WRITTEN QUESTION E-2043/03 by Maurizio Turco (NI), Emma Bonino (NI),Marco Pannella (NI), Marco Cappato (NI), Benedetto Della Vedova (NI),Gianfranco Dell'Alba (NI) and Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission. Means of putting an end to violations of religious freedom.
Date: 2003-06-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, EU relations, Laos, Russia, Viet Nam, bilateral relations, financial aid, freedom of religious beliefs, human rights, terms for aid

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/69

(2004/C 78 E/0068)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2043/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI), Emma Bonino (NI),
Marco Pannella (NI), Marco Cappato (NI), Benedetto Della Vedova (NI),
Gianfranco Dell’Alba (NI) and Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

Subject: Means of putting an end to violations of religious freedom

(19 June 2003)

Knowing that:

(cid:1) In May 2003 the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, a US federal government
agency, published its annual report on religious freedom in the world, which includes the following
points:

(cid:1) serious concerns are expressed about the situation in the Russian Federation, including possible
interference by the Russian Orthodox Church in national politics, strict control of religious
practice among Russian citizens by the State and the refusal to grant visas to clergy and religious
workers;

(cid:1) the situation in the People’s Republic of China is characterised by the regular internment, torture
and detention of Chinese citizens owing to their religious beliefs, as well as strict surveillance of
religious activities in Tibet;

(cid:1) in Laos, government officials are involved in systematic violation of religious freedom, which

takes the form of imprisonment and forced conversions;

(cid:1) in Vietnam, religious dissidents are jailed and there has been a campaign of forced conversions of
Vietnamese religious minorities in the north-western provinces and the central highlands
inhabited by the ‘Montagnard’ communities. In view of the seriousness of violations the USCIRF
suggests halting aid for projects other that humanitarian actions until the Vietnamese authorities
undertake to respect religious freedom.

Will the Commission state:

(cid:1) whether it is aware of the serious and systematic violation of religious freedom in Russia, China, Laos

and Vietnam?

(cid:1) whether it intends to accept the USCIRF’s suggestion that aid for projects other than humanitarian

actions be halted until the Vietnamese authorities undertake to respect religious freedom?

(cid:1) whether it considers that the suspension of all aid other than humanitarian aid until religious freedom
is respected can act as an effective deterrent or what could be used as an alternative instrument?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2003)

The Commission is well aware of the situation regarding religious freedom in the Russian Federation,
China, Laos and Vietnam, and monitors this issue closely.

This issue has been raised with these national authorities, within the framework of the political dialogue
that the Union conducts with these countries. Furthermore, the Commission will continue to raise these
problems through all channels available, as appropriate.

the pattern of
The Commission will also continue to impress upon the Russian authorities that
developments regarding freedom of religion (cid:1) and other related human rights issues (cid:1) is neither
acceptable nor compatible with the major international and European Human Rights conventions that
Russia has ratified, which include reference to freedom of religion or belief.

In the case of Laos, Commission concerns regarding freedom of religion are frequently raised in bilateral
meetings between the Commission and the Government of Lao People Democratic Republic (PDR). Thus,
the situation on human rights, including religious freedom, will also be on the agenda for the Commission-
Lao PDR Joint Committee Meeting, scheduled to be held in the autumn of 2003. The recent opening of a
Commission Delegation in Vientiane will provide further possibilities for the Commission to engage in a
more profound dialogue on human rights issues with the authorities.

C 78 E/70

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

The Commission is well aware of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee’s serious concerns
that Vietnam’s State party practice does not meet the requirements of Article 18 of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The Union,
the Member States together with the
Commission, have repeatedly raised this issue with the authorities in the framework of Union démarches
and regular discussions on Human Rights.

In the particular case of China, the Union has repeatedly expressed its concern about restrictions on
unofficial churches and religious groups and on Islam. It has regularly raised the issue of freedom of
religion and belief in the framework of the Union-China structured dialogue on human rights, and will
continue to do so as appropriate.

The Union has repeatedly affirmed that human rights and democratisation must form an integral part of
all political dialogues with third countries. Religious freedom, as one of the fundamental human rights, as
well as the rights of religious minorities are thus addressed through the Union’s bilateral political dialogues
and, when appropriate, through démarches and public declarations, as well as through Union action in
fora such as the UN Commission on Human Rights or the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.

As regards the provision of assistance and as outlined in its May 2001 Communication (1) on the Union’s
role in the promotion of Democracy and Human Rights in third countries, the Commission is committed
to mainstreaming Human Rights and democratisation issues in all Community assistance programmes.
Country Strategy Papers were used as a tool to take a more coherent and consistent approach to the
promotion of human rights and democratisation, using the various financial instruments available to third
is being provided through the European Initiative for
countries,
Democracy and Human Rights.

in addition to the assistance that

In the specific case of assistance to Vietnam, the Commission’s overall policy towards this country is to
encourage and support its progress on human rights and democratisation, and to raise concerns where
abuses occur or where a deterioration in the situation becomes evident. The Commission has defined the
promotion of good governance, best administrative practices and a properly functioning judiciary system
as priorities for co-operation with Vietnam under the Country Strategy 2002-2006. The Commission
believes that its co-operation programme, especially through its specific support for institutional reforms as
well as the inclusion of governance related training activities into all co-operation projects will contribute
to strengthen Vietnam’s overall governance and human rights commitments.

Overall, the Commission is of the opinion that a incitative approach is the most likely to lead to
improvements in the respect of Human Rights, including religious freedom. The Commission will continue
favouring dialogue and assistance in its relations with third countries. The suspension of aid until religious
or other freedoms are respected can only be a last resort approach, whose consequences are very likely to
impact badly on the populations whose rights are violated.

(1) COM(2001) 252 final.

(2004/C 78 E/0069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2045/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI), Marco Pannella (NI),
Emma Bonino (NI), Marco Cappato (NI), Benedetto Della Vedova (NI),
Gianfranco Dell’Alba (NI) and Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(19 June 2003)

Subject: Serious and persistent violations of the fundamental human rights of the Uighur minority in the

Chinese province of Xinjiang (eastern Turkestan)

Knowing that:

(cid:1) Seven million Uighurs, a Shiite Muslim minority,

live in Xinjiang (eastern Turkestan), the largest
province in China. They have been oppressed by the central government for decades, but with
particular relentlessness since the war with neighbouring Afghanistan.