WRITTEN QUESTION E-3181/03 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Sending EU representatives to observe the referendum on Chavez.
Date: 2003-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU relations, Venezuela, election monitoring, fact-finding mission, political situation, public safety, referendum, use of aid

C 88 E/454

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2003)

The Commission and Member States represented in Phnom Penh are following the recent political
developments in Cambodia closely. Commission representatives have on several occasions encouraged all
political parties to do their utmost, in a peaceful manner, to find an agreement on the formation of a new
government reflecting the wishes of the electorate.

(2004/C 88 E/0465)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3181/03

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 October 2003)

Subject: Sending EU representatives to observe the referendum on Chavez

The political, economic and institutional crisis in Venezuela is steadily worsening. Since Hugo Chavez’s
election as President of the Republic in 1998, a series of events have produced deep divisions among
Venezuelans.

The extreme populism of Chavez, who claims to be conducting an imaginary ‘Bolivarian’ revolution, has
given rise to a succession of electoral consultations whose sole result has been to produce violent street
protests, months of strike action, deaths and injuries. The mediation carried out by former US President
Jimmy Carter and the President of the Organisation of American States, César Gaviria, did not succeed in
defusing the situation. Chavez has formed a close alliance with Castro, whose political and social model he
claims to wish to follow in Venezuela. On one occasion, he even paid a visit to the dictator Saddam
Hussein. His relations with the FARC, the violent narcocommunist guerrilla groups in Colombia, have been
the subject of much controversy. At its most recent meeting, the Socialist International expressed a clear
and severe condemnation of President Ugo Chavez’s policies and methods. This has brought together a
vast opposition movement comprising trade unions, businesses, traditional political parties and the media.
All these forces, with the unequivocal support of the Catholic Church, have joined together in the
‘Coordinadora Democrática’. Following a failed attempt in August, this organisation has asked the National
Electoral Council to initiatite the procedure for the collection of signatures with a view to holding a
referendum within three months. The Venezuelan Constitution provides for the possibility of holding a
Revocation Referendum, on a request from 20 % of voters, half-way through the term of office.

What action does the Commission intend to take to uphold the democratic rights of Venezuelans? What
does it intend to do to reassure and protect the large Italian, Spanish and Portuguese communities?

Does President Prodi
representatives to visit the country in order to ascertain how EU cooperation funds are being used?

intend to approach Chavez directly with a view to allowing Commission

Does the Commission intend to support the sending of EU observers to monitor the collection of
signatures for the referendum and ensure that the procedure is conducted in a democratic manner.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 2003)

The Commission is closely following the political situation in Venezuela. The EU has fully supported the
OAS (Organisation of American States), together with the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) and the Carter Centre in the tripartite working group, and the Group of Friends, in their efforts to
facilitate a national dialogue. The EU, in several Declarations, has emphasised the need for a peaceful,
the Commission has offered financial and
democratic, constitutional and electoral solution. Besides,

8.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/455

technical assistance for the implementation of the Agreement reached between the government and the
opposition on 29 May 2003. In order to do so, the Commission signed a project to assist the OAS in its
efforts to implement the Agreement, which comprises support for an electoral solution; investigation of
the events of April 2002; and disarming the civilian population. The amount budgeted is EUR 600 000.
The Commission is working with the OAS with a view to ensuring the project’s timely implementation.

Furthermore, the Commission is following closely developments concerning a possible referendum/election
and is prepared to consider providing support, possibly including electoral observation, if invited by the
Venezuelan authorities to do so. Any decision to deploy an EU Electoral Observation Mission would
depend on the recommendations made by a preliminary exploratory mission as to whether conditions on
the ground are conducive to such a mission as well as needs, timing and financial capacities. In any case, a
recall referendum or new elections could only take place if the necessary number of signatures is collected
according to the Venezuelan constitution. As regards the collection of signatures to request a referendum
to recall President Chávez, the CNE (National Electoral Council) has invited the OAS, the UNDP and the
Carter Centre to act as observers, but no invitation has been addressed to the EU.

No specific actions to protect EU citizens in Venezuela have been taken at EU level. Their protection and
support is normally ensured by their Member States of origin.

With respect to bilateral development cooperation, the Delegation of the Commission in Caracas monitors
the implementation of the projects. Brussels-based Commission representatives visit the country regularly
and have not experienced any difficulty accessing Commission projects. Neither they nor the Commission’s
Delegation in Caracas are aware of any indications of inappropriate use of cooperation funds.

(2004/C 88 E/0466)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3190/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(28 October 2003)

Subject: Promotion of the pilot responsible for the Cermis tragedy

On 3 February 1998, a US Maríne Corps aircraft, stationed at the Aviano base as part of the ‘Deliberate
Guard’ operation, took off for a low-flight training mission. Shortly after take-off, the aircraft struck the
cables of a cable-car linking the village of Cavalese (Trento) with Mount Cermis, at a height of 300/400 feet
above the ground, as the descending passenger cabin was at a distance of some 300 metres from the
arrival station.

The impact caused the carrier and driving cables to snap immediately, the cabin fell to the ground and all
20 passengers died.

In the proceedings opened to establish who was responsible, the case was entrusted to a US military
tribunal, which decided not to punish nor hold responsible the superiors of the four crew members. On
4 March 1999 the eight Camp Lejeune court-martial jurors, all Maríne Corps officers, then found the pilot
himself not guilty. This ruling caused surprise, bewilderment and indignation in Italy and other European
countries because it seemed to contradict all the evidence and to accept that such a cruel tragedy could
occur during a peace-time training flight, without any failure that might cause the aircraft to get out of
control and without any criminal liability.

The Italian press has recently revealed that Captain Chandler Seagrave, who acted as navigator during the
mission to Mount Cermis and has already been condemned for this multiple killing by the Italian
parliamentary committee responsible for investigating the case, has not only remained unpunished for the
tragedy which he caused but has recently been promoted to major by the US army.