WRITTEN QUESTION E-2589/03 by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Council. Possible follow-up to the defence summit held in Brussels in April 2003.
Date: 2003-08-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, NATO, defence policy, military cooperation, summit meeting

C 70 E/114

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

(2004/C 70 E/115)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2587/03

by Marco Pannella (NI) to the Council

(8 August 2003)

Subject: Execution of Faramaz Mohammadi, the 19-year-old leader of the student movement at Tabriz

University (Iran)

On 22 July, Xalq Qazeti, an Azerbaijan newspaper, published a report according to which:

(cid:1) some days earlier the Tabriz Revolutionary Court had sentenced a leader of the student movement,

Faramaz Mohammadi, to death;

(cid:1) Faramaz Mohammadi, a nineteen-year-old Azerbaijani citizen, was a student at Tabriz University and a

key figure in the student movement;

(cid:1) after the execution her body was taken to Ardabil;

(cid:1) she was one of the organisers of the student movement at Tabriz University and had delivered radical

speeches against Iran’s Persian and mullah regime;

(cid:1) although the court had passed the death sentence a month before, she had been executed two days

earlier.

Is the Council aware of the events described and, if so, what action has it taken or does it intend to take?
Does it not consider that all relations with Iran should be suspended and any resumption thereof be made
subject to respect for fundamental human rights and a moratorium on capital punishment?

Reply

(5 December 2003)

The Council is not aware of the events described and never comments on information contained in press
releases. The Council normally bases its decisions to act in individual cases on corroborated reports. To the
Council’s knowledge, this particular information has not been corroborated.

(2004/C 70 E/116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2589/03

by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Council

(8 August 2003)

Subject: Possible follow-up to the ‘defence summit’ held in Brussels in April 2003

In late April 2003 in Brussels, at the invitation of the Belgian Government, something akin to a defence
policy summit was held involving only France, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium itself. According to the
participants, the talks were being held with the ultimate aim of strengthening the European pillar of
NATO. A core set of collective capabilities was to be developed and by 2004 at the latest strategic
headquarters were to be set up at the Panquin Barracks in Tervuren.

What is the precise status of these decisions?

Have the proposals drawn up by the above-mentioned Member States since been discussed further in the
presence of the other Member States? If so, what was the outcome of those talks?

Does the Council have a timetable for possible talks on the development of a core set of collective military
capabilities?

Has the Council taken steps to ensure the availability of the Panquin Barracks? Have practical arrangements
been made with a view to financing the process of making this facility operational?

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/115

Reply

(5 December 2003)

As the meeting referred to by the Honourable Member was not held within the legal framework of the
European Union, it is not for the Council to comment on the status of any decisions taken at that meeting.
Likewise, the Council does not have a timetable for talks on developing a ‘core set of military capabilities’.

However, the proposals made at that meeting were presented to the Council
participants.

in May 2003 by the

The issue of military capabilities is regularly on the Council agenda.

(2004/C 70 E/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2595/03

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 August 2003)

Subject: Conditions on the London Underground

Concern has been expressed as to whether dust particles pose a serious health risk to passengers using the
London Underground. A meeting of the Greater London Authority’s Transport Committee on Monday,
14 July 2003 called upon London Underground to conduct scientific studies to investigate this issue.

In the light of these concerns, will the European Commission indicate whether European laws exist to
regulate safe levels of dust particles in underground transport systems?

Is the European Commission aware of this problem on the London Underground, and has it conducted
any studies to identify safe levels of dust particles?

Is the European Commission aware of any health risks to the elderly, children and those with circulatory
and respiratory diseases resulting from exposure to high levels of dust on underground transport systems?

(2004/C 70 E/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2596/03

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 August 2003)

Subject: Conditions on the London Underground

Recent
reports in the London media have highlighted record high temperatures on the London
Underground of up to 97 °F (36 °C) on the Northern, Central, Piccadilly and Victoria Lines. Such
conditions prevent passengers from travelling comfortably and may jeopardise passenger safety.

In the light of these concerns, will the European Commission state whether such conditions contravene
any European law on passenger health and safety or any environmental rules?

Will the European Commission confirm whether such conditions would contravene European law if live
animals were being transported in this way?