WRITTEN QUESTION P-3132/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Cuba — Sakharov Initiative.
Date: 2003-10-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cuba, EP resolution, EU relations, human rights, political violence

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/451

The Commission is aware of reports alleging that Israel has released quantities of hazardous waste without
treatment in the West Bank and Gaza. We are also conscious of the lack of infrastructure in the Palestinian
Territories to process hazardous waste and to separate hazardous from non-hazardous waste. The
Commission has been in contact with the United Nations Environment Programme on their Desk Study of
January 2003 on the environment in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Desk Study addressed the
question of alleged dumping, but did not reach any conclusions. It recommended to conduct a field study
to collect evidence on this matter.

(2004/C 88 E/0461)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3110/03

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(17 October 2003)

Subject: Withdrawal of Community funding for the Juan XXIII project in Alicante (Spain)

The Finance Ministry recently notified Alicante Town Council of the formal decision taken by the
Commission to suspend ERDF funding for the rehabilitation of the Juan XXIII district of Alicante.

Why has the Commission withdrawn the Community support for the project?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(11 November 2003)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that the project for the rehabilitation of the Juan
XXIII district of Alicante to which she refers was not included in any proposal to the Commission for part-
financing under the Structural Funds.

The Commission contacted the authorities at the Ministry of Finance responsible for the European
Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in Spain, who confirm that this project was not put forward for
Community part-financing under the local operational programme (2000-2006) for reasons relating to
compliance with the Community rules on public procurement.

The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that,
in accordance with the principle of
subsidiarity, the Member States have sole responsibility for the selection of individual projects in each
programme for part-financing under the Structural Funds and for their implementation.

(2004/C 88 E/0462)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3132/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(17 October 2003)

Subject: Cuba (cid:1) Sakharov Initiative

On 4 September 2003, during the September part-session, the European Parliament adopted a resolution
on Cuba by an overwhelming majority. Paragraph 12 of this resolution reads:

12. Asks that Mr Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, winner of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in
2002, be officially invited to Europe at the earliest opportunity in order to meet in person with the EU
Presidency, the High Representative for the CFSP, the President of the Commission and the relevant
Commissioners; supports the decision taken by its Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights,
Common Security and Defence Policy to invite Mr Sardiñas, and asks the Cuban authorities not to
prevent his presence.

C 88 E/452

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

This part of the resolution represents the follow-up to what I have called the ‘Sakharov initiative’,
promoted by myself within Parliament. This initiative has already obtained the individual signatures of 205
MEPs, and has been highlighted in my letters, sent to recipients including, notably, the President of the
Commission, of 28 May, 3 July and 24 September 2003.

In the meantime,
it has been reported that a petition bearing more than 14 000 signatures has been
submitted to the Cuban Parliament by Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, in support of the ‘Varela project’. This is a
particularly important development in view of the extremely harsh climate now confronting democrats in
Cuba.

Has the Commission taken any action in implementation of
to
paragraph 12 of Parliament’s joint resolution on Cuba adopted on 4 September 2003? If so, what is the
nature of the action taken?

the ‘Sakharov Initiative’, pursuant

Following the recent submission by Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas of a petition bearing over 14 000 signatures to
Cuban Parliament, and the considerable media coverage given to that event, does the Commission not
believe that the time is now right to act on Parliament’s initiative?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 2004)

The Commission took note of Parliament’s resolution on Cuba adopted on 4 September 2003, and in
particular its paragraph 12 concerning Oswaldo Payá. The Commission is well aware of the situation
concerning Mr Paya and regrets the Cuban authorities’ decision not to allow him to come to Brussels to
attend a meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence
Policy on 1 December 2003.

On 5 June 2003, the Union decided on a series of measures in response to the action taken by the Cuban
authorities against members of the opposition and independent journalists. The events in Cuba also
subsequently led the Council to re-evaluate its Common Position on Cuba (1) on 21 July 2003 (2), nearly six
months in advance of the due date.

The Commission and the Member States continue to follow the situation in Cuba attentively, particularly
with regard to members of the opposition such as Mr Payá. The Commission wishes to give them the
fullest possible support in the present situation. This requires, of course, fully taking into account the
difficult circumstances in which they live.

The Commission firmly backs democratisation efforts in Cuba, and the President and relevant Members of
the Commission would certainly be glad to meet with Mr Payá when he comes to Brussels.

(1) Common Position 96/697/CFSP defined by the Council on the basis of Article J.2 of the Treaty on European Union,

on Cuba, OJ L 322, 12.12.1996.

(2) http://europa.eu.int/abc/doc/off/bull/en/200307/p106154.htm.

(2004/C 88 E/0463)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3147/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Recent escalation of Israeli aggression in the Middle East

(23 October 2003)

On a recent visit to Palestine with other members of Parliament, I was able to observe that the Israeli
Government, despite criticism and protest, is pushing ahead with:

(cid:1) building colonies on the West Bank, military occupation and destruction of infrastructure (some of it

built with Community funding), agriculture, housing and other facilities;