the Programme of
measures to implement the principle of mutual recognition of decisions in criminal matters (1). A Green
Paper on this issue will be published later in 2003.

On 19 February 2003 the Commission also published a Green Paper on Procedural Safeguards for
Suspects and Defendants in Criminal Proceedings throughout the Union (2). The Green Paper on Procedural
Safeguards focuses on the right to legal assistance and representation, the right to a competent, qualified
interpreter and/or translator, proper protection for especially vulnerable categories, consular assistance and
the knowledge of the existence of rights (‘letter of rights’).

27.3.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/363

The 2000 Union Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters will certainly contribute to the
improvement of the transmission and execution of letters rogatory. It has, however, so far only been
ratified by two Member States. It will enter into force after eight ratifications.

In particular measures 9 and 10, OJ C 12, 15.1.2001.

(1)
(2) COM(2003) 75 final.

(2004/C 78 E/0382)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1232/03

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission

(2 April 2003)

Subject: Member States’ policies on airport expansion

Could the Commission provide a summary of the principal airport expansion plans in Member States of
which it is aware, and give its opinion on whether it considers that the plans are:

1.

2.

sufficiently co-ordinated across the EU;

adequate to deal with the projected increase in air passenger demand over the next 40 years?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

The Commission does not systematically compile or administer information on expansion of Union
airports and, as a result, does not have a comprehensive overview of such current or planned expansion as
the subject of airport management and planning falls under the responsibility of Member States.

The Commission recognises that the long term growth of air transport has important implications for the
provision of air transport infrastructure. The Commission White Paper of September 2001 (1) identified
capacity constraints in the air and on the ground as key obstacles to economic growth. In its work
programme for 2003, the Commission has included the publication of a Communication on airport
capacity. In this context, preparations for the definition of a Community policy on airport capacity and
airport efficiency are in progress. As indicated in the White Paper, and in the light of reactions to it, the
Commission examines whether the revision of the existing guidelines on the Trans-European Network for
Transport aiming at concentrating on the most important infrastructure for international traffic and
cohesion on the European continent, may be part of this policy.

(1)

‘White Paper (cid:1) European transport policy for 2010: Time to decide’, European Communities September 2001.

(2004/C 78 E/0383)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1272/03

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 April 2003)

Subject: Discrimination in the treatment of citizens of EU Member States by the Turkish government

Is the Commission aware that there is discrimination between Netherlands and German citizens with
regard to the fee charged for a residence permit in Turkey, i.e. EUR 277 for by Netherlands citizens and
EUR 60 for Germans for the same permit?