WRITTEN QUESTION E-3084/03 by Koldo Gorostiaga Atxalandabaso (NI) to the Commission. Sit-in of Basque political prisoners.
Date: 2003-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Basque Country, autonomous movement, cruel and degrading treatment, fundamental rights, political prisoner, prison system

C 70 E/214

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

for

rural development

Support for beekeeping is also possible under Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on
from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (4).
support
Investment aid can for example be given to farmers diversifying into beekeeping and to beekeepers
improving the processing and marketing of their honey. Among the new measures introduced under
common agricultural policy reform (5) the ‘Food Quality’ chapter offers, subject to certain requirements,
new possibilities for honey production. All rural development support must however fall within the scope
of a rural development plan. These are drawn up and managed, following approval by the Commission, by
the Member States and/or their regions.

(1) Amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 2070/98 of 28 September 1998, OJ L 265, 30.9.1998.
(2) COM(2001) 70 final.
(3) http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/markets/honey/index_en.htm
(4) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.
(5) Council Regulation (EC) No 1783/2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999, OJ L 270, 21.10.2003.

(2004/C 70 E/229)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3084/03

by Koldo Gorostiaga Atxalandabaso (NI) to the Commission

(20 October 2003)

Subject: Sit-in of Basque political prisoners

In the Basque Country, an unquestionable political conflict exists because the Basque people are being
denied their democratic rights. The outlawing of ideas and political projects has brought only greater
confrontation and more suffering.

The community of almost 700 hundred Basque political prisoners have been holding a sit-in,
in the
prisons of the Spanish Kingdom and the French Republic, since 27 September in defence of their rights.
They have rejected visits from friends and relatives. As a matter of fact, journeys are so long that visits are
impossible, and 13 people have already died on the way to or from the prisons.

The Spanish Government ignores every call to put an end to these sufferings, and the Spanish courts do
not dare to insist on the democratic principle of the separation of powers.

On 4 September 2003, the European Parliament adopted a Report on the situation as regards fundamental
rights in the EU (2002) (A5-0281/2003), where much emphasis is given to the mobilisation of European
capacity to put an end to these intolerable abuses of prisoners.

Can the Commission table a proposal to the European Parliament so that this issue may be tackled as a
matter of urgency?

Would the Commission support the involvement of Basque prisoners in a bid to find a solution to the
ongoing conflict in the Basque Country?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(20 November 2003)

The Commission takes the view that none of the powers conferred on it by the European Union and
Community Treaties would allow it to take the action requested by the Honourable Member.