WRITTEN QUESTION E-2737/03 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Human rights in Vietnam.
Date: 2003-09-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Viet Nam, ethnic discrimination, fact-finding mission, human rights, social conflict

C 78 E/752

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(2004/C 78 E/0799)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2706/03

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 September 2003)

Subject: Daphne Programme

The Daphne Programme, which was set up to stop violence against women and children, received funding
the non-governmental
of EUR 20 million in the period 2000-2003. Can the Commission list
organisations, public bodies and private establishments to which that funding was awarded? Has the
Commission launched an evaluation of the results of the programme?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 2003)

During the period 2000-2003 the Daphne programme has provided financing totalling EUR 18 271 522
for 145 projects by organisations or public authorities.

A complete list of projects financed has been sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s
Secretariat.

An evaluation of the results and of their initial impact is made annually and forms the basis of a summary
report. A mid-term evaluation of the Daphne programme itself has been made and the report on that
is available on the programme’s internet site:
evaluation, together with the annual evaluation reports,
HtmlResAnchor (http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/funding/daphne/funding_daphne_en.htm).

A final evaluation of the Daphne programme is being made. The evaluation report should be available at
the beginning of 2004 and will be sent to Parliament and the Council in accordance with Article 9(3) of
Decision No 293/2000/E (1) establishing the Daphne programme.

(1) European Parliament and Council Decision No 293/2000/EC of 24 January 2000 adopting a programme of
Community action (the Daphne programme) (2000 to 2003) on preventive measures to fight violence against
children, young persons and women, OJ L 34, 9.2.2000.

(2004/C 78 E/0800)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2737/03

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(11 September 2003)

Subject: Human rights in Vietnam

Would the Commission like to comment on the human rights situation in the Central Highlands of
Vietnam since we are currently receiving conflicting reports of, on the one hand, a general improvement
and, on the other, individual cases of human rights abuse?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(10 October 2003)

Since February 2001, when social unrest spread in parts of the Central Highlands of Vietnam, independent
and verifiable information on the situation has been difficult to obtain, as visits by foreign diplomats and
journalists to this region have been severely curtailed. Consequently, it is difficult for the Commission to
assess the current situation on the ground.

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/753

It should be noted, however, that the number of visits managed and organised by the Vietnamese Ministry
of Foreign Affairs has increased during the course of recent months. Such visits have been carried out,
‘inter alia’, by a local EU working level troika in June 2003, and by United States Assistant Secretary of
State Arthur E. Dewey in August 2003. Despite their obvious limitations, the increased number of these
visits suggests a higher degree of openness on the part of the Vietnamese Government as regards the
situation in the Central Highlands. At the same time, the government is paying greater attention to the
region, and attempting to tackle some of the issues that triggered the 2001 unrest, such as low economic
prospects, over-dependency on coffee as a cash crop, lack of social services such as health, education, etc.

Yet, at the same time, there are several credible reports indicating that the social conflicts persist. For the
most part these are due to (cid:1) arising migratory pressures on the local ethnic minorities, aspirations for a
greater recognition of their distinctive identity, disputes over land rights, diverse religious beliefs, and a
desire for some sort of political autonomy for the region. Reports also point to heavy pressure on all forms
of local dissent, affecting in particular local Protestants, whom the government suspects of supporting the
creation of a ‘Degar Homeland’. While denying all these reports, the government is publicising sporadic
trials against members of ethnic minorities accused of helping others to cross into Cambodia, which is a
sign of continued dissatisfaction among local ethnic minorities.

The Commission will continue to monitor closely the situation in the Central Highlands, including through
its participation in EU missions to the region, and to raise its concerns with the Vietnamese Government.
It is also noteworthy that the Vietnamese Government has stated its interest in extending an invitation to a
delegation from the Parliament to visit the country soon. Such a visit would provide the Parliament with
an opportunity to assess the situation itself at first hand.

(2004/C 78 E/0801)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2751/03

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 September 2003)

Subject: Criminal practices involved in the award of a contract to CESD-Roma

In its 28 August 2003 edition, ‘Der Stern’ magazine reported that, in December 2001, the Commission
had awarded a contract for technical assistance with the population census in Macedonia to CESD-Roma,
despite that company’s involvement in the Eurostat scandal.

Can the Commission confirm that that contract, for an amount of around EUR 1 million, was approved by
it at the instigation of Commissioners Nielson and Patten, although the Court of Auditors and the
Commission’s departments responsible for financial control had already expressed reservations about
contracts with CESD?

Can the Commission confirm that the contract was awarded to CESD-Roma without any prior public call
for tenders, although such a call was obligatory under the relevant Community guidelines?

In particular, can the Commission confirm that, at the time when it took its decision, it had been aware for
some months that it would need technical assistance with the carrying out of the census and that,
therefore, there was no sudden and imperative urgency involved which might have justified the decision
not to issue a call for tenders for the contract?

Is the Commission aware that, pursuant to Belgian law (Section 314 of the Criminal Code in the version
dated 24 December 1993), it is a criminal offence for anyone to restrict the freedom to make a bid in
connection with the award of contracts? Will the Commission refer the course of events outlined above to
the Belgian courts?

Can the Commission forward to me copies of all the relevant documents and memoranda relating to this
matter within the period laid down in the Regulation on public access to EU documents?