WRITTEN QUESTION P-2854/03 by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The MEDA Programme and women.
Date: 2003-09-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Union for the Mediterranean, economic reform, financial cooperation, invitation to tender, participation of women, regional cooperation, social change, technical cooperation

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/117

(2004/C 88 E/0123)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2815/03

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(19 September 2003)

Subject: Arrest and detention of Rev. Rinaldy Damanik in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

I have received several concerned letters regarding the case of the Reverend Rinaldy Damanik, a leader of
the Protestant Christian Community in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Has the Commission any further
information on his current situation and are there any plans to investigate his case?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 2003)

The Commission is following the case of Rev Rinaldy Damanik who has been accused of illegal possession
of weapons. According to the Protestant Church Council in Jakarta (PGI), the case against the Christian
Minister has been fabricated. As the three year sentence for illegal possession of weapons has been
appealed, and the case is still pending, any possibility of making representations has been greatly reduced.

The Commission Delegation in Jakarta is closely monitoring the case and has contacted the minister’s
lawyer, Mr Johnson Panjaitan to receive updated news about his request to be released or to be put under
house arrest pending the appeal. The authorities have not yet responded to the request, despite the fact
that the legal basis for his detention has expired.

(2004/C 88 E/0124)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2854/03

by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 September 2003)

Subject: The MEDA Programme and women

At the part-session in February 2003 I tabled a question about the implementation of the First Regional
Programme for the participation of women in economic and social life and development. Commissioner
Christopher Patten assured me that it would be launched in 2004, since the identification and preparatory
phase would end in April or May 2003.

In view of the above, will the Commission explain the reasons for this delay? Exactly what stage has been
reached in drawing up the programme, since no invitations for the submission of proposals have yet been
published? Will invitations for the submission of proposals be published forthwith so that the programme
can be launched in 2004, as scheduled?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(5 November 2003)

The identification/formulation phase which determines the priority areas of co-operation to be addressed
in the course of the implementation of this important regional programme aiming at enhancing women’s
participation in the economic development of the MEDA region started in December 2002 and was
completed in August 2003.

The next step consists of presenting the programme to the MED Committee. Once the decision is adopted
(we anticipate it for the first quarter 2004), the call for proposals will be duly issued.

The information will be available on the EuropeAid Web site: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/tender/
index_en.htm).