WRITTEN QUESTION P-1603/03 by Hans-Peter Martin (PSE) to the Commission. Identification of police officers.
Date: 2003-05-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: competence of the Member States, executive power, identity document, police, public order, public safety

C 51 E/114

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

with a legal obligation for their implementation. Directive 2001/18/EC does not, however, cover potential
economic impacts in terms of, for instance, losing a price premium in cases where a farmer discovers that
his harvested crop inadvertently contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs) above the labelling
thresholds.

The conditions under which European farmers are working are extremely diverse. Farm sizes, production
systems, crop rotations and cropping patterns, as well as natural conditions, vary enormously across
Europe. This variability must, therefore, be accounted for when devising implementing and monitoring
measures for co-existence to allow producers to meet legally established labelling thresholds.

Consequently, the Commission is currently preparing a Recommendation to the Member States, clarifying
the principles and measures which could be applied to address the issue of co-existence. Examples of such
measures include isolation distances, buffer zones, pollen traps or barriers, optimising sowing dates,
cleaning measures etc. The Recommendation will not only provide a clear framework for addressing
co-existence, it also intends to provide assurance to Member States that the Commission shall consider the
measures adopted at the national level, be they mandatory or non-binding, as being in compliance with
Community law or, indeed, Directive 2001/18/EC. The Commission intends to adopt the Recommendation
by July 2003 at the latest.

Two years after the publication of the Recommendation in the Official Journal and based on information
from Member States, the Commission will report to the Council and the Parliament on the experience
gained in the Member States concerning the implementation of measures to address co-existence, including
an evaluation and assessment of possible and necessary further steps to take.

With regard to the measures notified by the United Kingdom on 13 July 2001 the Commission has taken
the view that they are not admissible under Article 16 of Directive 2001/18/EC. It is up to the British
authorities to decide whether they wish to resubmit them for further consideration.

(2004/C 51 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1603/03

by Hans-Peter Martin (PSE) to the Commission

(6 May 2003)

Subject: Identification of police officers

French police officers assigned to duties in the vicinity of the European Parliament in Strasbourg repeatedly
refuse to identify themselves upon request or even to make known their service number. This practice is
followed even towards Members of Parliament. It is therefore impossible to attribute any abuse or excess to
individual police officers, which is contrary to the democratic principle of accountability to which
executive activities must be subject.

Is the Commission aware of this deplorable state of affairs?

Does the Commission intend to work towards the introduction of uniform rules for all Member States so
that police officers on duty can be identified?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(26 May 2003)

The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that it is not aware that any problems
have arisen in Member States due to police officers refusing to identify themselves vis-à-vis citizens. It is
important to recall that the maintenance of law and order and internal security, including the organisation
and the management of the police, are the sole responsibility of the Member States.

The Commission is therefore of the opinion that any difficulties identified should be brought to the
attention of the authorities of the Member State where they have occurred.