WRITTEN QUESTION E-1891/03 by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE)and Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission. Iran's nuclear activities.
Date: 2003-06-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Iran, nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear policy, nuclear safety, nuclear weapon, trade agreement (EU)

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/619

The 2002 Call for Proposals was designed to continue this process. The Call, for EUR 25 million, covered
the funding of torture prevention projects and rehabilitation centres, with a plan to allocate one third and
two thirds of the funds available to those two fields of activities respectively. All projects submitted were
evaluated by two experts, one of whom was experienced in project management and the other in the
psychiatric/psychological field. The projects were ranked according to score and were selected with a view
to ensuring a balance in the geographical distribution of the proposed activities.

The quality of the projects submitted by the rehabilitation centres for activities based within the Union
(budget line B5-813) did, in fact, produce a result which respected the planned balance. However, the
projects submitted by centres based outside the Union scored rather badly (sometimes below the minimum
required), which did not allow for the selection of sufficient rehabilitation projects to respect the envisaged
two thirds (cid:1) one third balance. Around EUR 4,5 million was allocated to centres outside the Union (for
the period 2002-2003), with around EUR 8 million being provided for torture prevention projects.
Approximately EUR 4 million was allocated for rehabilitation centres inside the Union, with an additional
EUR 2 million for projects including aspects in support of victims of torture.

As regards the likelihood of centres closing as a result of failure to secure Community support, this must
be considered in light of the expressed policy to move away from rehabilitation and towards prevention
and the measures outlined above which have accompanied that change in policy. Support to centres can
only be given in accordance with competitive rules designed to ensure that the Union taxpayer gets value
for money by only funding the best proposals, which meet minimum quality requirements.

It is not possible to reallocate funds from the 2003 budget to rehabilitation centres. This would result in
other important human rights’ priorities under the EIDHR facing cuts, would fail to respect EIDHR
programming and could not be executed within the rules set down by the revised Financial Regulation (2).
A further call for EUR 5,5 million for centres inside the Union is, however, planned for 2003.

(1) COM(2001) 252 final.
(2) Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the

general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 248, 16.9.2002.

(2004/C 88 E/0638)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1891/03

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE)
and Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission

(6 June 2003)

Subject: Iran’s nuclear activities

The European Union is currently negotiating on a trade treaty with Iran. Iran has nuclear activities that are
not entirely transparent to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In February 2003 IAEA
officials visited Iran. They are still not convinced and have asked Iran to provide a written answer to their
questions.

Does the Commission agree that total transparency on nuclear activities is a precondition for a trade
treaty?

What steps will the Commission take if total transparency is not provided?

Is the Commission prepared to stop the negotiations in the absence of total transparency?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2003)

The Union has repeatedly stated that the issue of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) constitutes one of
the major areas of concern in its relations with Iran. While recognising Iran’s right as a party to the Non-

C 88 E/620

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, the Commission strongly
supports the view of the Union that Iran must be fully transparent in compliance with this Treaty. In this
context the Commission welcomes the report of the International Atomic Energy Center (IAEA) but notes
with concern that Iran reportedly has failed to fulfil certain of its obligations under the NPT safeguards
agreement. It trusts that Iran will address these shortcomings without delay and hopes that Iran will take
steps to adhere to relevant international instruments to ensure additional transparency.

The Union will keep Iran’s progress in this area under continuous review. Positive measures taken by Iran
in the near future on the question of its nuclear activities, including full transparency, would undoubtedly
help the Trade and Corporation Agreement (TCA) negotiations. The reverse is also true.

(2004/C 88 E/0639)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1902/03

by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 June 2003)

Subject: VAT and the European art market

Does the Commission agree with the conclusions of the study ‘VAT and the European Art Market’
published by the European Fine Art Foundation in 2003? If not, why not? In particular, will it submit a
proposal for a single registration system, as proposed in that study?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 2003)

The greater part of the study ‘VAT and the European Art market’ is taken up by a detailed guide for art
traders explaining the VAT obligations imposed by Member States. The Commission commends the
European Fine Arts Federation for taking the initiative to collate and publish this information.

Following the adoption of the Directive on the VAT treatment of e-services (1) which is referred to in the
European Fine Art Federation’s study, the Commission is fully committed to the concept of the ‘one stop
shop’ whereby traders would be able to fulfil their tax obligations in the Member State in which they are
established. In this regard, the Commission has commissioned a major study into the obligations faced by
taxable persons who wish to trade in their own and in other Member States. The conclusions of this study
are currently the subject of a public consultation on the ‘Your voice in Europe’ (2) website. The
Commission will take comments received on this consultation into account when drafting a proposal
regarding the simplification of obligations, including registration obligations, which it intends to make in
2004.

(1) Council Directive 2002/38/EC of 7 May 2002 amending and amending temporarily Directive 77/388/EEC as
regards the value added tax arrangements applicable to radio and television broadcasting services and certain
electronically supplied services, OJ L 128, 15.5.2002.
(2) http://europa.eu.int/yourvoice/consultations/index_en.htm

(2004/C 88 E/0640)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2041/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(19 June 2003)

Subject: Violation of religious freedom in Russia through exclusive cooperation agreements with the

Russian Orthodox Church

Considering that:

(cid:1) the 1993 Constitution proclaims that Russia is a secular state in which there is no state religion and

religious organisations are separate from the state and equal before the law;