WRITTEN QUESTION E-2033/03 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Re-opening of Greek secondary school at Rizokarpasso.
Date: 2003-06-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cyprus, EU relations, Türkiye, access to education, distribution of schools, educational institution, right to education

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/729

(2004/C 84 E/0820)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2033/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Re-opening of Greek secondary school at Rizokarpasso

(18 June 2003)

The Greek secondary school at Rizokarpasso has been closed since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in
1974. Since that time, children of families living in the enclave who finish their primary education in the
area and wish to go on to secondary school are forced to move to the non-occupied areas of the island.
The outcome of this situation is that families are moving from their homes and the Greek population of
the area is dwindling.

1. What steps will the Commission take to bring about the re-opening of the secondary school at
Rizokarpasso given the fresh measures recently announced to bring Turkish Cypriots closer to the EU and
the rapprochement between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities?

How can the Commission contribute towards securing the rights to education of the children of the

2.
enclave, which the Turkish Cypriot side guaranteed when it signed the Vienna III Agreement?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1983/03 and E-2033/03
given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 2003)

In general, responsibilities in the field of education policies remain with the Member States. The
competencies of the Community are limited.

Concerning the re-opening of the secondary school in Rizokarpaso, the Commission has taken note of the
remarks of both of the Honourable Members.

Regarding the Commission’s contribution towards securing the right to education of the children of
Rizokarpaso,
the Commission would like to refer to its Communication on promoting economic
development of the northern part of Cyprus and bringing it closer to the Union (1). The Commission is
proposing various measures bringing the northern part closer to the Union, ‘inter alia’, encouraging the
participation in community programmes such as the Comenius programme for schools. The Commission
is working on finding ways to implement these measures in consultation with the Government of Cyprus.

(1) COM(2003) 325 final.

(2004/C 84 E/0821)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2376/03

by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Al Sahri deported by Italy and executed in Syria

(16 July 2003)

On 23 November 2002 Mohamad Al Sahri, sentenced to death by the Syrian judiciary and in exile since
1983, arrived at the Milan airport of Malpensa and five days later the new Bossi-Fini law was carried out
and he was deported to Syria against his will. On 9 July 2003 Christopher Hein, chairman of the Italian
council for refugees, announced that Mr Al Shari had been executed in Syria on 28 February 2003.
Defying credibility, Italian immigration authorities have stated that Mr Al Sahri, asked to choose between
Jordan and Syria for his deportation, indicated his preference for the latter where he had been sentenced to
death.