WRITTEN QUESTION P-1840/03 by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission. Post-Iraq-War aid.
Date: 2003-05-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU relations, Egypt, Iraq, aid policy, economic situation, human rights

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/45

(2004/C 88 E/0047)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1833/03

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(2 June 2003)

Subject: Iraq (cid:1) serious danger to civilians from unexploded landmines and looting activities.

According to Human Rights Watch, following the end of the recent war in Iraq, civilian casualty figures
have shot up compared with the number of casualties during the war itself, principally because of the large
quantities of unexploded ordnance (cid:1) landmines, grenades and other explosive devices (cid:1) left behind in
residential areas following the sudden collapse of the Iraqi military command and control structure and the
resulting flight of military personnel who abandoned their equipment. Many of the victims are children
who suffer serious injury from playing with explosive devices. At the same time looting is continuing,
while snipers, conjectured to be Baath Party members seeking to destabilise the country, are injuring and
killing many innocent civilians. In addition countless public service documents are being destroyed in Iraq.
According to Amnesty International, British troops were involved in the mass destruction of electricity
supply company documents in Basra.

At the same time American armed monitoring forces in Iraq are ignoring appeals for mine clearance and
more patrols. Appeals by international human rights organisations for at least some level of policing have
also been disregarded.

What measures will the Commission take in an effort to ensure that the occupying and monitoring forces
in Iraq comply with international agreements and effectively protect the Iraqi civil populace from the
above dangers which are threatening not only their individual lives and welfare but also the very structure
of the State?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 2003)

The Commission shares the concerns of the Honourable Member about the security situation in Iraq, and
about the continuation of looting and attacks by criminal elements or remnant of the Baath Party. The
present situation seriously risks compromising the effort to stabilize the country and prevent the deliver by
the humanitarian operators of the necessary aid to the population.

The Commission hopes that the coalition forces which represents the authority in Iraq will undertake the
necessary steps to guarantee security and to protect the civil population from any sort of threat. In this
respect, the conclusions of the European Council in Thessaloniki stress the need to provide security to the
civilian population as a precondition for the sustainable reconstruction of the country.

The Commission is also aware of the problem of the casualties provoked on a daily basis by the
unexploded ordnance left on the ground following the conflict. In this regard the Commission has recently
adopted a decision to provide a financial contribution of EUR 10 million, for supporting de-mining
activities carried out by international non-governmental organisations and co-ordinated by UNMAS. This
funding decision will help collect and disseminate information on likely locations of high concentration of
unexploded landmines and bombs, develop local capacity through formal training sessions and raise
awareness through Mine Risk Education.

(2004/C 88 E/0048)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1840/03

by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission

(26 May 2003)

Subject: Post-Iraq-War aid

Given the recent record of human rights abuses in Egypt, can the Commission explain the rationale and
decision-making process that led to the conclusion to send an accelerated package of eur 175 million in
financial assistance to Egypt?

C 88 E/46

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 2003)

The EUR 175 million which the Commission intends to provide in the form of budgetary support to Egypt
is an acceleration in disbursements within existing programmes funded from the MEDA budget.

This decision is designed as an emergency response to mitigate the negative economic effects of the Iraq
war on the Egyptian economy. The immediate economic impact of the Iraq war on Egypt has been
considerable, especially in lost tourist revenue and diverted direct foreign investment.

On the issue of Egypt’s record on human rights, the Commission has not hesitated to raise issues of
concern with the Egyptian authorities when it has been judged appropriate to do so. The Association
Agreement, currently under ratification, will offer an additional and useful forum to discuss such issues.

(2004/C 88 E/0049)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1844/03

by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission

(3 June 2003)

Subject: Treatment of gays, lesbians and transsexuals in Poland

It has been brought to my attention that the Polish Government is seeking derogation from certain EU
‘acquis’ in order that it can regulate on moral issues.

Is this an issue which has been raised, and what response has been given to them?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2003)

The Polish Government has sought and indeed succeeded to have a declaration on ‘public morality’
inserted in the Accession Treaty. This, however, does not imply that Poland was granted an exemption
from its duties and obligations under the EC Treaties. On the contrary, the present Member States have
issued a general joint declaration underlining that the declarations added to the Accession Treaty cannot be
interpreted or applied in a way contrary to the obligations of the Member States arising from the Treaty
and the Act of Accession. The Commission has fully subscribed to this declaration.

For this reason, the ‘acquis communautaire’ in this area, including the employment, equal treatment and
anti-discrimination acquis, will have to be applied in full by Poland upon accession at the latest. More
specifically, as regards the transposition of Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing
the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin (1) and Council
Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in
employment and occupation (2), the Commission has always insisted with the Polish authorities (as it has
with all future Member States) that all the grounds for discrimination must be explicitly protected against,
and that legislation must thus explicitly refer to race or ethnic origin, religion and belief, disability, age and
sexual orientation. In other words, it has been made clear to the Polish government that this declaration on
‘public morality’ cannot be interpreted as absolving the Polish government from any of its obligations
under
for
Employment and Social Affairs also underlined that discrimination based on sexual orientation was not
covered by the current draft legislation on access to employment, vocational guidance and training and
that this had to be remedied in order to comply with the Directives.

to Poland the Commission’s Director-General

these Directives. During her

recent visit

(1) OJ L 180, 19.7.2000.
(2) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000.