WRITTEN QUESTION E-3097/03 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Disclosure of resources for the EMU campaign.
Date: 2003-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Economic and Monetary Union, Sweden, election financing, euro, fund (EU), referendum

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/217

(2004/C 70 E/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3097/03

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Disclosure of resources for the EMU campaign

(20 October 2003)

It is highly likely that the ‘yes’ camp had greater resources at its disposal than the ‘no’ camp during the
recently concluded EMU campaign in Sweden.

Does the Commission consider it would have been an advantage if the resources available to the two
camps had been made public?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2003)

Given that the referendum held in Sweden on 14 September 2003 was an entirely domestic matter, the
Commission does not have a view on whether any other resources made available to the respective
campaigns should be made public or not.

The Commission has not made any financial resources available for information or communication on the
euro in Sweden after the announcement of the referendum.

(2004/C 70 E/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3103/03

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(20 October 2003)

Subject: Child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The recruitment of child soldiers in the course of the seven-year war in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo has had tragic consequences, resulting in the mistreatment and death of thousands of these
children, some of them less than 12 years of age.

According to the Amnesty International report published on 9 October 2003 in Brussels concerning the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and child soldiers, the forcible recruitment of children, who are then
put through punishing training sessions, assigned to arduous and highly dangerous duties and suffer sexual
abuse by fellow soldiers and their officers, is standard practice.

What measures will the Commission take to ensure respect for human rights, international agreements on
the protection of children’s rights and compliance with the 1999 Lusaka Agreement on the cessation of
hostilities and to oblige the transitional government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to end the
recruitment of child soldiers and take the necessary measures to ensure the full reintegration into society of
those who have undergone this traumatic experience?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2003)

The Commission is concerned by the phenomenon of recruitment of child soldiers during the seven year
war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its tragic consequences for the children.

the reasons why the Commission is participating in the regional

‘Multi-Country
This is one of
Demobilization and Reintegration Programme’
(MDRP) administered by the World Bank with a
contribution of EUR 20 million. The purpose of this programme is to demobilize and reintegrate ex-
combatants of the greater Great Lakes Region,
including the DRC. Child soldiers are included in the
programme. Special measures will be taken to ensure their proper reintegration into society.