WRITTEN QUESTION P-2200/03 by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission. Speech of the Commission President on religion and the European Constitution (Alessano, Lecce, Italy, 13 June 2003).
Date: 2003-06-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Constitution, European identity, President of the Commission, public statement, religion

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/79

(2004/C 70 E/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2167/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(30 June 2003)

Subject: Permanent solution to the problem of addressing the sensitivities surrounding the name of the
state of Macedonia, taking account of the different demands of Macedonians, Albanians and
Greeks

Does the Council recall that, following the withdrawal of the Republic of Macedonia from the former
1.
Yugoslav Federation, demands were made to add a specific designation to the name of the country to
distinguish it
from Greek Macedonia, which incorporates the three northern regions bordering the
Republic of Macedonia and the Aegean Sea?

in a
How long can the provisional compromise reached in 1993 be maintained under which,
2.
reference to the recent past, the words ‘former Yugoslav’ were inserted before the name ‘Republic of
Macedonia’, in the light of the fact that the name ‘Macedonia’ is commonly used by everyone both within
and outside the country, while the obscure English abbreviation ‘FYROM’ is used by the EU and certain
other states?

3.
Can the Council confirm that in 1993 other extended names were also considered which did not
relate to the past but to the present and future, such as Northern Macedonia, Nova Macedonia, Vardar
Macedonia or Slavo-Macedonia? Was the latter name only dropped because the one-sided emphasis on a
single large population group resulted in objections from the predominantly non-Slav population in the
north and west?

4.
Does the Council consider, following the recognition, encouraged by the EU, of the equality of the
two population groups which each form the majority in their respective regions of the country, that it
would help contribute to permanent peaceful coexistence on the part of the two peoples in a common
state if the names of both majority populations were to be included in the extension (cid:1) sought by those
outside (cid:1) of the official name of the country?

Is the Council prepared,

in order to achieve a definitive solution and finally abandon the name
5.
‘FYROM’, to look into whether a compromise between all concerned can be reached on the basis of a
name like ‘Makedonija-Ilirdia’ or variants in which ‘Shipero’ or ‘Albano’ are added to the name of the
country?

Reply

(8 December 2003)

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that the EU recognises the country in question as ‘the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’. This is also the name under which is was admitted as a Member
to the United Nations on 8 April 1993 pending settlement of the difference that had arisen over its name.

It is up to the countries and parties most concerned, not to the Council, to come to a final understanding
on the issue.

(2004/C 70 E/081)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2200/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(27 June 2003)

Subject: Speech of the Commission President on religion and the European Constitution (Alessano, Lecce,

Italy, 13 June 2003)

On 13 June 2003, at a meeting in Alessano (Lecce) organised by the Don Tonino Bello foundation, the
President of
the European Commission spoke on the above subject of religion and the European
Constitution. Mr Prodi said: ‘(…) Religion is one of the fundamental values of Europe and (…) the history
of Europe and the history of Christianity are indissolubly linked. Consequently, I regard the Preamble to
the draft European Constitution as wholly inadequate. To ignore 1500 years of civilisation is to create a

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Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

vacuum in our consciousness, in our identity as Europeans. It would be better if there were no text at all
rather than the text as it now stands. Better complete silence about our entire past than a lie. Others, more
sanguine than us, will have the job of sorting this out at some later date. This is not by any means meant
to reignite the antagonism between clericalism and anti-clericalism and between Christianity and other
religions. Such antagonism has already caused more than enough harm in European countries. Nor do I
mean to suggest that our minds are closed to opposing points of view in the European project we are
trying to develop. We can refer to Christianity while at the same time rediscovering the roots that bind
Europe to the Jewish people and declaring our desire for a dialogue with Islam. As believers we can refer
to religion and as citizens to classical Greece and the traditions of humanism. (…) In order to enrich and
stimulate the debate I have appointed two groups of eminent figures, one to examine the spiritual and
cultural dimension of Europe and the other the question of intercultural dialogue within the European
Union and in the Mediterranean region.’

Can the Commission:

(cid:1) state whether Mr Prodi was speaking in his personal capacity or on behalf of the Commission and,

in the latter case, whether the Commission shares the position of its President?

(cid:1) state whether it shares its President’s position regarding the Preamble to the European Constitution?

(cid:1) supply the names of the members of the working groups referred to by Mr Prodi, explain their
missions and objectives, state whether they receive any remuneration or reimbursement of expenses
(and if so how much), provide information on their experience and background, and specify when
their work began, when it will be completed and what use will be made of it?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2003)

As the Commission has stated on several occasions in reply to oral and written questions by Members of
Parliament, its members are politicians who exercise a political function and provided they respect the
obligations which go with their office, they remain free to express personal opinions in total independence
and on their own responsibility.

The Honourable Member will agree that the question of religious values is for every citizen a subject of a
highly sensitive and personal nature.

The Commission does not consider it inappropriate that its members express their own views on particular
issues at public events, to which they have been invited, provided that they respect the obligations of their
office.

With regard to the question in the third indent, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to
President Prodi’s webpages at http://europa.eu.int/comm/commissioners/prodi/group/spirit_en.htm ‘Inter-
cultural Dialogue in the Mediterranean Area’ and http://europa.eu.int/comm/commissioners/prodi/group/
michalski_en.htm ‘Reflection Group on the Spiritual and Cultural Dimension of Europe’.

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that the members of those groups receive no
remuneration, but the Commission bears the costs of their attendance at meetings in the usual way.

(2004/C 70 E/082)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2205/03

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Continuation of OLAF’s investigations into Eurostat

(2 July 2003)

On 19 March 2003 the European Anti-Fraud Office, OLAF, filed charges with the Paris Public Prosecutor’s
Office against Planistat Europe SA, and drew the attention of the judicial authorities to the possible
involvement of Eurostat Director-General Yves Franchet and Eurostat Director Daniel Byk in fraudulent
activities. The charges were filed in France, not least because both Eurostat officials hold French nationality.