WRITTEN QUESTION E-2179/03 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. EU/Korea Scientific and Technological Agreement.
Date: 2003-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: South Korea, applied research, cooperation agreement (EU), scientific cooperation, scientific research

26.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/217

With regard to the possible funding under the Community Structural Funds, Measure 1.4 of the Regional
Operational Programme (ROP) for Puglia 2000-2006 (cid:1) European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance
Fund (EAGGF), of an additional plan proposed by Manfredonia municipality, the Commission does not
have any information at this stage about individual projects covered by this measure. On this subject, it
should be stressed that the local implementation of projects cofinanced by the Structural Funds is the
responsibility of the Member States in the framework of subsidiarity.

Measure 1.4 of the Puglia ROP is concerned with activities to restore the hydrological and geological
functions of the natural and forestry systems and agricultural land. This measure is based on Article 33,
for rural
11th indent, of Council Regulation (EC) NO 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support
development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and
repealing certain Regulations (5). In the framework of this measure, the programming complement of the
ROP Puglia provides for a selection criterion which gives priority to projects in protected areas (SCI, SPA
and parks).

Projects cofinanced by this measure, which should, by its nature, have a positive impact on the
environment, must comply, among other things, with Community and national environmental provisions,
as must all projects cofinanced by the Community Structural Funds.

The Commission will not hesitate, as the Guardian of the EC Treaty, to take all necessary measures,
including infringement procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, in order to ensure that relevant
Community law is observed.

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(2) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
(3) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(4) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(5) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2004/C 51 E/237)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2179/03

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 2003)

Subject: EU/Korea Scientific and Technological Agreement

When does the Commission intend to sign the EU/Korea Scientific and Technological Agreement? Would
the Commission agree that it would be a positive step to have such an agreement as soon as possible?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(29 July 2003)

The possibility of an Union/Korea scientific & technological cooperation Agreement was first discussed, on
request of Korea, during the meeting between the Korean science Minister, H. Park and the Member of the
Commission responsible for Research in Brussels on 16 May 2003.

Korea as a major industrialised country and an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) Member has notable scientific and technological capabilities in selected areas; it spends close to
3 % of its gross domestic product (GDP) on research, 3/4ths of which stemming from the private sector.

While it has developed a noteworthy and vibrant scientific cooperation with the different Member States
(Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, etc.), Korea wishes to develop its scientific cooperation with the
Union as such so as to more evenly balance its cooperation with its other partners such as the United
States and Japan.

C 51 E/218

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

The Commissioner and the Korean Minister, recognising that the Union and Korea have similar scientific
thematic priorities (biotechnology, nanotechnology, environment, space,
information technologies and
sustainable energy (cid:1) Korea has just decided to participate in the International Thermonuclear Experiment
Reactor (ITER) project), as well as similar scientific policy challenges, agreed to examine the conditions for
a scientific and technological cooperation Agreement.

The assessment of the feasibility for such an Agreement (which would offer a general framework for
cooperation and facilitate Korean participation in the Union Research programmes and vice versa) is
ongoing.

(2004/C 51 E/238)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2181/03

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(30 June 2003)

Subject: Thirty-fifth day of the hunger strike by the cyber-dissident Zouhair Yahyaoui

Zouhair Yahyaoui has been detained in prison since 4 June 2002, and has been on hunger strike for
35 days. He was formerly webmaster of the TuneZine website, which broadcasts information on the rule
of law and public rights in Tunisia, and is currently serving a two-year prison sentence. At the end of a
trial that was strongly criticised by numerous Tunisian and international organisations, he was found guilty
of ‘propagation of false news’ on 20 June 2002 and lost an appeal against this conviction on 10 July
2002. His case was referred to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on 27 August
2002. Mr Yahyaoui has been on several hunger strikes in protest against a sentence which he views as
punishing freedom of expression. He is currently 35 days into his latest hunger strike. Although there are
now great concerns over his state of health, Mr Yahyaoui is still being held in an overcrowded cell in
particularly degrading conditions. On 4 June 2002, Ms Sophie Piekarec, who is Mr Yahyaoui’s fiancée and
a French national, was turned out of the country on her arrival at Carthage airport, before she was able to
visit Mr Yahyaoui.

Is the Commission keeping abreast of Mr Yahyaoui’s situation? What action has it taken to induce the
Tunisian authorities to take urgent steps to guarantee decent prison conditions and the appropriate
medical care for Mr Yahyaoui and to immediately release him pending a new trial on the basis of
internationally recognised rules?

What action has the Commission taken, or will it take, to induce the Tunisian authorities to respect the
international principles pertaining to the rights of the individual and in particular the Declaration on
Human Rights Defenders adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December 1998,
Articles 6.b and 6.c of which state that ‘Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others:
… As provided for in human rights and other applicable international
instruments, freely to publish,
impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental
freedoms’ and ‘to study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of
all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw
public attention to those matters’?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2003)

The Commission is carefully monitoring the situation of Mr Zouhair Yahiaoui through the Commission
Delegation in Tunis and through contact with bodies that defend human rights.

Through these channels to the Tunisian authorities the Commission has repeatedly expressed its concern
regarding Mr Yahiaoui and others in a similar position. The next meeting of the EU-Tunisia Association
Council, on 29 September 2003, will provide a further occasion to try to obtain better prison conditions
for the detainees and to draw attention to the fact that Tunisia is in breach of the right to freedom of
expression.