WRITTEN QUESTION E-2552/03 by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission. The case of Vinh Binh Trinh in Vietnam.
Date: 2003-08-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU national, Viet Nam, barring of penalties by limitation, corruption, human rights, investment abroad, right to justice

C 88 E/96

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Untying of aid

The Commission has made an ambitious proposal on the important question of untying aid from national
(commercial) interests. The Commission considers that the untying of aid would reduce the administrative
burden on its partner countries, thereby facilitating quicker and more efficient aid delivery.

Budgetisation of the EDF

The EDF should be an integral part of the general budget of the Community and subject to Parliamentary
scrutiny. This would provide a single legal framework for the management of development funds and offer
substantial efficiency improvements allowing Commission staff to focus more attention on establishing the
cooperation and dialogue with partner countries necessary for efficient implementation, and spending less
time dealing with complex procedures. A Commission Communication to the Parliament and the Council
setting out the full rationale for this approach was adopted on 8 October (1).

Organisational restructuring

The proximity of the end of the Commission’s mandate, the conclusions of the Convention and the
ongoing work of the IGC render the launch of a new phase of external assistance reform inopportune at
this stage. However,
in light of its experience and of the
orientations emerging from the Convention, to carry out an analysis of the most efficient organisation of
its external relations services in their entirety, for the benefit of the next Commission.

it is the duty of the present Commission,

Flexibility

‘comitology’,
Community development assistance is being managed following a complex system of
financial regulations and thematic budget
lines, which consumes an enormous amount of scarce
Commission staffing resources and considerably lengthens decision-making procedures. Every financial
proposal will soon have to be translated into 21 languages. This leaves some scope for further efficiency
reforms involving the Commission, Member States and the Parliament.

(1) COM(2003) 590 final.

(2004/C 88 E/0101)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2552/03

by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

(4 August 2003)

Subject: The case of Vinh Binh Trinh in Vietnam

Following the Commission’s answer to my Written Question E-1223/01 (1) on the fate of the Dutch citizen
of Vietnamese origin, Mr Vinh Binh Trinh, who, as a ‘boat-people’ refugee, stared a successful business in
the Netherlands and subsequently established a business in his country of origin, but was convicted on
false charges and had his businesses confiscated, I now put the following supplementary questions:

1. Has the European Commission since become aware of reports to the effect that the provincial
authorities in the Vung Tan province have been involved in corruption, that the person who laid false
allegations against Mr Trinh has admitted to having done so, and that the Central Organisation of the
Internal Affairs Ministry in Hanoi has reopened investigations into this case?

2.

3.

Is the European Commission prepared emphatically to urge the authorities in Vietnam to rehabilitate
Mr Trinh?

Is the European Commission aware whether similar cases of corruption have been brought to light
that have affected investors from the European Union, and whether the Vietnamese authorities are
also prepared to intervene in those cases?

(1) OJ C 350 E, 11.12.2001, p. 95.

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/97

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 2003)

Following Written Question E-1223/01 by the Honourable Member, the Commission has been following
the case of Mr Trinh through its Delegation in Hanoi. According to its most recent
information,
the policeman who arrested Mr Trinh was arrested for corruption himself. Moreover, the main witness
against Mr Trinh has withdrawn his testimony in writing. However, the Commission has no confirmation
yet that the Vietnamese authorities have reopened the case.

The Commission is not aware that the case of Mr Trinh or other cases have had a negative impact on
European investment in Vietnam. However, corruption and lack of transparency continue to be some of
Vietnam’s most pressing issues in the reform process. The Government of Vietnam has taken decisive
measures against corruption as part of the public administration and legal reform programmes, which are
under implementation and to which the Member States and the Commission have offered their support.
The promotion of good governance, best administrative practice and a properly functioning judiciary
system are priorities for Community co-operation with Vietnam under the Country Strategy Paper
2002-2006.

The competence to intervene in this case lies primarily with the Dutch authorities. The Commission’s
policy towards Vietnam is to encourage and support continued progress on human rights, democratisation
and good governance, and to raise concerns where abuses occur or where the situation deteriorates.
The Commission works closely with the Member States in monitoring developments in the country.
It participates in all Union démarches to the Government of Vietnam on human rights issues.
The Commission will continue to follow Mr Trinh’s case, together with the Diplomatic Missions of the
Member States in Vietnam.

(2004/C 88 E/0102)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2558/03

by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission

(4 August 2003)

Subject: Human rights in Peru

Is the Commission aware of the arrest and detention of Walter Cubas Baltazar in Peru? Concerned
constituents have contacted me in response to reports of alleged torture of Mr Walter Cubas Baltazar
during the course of his detention.

Can the Commission assure my constituents that it monitors reports of human rights abuses in Peru and
uses the opportunities arising from its official relations with the country in order to highlight instances of
concern?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2003)

The Commission is aware of the arrest and detention of Walter Cubas Balthazar in Peru and the
Commission Delegation in Lima is closely following events relating to the arrest.

In line with the Working Paper on the implementation of the Guidelines to Union policy towards third
countries on torture of December 2002, EU Heads of Mission in Lima have recently reported on the
situation with respect to torture in the country and are monitoring Peru’s progress towards the complete
eradication of torture.