WRITTEN QUESTION E-2280/03 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Train warning signals.
Date: 2003-07-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: rail transport, traffic signs, transport regulations, transport safety

C 84 E/484

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

first time that violence against religious minorities must be prosecuted. Nevertheless, the Commission
regrets that violent incidents continue, including the burning down of the Baptist church in Akhalsopeli,
eastern Georgia. On 8 May 2003 the Greek Presidency on behalf of the EU made an official statement to
the OSCE deploring the assault on an Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
observer at the trial of Mkalavishvili on 29 April 2003. The Commission will continue to follow this issue
closely.

The Commission would like to reiterate that it attaches great importance to the rights of freedom of
religion, belief and expression. The Union has repeatedly affirmed that human rights and democratisation
must form an integral part of all political dialogues with third countries. In its regular political dialogue
with Georgia, under the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement, the Union ‘inter alia’ systematically
raises human rights issues, including the question of how to protect religious minorities. The Commission
for its part will aim to increase the effectiveness of the dialogue on these issues.

As regards the provision of assistance and as outlined in its May 2001 Communication on the Union’s role
in the promotion of Democracy and Human Rights in third countries (1), the Commission is committed to
mainstreaming Human Rights and democratisation issues in all Community assistance programmes.
Country Strategy Papers are 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
countries,
is being provided through the European Initiative for
Democracy and Human Rights.

in addition to the assistance that

in this context,

Moreover, the Commission has prepared a new Country Strategy for the Union’s relations with Georgia
and,
is currently redirecting its technical assistance towards the strengthening of
governance and the promotion of human rights and civil society there. This should help to create better
conditions for the respect of religious freedom. The new Tacis Indicative Programme 2004-2006 for
Georgia in particular proposes co-operation to support institutional, legal and administrative reform and
addresses the social consequences of transition and assistance to social reconstruction.

Georgia is also one of 31 ‘focus countries’ of the ‘European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights’
(EIDHR) for the period 2002-2004. One of the four thematic priorities of the EIDHR is the combating of
racism and xenophobia and discrimination against minorities and indigenous peoples. On 11 July 2003
the Commission launched a new Call for Proposals for microprojects under EIDHR for projects to be
implemented by Georgian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with a budget of between EUR 3 000
and EUR 50 000. One of the priority themes of this call will be ‘Support for measures to combat racism
and xenophobia and to protect religious and ethnic minorities’. The deadline for applications is
15 September 2003.

(1) COM(2001) 252 final.

(2004/C 84 E/0561)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2280/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(9 July 2003)

Subject: Train warning signals

1. Will the Commission state if any European legislation requires Member State rail authorities to use
train warning signals of a minimum or maximum volume?

2.

If not will the Commission state if it has any intention to introduce such a proposal?

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/485

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 August 2003)

There is no European legislation which requires railway undertakings in a Member State to use train
warning signals of a minimum or maximum volume.

The Commission does not have any plans to put forward such a proposal.

(2004/C 84 E/0562)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2297/03

by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 July 2003)

Subject: Legal basis of the nuclear safety directive

The Commission’s proposal (1) for a Council (Euratom) directive on nuclear safety proposes harmonising
the administration of funds for decommissioning nuclear power stations. Is the Commission sure that there
is an adequate legal basis for such a directive? Is it possible that this part of the directive could be
transformed into a separate proposal for a directive?

(1) COM(2003) 32 (cid:1) C5-0228/2003 (cid:1) 2003/0021(CNS).

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 August 2003)

The Honourable Member’s question focuses on the legal basis of the provisions on decommissioning funds
included in the proposal for a Council Directive (Euratom) setting out basic obligations and general
principles on the safety of nuclear installations.

Article 2(b) of the Euratom Treaty states that the Community must ‘establish uniform safety standards to
protect the health of workers and of the general public and ensure that they are applied.’ Title II Chapter 3
of the Euratom Treaty requires basic standards to be laid down to protect the health of workers and the
general public against the effects of ionising radiation. On this basis, a considerable body of radiation
protection legislation has been produced which, while designed to protect health, has a far wider scope
than health protection in the strict sense. Radiation protection and nuclear safety have the common
objective of protecting workers and the general public against the effects of ionising radiation, and both
in its judgment of 10 December 2002
form part of
(Case C-29/99), the Court of Justice confirmed that the Euratom Treaty also covered aspects relating to
nuclear safety.

the EU’s health protection policy.

Indeed,

The health of workers and the general public can be protected fully only by removing any potential risk,
and this also entails measures to guarantee a high level of nuclear safety. Decommissioning funds should
therefore be regarded not as an end in themselves but as a means of ensuring a high level of nuclear safety
when decommissioning operations are being carried out. Basically, the funds are comparable to any other
measures to achieve this objective, including technical ones. The fact is that financial resources are a key
component of a credible nuclear facility safety policy, which has to guarantee a high level of safety not
only during a facility’s operating lifetime but also afterwards for as long as the facility needs to be
monitored for ionising radiation protection purposes. That is why the proposal for a Directive on the
safety of nuclear installations, on the legal basis of Chapter 3 of the Euratom Treaty, also contains
provisions on decommissioning funds.