WRITTEN QUESTION E-1977/03 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council. Infringement by FYROM of the rights of Roma.
Date: 2003-06-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: North Macedonia, Roma, association agreement (EU), cooperation policy, human rights, living conditions, social integration, the EU's international role

26.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/173

(2004/C 51 E/192)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1976/03

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(13 June 2003)

Subject: Involvement of senior political figures in Portuguese paedophile rings

Recent revelations regarding the involvement of senior political figures in Portuguese paedophile rings
coincide with the preparations for the trial of a prominent television presenter, a former diplomat and a
child health specialist in similar cases. This once more highlights the bleak reality regarding the sexual
abuse of children. In this connection the Council is on the point of adopting an official and definitive
decision regarding proposed measures
the sexual exploitation of children and child
to combat
pornography following two years of deliberations and negotiations between the Member States.

Is the Council satisfied with policies to date seeking to combat the sexual exploitation of children and does
it consider further measures necessary to combat effectively at European level this extremely serious
problem, which is nothing less than a direct violation of human rights and human dignity?

Reply

(7 October 2003)

As a general point, the Council Framework Decision on combating the sexual exploitation of children and
child pornography, on which political agreement was reached at the Justice and Home Affairs Council
meeting on 14 and 15 October 2002, has not yet been evaluated. Indeed, it cannot be formally adopted
until the parliamentary procedure currently under way in one Member State has been concluded. The
Council nevertheless believes
recently adopted mutual assistance
instruments such as the European arrest warrant (1) or the Convention on Mutual Assistance of 29 May
2002 (2), and the extension of Europol’s powers to cover child pornography (3), provide effective tools to
combat these kinds of crimes. The preventive nature of the legal framework set in place, which ensures
that none of these crimes goes unpunished in the European Union, cannot, however, totally guarantee that
there will be no more such unfortunate cases of sexual exploitation of children.

instrument, and other

that

that

As for this particular instance, the Council never comments on cases pending before the judicial authorities
of the Member States, nor on the content of articles in the press.

(1) OJ L 190, 18.7.2002.
(2) OJ C 197, 12.7.2000, OJ C 379, 29.12.2000, OJ C 110, 7.5.2002.
(3) Council Decision of 3 December 1998 supplementing the definition of the form of crime ‘trafficking in human

beings’ in the Annex to the Europol Convention (OJ C 26, 30.1.1999, p. 21).

(2004/C 51 E/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1977/03

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(13 June 2003)

Subject: Infringement by FYROM of the rights of Roma

Concern has recently been expressed by the ‘Médicins du Monde’ organisation concerning flagrant
violations of the human rights of around 600 Roma (including 270 children, 10 pregnant women and
many elderly persons) on the boundary between Greece and FYROM near the Meditlija border crossing.
Without tents or any other form of shelter from the sun and rain and lacking elementary hygiene facilities,
the refugees have been stranded out in the open since March when the UNHCR and the FYROM Ministry
of Labour decided to close the camp, cancelling supplies of food, water and electricity. On 22 May the
Macedonian security forces forcibly drove the refugees away from the border. Lacking travel documents,
the Roma are completely dependent upon the authorities for survival.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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26.2.2004

What steps will the Council take under the EU-FYROM association agreement to ensure respect for human
rights and the restoring of decent living conditions for the Roma in Meditlija?

Reply

(7 October 2003)

Regarding the general situation for Romas in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), the
Council has in the context of
the Stabilisation and Association Process stressed with the FYROM
authorities the need for dialogue between ethnic communities including a real strategy for integration of
Romas in FYROM.

As far as the situation at the Medzitlija border crossing, the Council through its representatives in FYROM
is in regular contact with the FYROM Government in order to find a solution ensuring full respect of
human rights standards.

The Council would, however, like to underline that the 600-700 Romas at the Medzitlija border crossing
have voluntarily chosen to camp there, declining offers of alternative accommodation in as well as
financial support from UNHCR.

(2004/C 51 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1988/03

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Funding of joint ventures in the fishing industry

(16 June 2003)

Following the reform of the common fisheries policy adopted in December 2002, financial support for
joint ventures under the FIFG will disappear at the end of 2004. According to information from the
Commission, the EU has set aside EUR 2 400 million in support mechanisms for the European private
sector in third countries, to which the fishing industry would have access.

Can the Commission provide information on the origin of these funds intended for the European

1.
private sector in third countries?

Can the Commission say when, through what procedure and on what terms the European fishing

2.
industry will be able to access this support?

3.
Given their value as a development cooperation instrument for third countries, and as a factor
creating jobs and wealth in the Community fishing industry and in EU Objective 1 regions heavily
dependent on fishing, can the Commission say whether it is still considering the possibility of maintaining
aid for joint ventures under the FIFG after 2004, either as part of existing fisheries agreements or outside
them, bearing in mind that 78 % of joint ventures are based in third countries with which the EU has not
concluded such agreements?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 2003)

and

the African, Caribbean and

The Community
the ACP-
EC Association Agreement signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000, to make available to the ACP and
European private sector and commercially-managed public sector an investment fund of EUR 2,2 billion.
Investment funds have likewise been set up in the context of cooperation between the Community and
developing countries in the Mediterranean, Latin America and South and South-East Asia.

agreed,

Pacific

under

States