WRITTEN QUESTION E-3190/03 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Promotion of the pilot responsible for the Cermis tragedy.
Date: 2003-10-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Italy, United States, civilian victim, impunity, military court, military manoeuvres

8.4.2004

EN

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.

C 88 E/456

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

In view of the extreme affront which this decision represents to the memory of the 20 victims and to
members of their families, will the Commission answer the following questions:

1. Will the European Union take a stand on the seriousness of these events?

2. What power does the European Union have to investigate these facts and to show the US army in an

effective manner that it is appalled at this decision?

3. Can the European Union in any way help to ensure that those responsible for this tragedy do not go

unpunished?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 November 2003)

This matter raised by the Honourable Member is for the relevant judicial authorities in the United States
and Italy. The Commission has no grounds on which to express an opinion.

(2004/C 88 E/0467)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3247/03

by Baroness Sarah Ludford (ELDR) to the Commission

(28 October 2003)

Subject: Annual report on Turkey

Will the Commission address the following urgent questions in its annual report on Turkey’s progress
towards meeting EU accession criteria due on 5 November:

Do the Host Government Agreements for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline breach the terms of
1.
Turkey’s Accession Partnership by moving away from the ‘acquis communautaire’ and the prospect of
implementing the Copenhagen criteria?

Does this project potentially infringe the human rights and minority rights of the people living along

2.
the pipeline route in Turkey, such as through the expropriation of land without proper compensation?

3. What is the potential environmental impact of the project, and has a proper environmental impact
assessment been carried out?

(2004/C 88 E/0468)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3249/03

by Richard Howitt (PSE), Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE)
and Renate Sommer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 November 2003)

Subject: Annual report on Turkey

Will the Commission address the following urgent questions in its annual report on Turkey’s progress
towards meeting EU accession criteria due on 5 November:

1. Do the Host Government Agreements for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline breach the terms of
Turkey’s Accession Partnership by moving away from the ‘acquis communautaire’ and the prospect of
implementing the Copenhagen criteria?