WRITTEN QUESTION E-1332/03 by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Council. Transparency in trade policy discussions.
Date: 2003-04-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Council of the European Union, access to information, provision of documents, trade policy

26.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/77

In connection with this report, can the Council state whether it stands by the assessment given in its
answer to my question:

As regards specifically Greece and Turkey, both countries have come close to depositing jointly their
instruments of ratification (for Greece) or accession (for Turkey) to the Ottawa Convention. Marking
and protection of Greek minefields along the Turkish border have, according to Greek sources, already
resulted in a reduction of accidents by almost 90 % (cf. Landmine Monitor Report 2002 of the
International Campaign to Ban Landmines)?

In addition, could the Council state how many people have to its knowledge been killed or injured (please
give separate statistics) on this border since the entry into force of the Ottowa Convention (1 March
1999)?

(1) OJ C 155 E, 3.7.2003, p. 68.

Reply

(29 September 2003)

1.
After a meeting in the Turkish coastal town of Kas on 3 May, the Greek and Turkish Prime Ministers
announced in a joint statement that the procedures necessary to make their countries parties to the Ottawa
convention (ratification for Greece, accession for Turkey) had now been completed both in Greece and
Turkey. They declared that the two countries would now proceed to submit simultaneously their respective
instruments to the UN Secretary General.

The Council is not in the possession of statistics on casualties caused by landmines on the Greek-
2.
Turkish border. The Honourable Member may refer for this to the respective national authorities.
However, according to the latest annual report (2002) of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines
(ICBL), there is no central register of mine casualties in Greece, while in Turkey the Turkish Human Rights
Foundation is collecting reports of casualties which are being issued in monthly bulletins. ICBL information
resources can be consulted on the website www.icbl.org.

3.
As regards the results of marking and protection of Greek minefields along the Turkish border, the
Council is not in a position to verify the extent of the reduction of accidents indicated by Greek sources
(almost 90 %).

(2004/C 51 E/087)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1332/03

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Council

(9 April 2003)

Subject: Transparency in trade policy discussions

In the context of the increasing transparency of trade policy discussions, the decision by the Danish
Presidency to publicise the agendas of the 133 Committee on trade was widely welcomed.

The Greek Presidency has so far not followed this example. If this is a specific Presidency decision, what
are the reasons for not continuing this excellent precedent?

Reply

(29 September 2003)

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that public access to European Parliament, Council
and Commission documents is governed by Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 30 May 2001 (1).

C 51 E/78

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

The Council has incorporated the innovations made by Regulation No 1049/2001 in its Rules of
Procedure (2).

Consequently, on the basis of Article 11(4) of Annex II to the Council’s Rules of Procedure, the General
Secretariat may make the provisional agendas of the Council’s preparatory bodies, committees and working
parties available to the public provided they are clearly not covered by any of the exceptions laid down in
Article 4 of Regulation No 1049/2001. This is generally the case for provisional agendas of
the
Article 133 Committee.

The agendas in question are available to the public on the Council’s Internet site (http://ue:eu:int under the
heading ‘Transparency’,
‘Agendas and timetable of meetings’). If necessary they are made available on
request.

(1) OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43.
(2) Council Decision 2002/682/EC, Euratom (OJ L 230, 28.8.2002, p. 7).

(2004/C 51 E/088)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1338/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) and Marco Cappato (NI) to the Council

(9 April 2003)

Subject: Persecution of homosexuals in the Palestinian Authority territories and Israeli expulsions of

Palestinian homosexuals

According to the GLBT Israeli association ‘Aguda’ and the Haaretz newspaper, on 6 March 2003 two gay
Palestinians were tried for being in Israel illegally and consequently expelled to the Palestinian Authority.
On 16 March 2003, another gay Palestinian was put on trial for the same charge and after serving his
sentence he will be expelled to the Gaza Strip. According to information provided by Aguda, homosexuals
in the Palestinian Authority suffer persecution, arrest, injury and torture, at times ending in death, and
many of them are likely to be executed. Until a month ago the authorities in Israel did not arrest and/or
expel these people, but then this policy was changed and the youths were arrested and brought to trial,
and the automatic process of expelling them to the Palestinian Authority began. International human
rights organisations are acting to prevent these expulsions, and notably pleaded with the Israeli Interior
Minister, Mr Avraham Poraz, to use the authority vested in him by Israeli Law to stop the expulsions by
granting temporary residency visas, but Mr Poraz has replied negatively.

Can the Council confirm this information? Is the Council monitoring this issue? Will the Council intervene
with the Israeli authorities and particularly the Interior Minister to express EU concern at the fact that
these expulsions could endanger the lives of gay Palestinians? Will the Council
intervene with the
Palestinian Authority to ensure that fundamental human rights are respected and that persecution against
homosexuals stops?

(2004/C 51 E/089)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1346/03

by Ilka Schröder (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(10 April 2003)

Subject: Persecution of homosexuals in the Palestinian autonomous areas

In recent months there have been repeated reports in the press (including in New Republic, 19 August
2002, East Bay Voice, 19 September 2002, Ha’aretz, 6 March 2003 and 10 September 2001, Jerusalem
Post, 5 June 2001) and by civil rights groups (e.g. Agudah, http://agudah.israel-live.de) on serious
violations of the human rights of gays, lesbians, transsexuals and trans-genders in the autonomous areas
ruled by the Palestinian Authority (PA). In 2000, it is claimed, four Palestinians were killed for being
homosexual, and hundreds were forced to flee to Israel. It is alleged that ‘harassment of gays’ is ‘practically
official policy’ in the PA. The victims are frequently called collaborators and accused as such. However,