WRITTEN QUESTION E-2615/03 by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission. New responsibilities for Commissioner Verheugen.
Date: 2003-08-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commissioner, European neighbourhood policy, Israel, Morocco, Russia, Ukraine, accession to the European Union, administration of the Institutions, cooperation policy, enlargement of the Union

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/107

(cid:1) whether it intends to conduct an enquiry into the relations between the Member States and the
Vatican in order to ascertain whether the legal relations regulating them and giving the clergy
privileges with respect to the law of the Member States are in breach of international and European
law on fundamental rights and freedoms?

(cid:1) Whether it considers that Article 51 of the draft European Constitution urgently needs to be revised in
order to prevent national and European law from creating grey areas and impunity for the clergy?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 2003)

The Union is committed to promoting human rights in the world.
In this context, the Union has
underlined the need to combat sexual abuse of children, including in its recent statement on rights of the
child to the United Nations (UN) Commission on Human Rights (CHR). Moreover, the Union strongly
supported the Plan of Action and Declaration of the UN Special Session on Children of May 2002, which
included protection of children from abuse and exploitation as a key goal. The Holy See is a Permanent
Observer at the CHR.

The Union’s position on this issue is, therefore, clear and has been articulated in international fora.
However, the Commission is not competent to take the course of action advocated by the Honourable
Members, nor to intervene as regards Member States’ diplomatic relations.

(2004/C 88 E/0112)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2615/03

by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission

(28 August 2003)

Subject: New responsibilities for Commissioner Verheugen

Commissioner Günther Verheugen is being given a new area of responsibility. His duties will now include
relations with the EU’s new neighbouring states, namely Russia, Ukraine, Israel and Morocco. This was
formerly the responsibility of the Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten.

Why has this area of responsibility been transferred from Commissioner Patten to Commissioner
Verheugen?

Does the Commission also intend to combine relations with other neighbouring states under the heading
of ‘enlargement’ rather than external relations?

Does the Commission not
fear that placing relations with the above countries under the aegis of
Commissioner Verheugen, who is generally known as having special responsibility for EU enlargement,
could raise misplaced expectations among the countries concerned? Such a step may give the impression
that they, too, might qualify for accession to the EU. In what terms were the countries concerned informed
of Commissioner Verheugen’s new responsibilities?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2003)

Following the conclusion of accession negotiations with ten Acceding States at Copenhagen in December
2002, the Commission has set out an ambitious vision for upgrading political and economic relations with
the Eastern and Southern neighbours of the enlarged Union (1). This was welcomed by the Council, as well
as by the European Council in Thessaloniki in June 2003. On 9 July 2003, the Commission decided on
internal arrangements for its work in this regard. Relations with all countries neighbouring the enlarged
Union remain the responsibility of the Member of the Commission responsible for External Relations. The
Member of the Commission responsible for Enlargement will
lead the Commission’s work on Wider
Europe, and provide political guidance to a task force consisting of officials from the Directorates-General
for External Relations and Enlargement. This will ensure the Union’s contribution to the creation of an
area of shared prosperity and stability around the enlarged Union, making use of the experience the

C 88 E/108

Official Journal of the European Union

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8.4.2004

Commission has gained in assisting Acceding States to prepare for accession wherever applicable. It reflects
the Commission’s view that, in return for concrete progress demonstrating shared values and effective
implementation of political, economic and institutional reforms, all these neighbouring countries should be
offered the prospect of a stake in the Union’s internal market, as well as other advanced forms of
co-operation in key fields of mutual interest.

The countries concerned have been informed through diplomatic channels.

(1) COM(2003) 104 final.

(2004/C 88 E/0113)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2664/03

by Terence Wynn (PSE) to the Commission

(10 September 2003)

Subject: Manufactured products from third countries

The answer to the question E-1795/03 (1) misses the point. Let me give an example. If an industrial casting
is manufactured in China for sale in the EU, the Chinese manufacturers do not have to comply with the
laws that EU manufacturers have to. Employees can work in
same health, safety and environmental
conditions that would not be acceptable in the EU and emissions in the atmosphere would also not be
acceptable. Yet these products are marketed in the EU and EU products cannot compete because of EU
legislation demands.

Let me now repeat E-1795/03:

Why does the Commission allow manufactured products to enter the EU from third countries that do
not meet minimum health, safety and environmental standards that EU companies have to comply
with? Would the Commission agree that by allowing such products into the EU, the direct result is the
loss of European manufacturing jobs?

(1) OJ C 78 E, 27.3.2004, p. 725.

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(7 November 2003)

The original reply to Written Question E-1795/03 by the Honourable Member alluded to the efforts that
were being made to promote Europe’s regulatory approach in third countries.

It is important to differentiate between mandatory product requirements based on legitimate policy
objectives, like the protection of the environment or health and safety, and applied by the Community on
domestic and alike foreign products and concerns related to the methods in which imported goods are
produced.

The Community can set legitimate product requirements, provided that complies with its international
obligations. In other words, the Community is not at liberty to impose safety and environmental laws on
countries outside its jurisdiction,
liberty to impose their own
requirements in the territory of the Community. This is not only a fundamental principle of sovereignty
and fully in line with the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, notably principles 2,
11 and 12, but also one of the basic principles of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

just as those countries are not at