WRITTEN QUESTION E-2292/03 by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission. Visit to China by Commissioner Lamy.
Date: 2003-07-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, EU relations, European Commissioner, human rights, official visit, trade cooperation, trade relations

26.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/235

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(6 August 2003)

The Commission does not have any knowledge of the presence of asbestos near the future ice-rink in the
neighbourhood of Lingotto. From the information given in the question submitted by the Honourable
Member it appears that the material is waste that has been deposited.

The management of waste must be done in accordance with Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July
1975 on waste (1). In particular, Article 4 requires Member States to take the necessary measures to ensure
that waste is recovered or disposed of without endangering human health and without using processes or
methods which could harm the environment.

The Commission will take the appropriate steps in order to gather detailed information on the issue raised
by the Honourable Member and to ensure, within the limits conferred on it by the EC Treaty, the
compliance with Community law.

it will not hesitate, as the guardian of the EC Treaty, to take all necessary measures,

Should the Commission come to the conclusion that Community law is being breached in the specific
including
case,
infringement procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty,
in order to ensure the compliance with
relevant Community law.

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975, as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC, OJ L 78, 26.3.1991.

(2004/C 51 E/255)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2292/03

by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission

(11 July 2003)

Subject: Visit to China by Commissioner Lamy

On 13 June 2003 Commissioner Pascal Lamy left for China to hold talks on closer cooperation between
the European Union and that country. He met, among others, the Prime Minister, Jiabao Wen, the Minister
for Trade, Lu Fuyuan, and the Minister with responsibility for supervising quarantine arrangements, Li
Changjiang.

To what extent did the Commissioner make the expansion of trade relations with China contingent on
improvements in the human rights situation?

What undertakings with regard to human rights have Chinese Government representatives given following
Mr Lamy’s visit? How does the Commissioner assess those undertakings?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(7 August 2003)

The sole objective of the visit to China on 13 and 14 June by the Member of the Commission responsible
for Trade was to discuss trade issues with the new Chinese government: multilateral trade issues and closer
cooperation with China on the Doha agenda; bilateral trade issues, including China’s implementation of its
commitments in connection with its accession to the WTO and the settlement of specific problems such as
Chinese health and plant health measures against European exports.

The human rights issue was therefore not broached on this visit. However, it is at the very core of the EU’s
relations with China. The EU’s concerns on this matter are regularly raised, notably at meetings forming
part of the political dialogue with China. In addition, the Union has been conducting a structured dialogue
since 1997 on human rights with China. Every six months this provides the opportunity to reiterate these
concerns and encourage China to make improvements in terms of respect and promotion of human rights
in that country.