WRITTEN QUESTION P-3303/03 by Luigi Vinci (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Turkey and latest report of the Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD).
Date: 2003-11-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Türkiye, human rights, human rights movement, report

C 88 E/140

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Ombudsman with police competence. These concerns have been forwarded to the Islamic Ideology
Council (IIC) which has to give a non binding opinion. In these circumstances, it is far from clear that the
NWFP Assembly will adopt the Hasba Bill. Incidentally, the Shariah Law adopted in the NWFP is almost a
replica of the Shariah Bill adopted nationally in 1991 which has never been implemented.

The Commission through its Delegation in Pakistan is in regular contact with various local and
international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in work for religious minorities and has
been attentive to possible cases of violence or discrimination against religious minorities since the adoption
of the Shariah in the NWFP. So far no indication of an increase in such cases has been reported. However,
the minorities claim that they now feel additional psychological pressure and uncertainty about their
future.

There does not seem to be a definite answer as to whether non-Muslims should be exempted from the
Shariah Law. While Pakistan’s Constitution Article 227(1) provides that all existing laws shall be brought
into conformity with the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah, it also contains
a number of provisions which protect the minorities. Article 20 of the Constitution grants the freedom to
profess religion and to manage religious institutions. Article 36 requires the State to protect the rights of
the minorities and Article 227(3) prohibits all laws to affect the personal laws of non-Muslims or their
status as citizens.

On this basis, it would appear to some Islamic experts that the Shariah Law should respect the above
mentioned rights for minorities recognized in the Constitution and that some of the obligations for
Muslins would not be applicable to religious minorities. However, the draft Hasba Bill does not make such
a distinction between the minorities and the Muslim majority (cid:1) the provisions of the Hasba Bill would be
imposed on minorities as well as Muslims.

While the issue of the application of the Shariah Law may be subject to debate, the Commission will
continue to reiterate to the Pakistani authorities the need to protect Christians and other minorities as well
as to avoid sectarian violence. Furthermore, the Commission through some of its cooperation activities will
continue also to address the improvement of human rights issues including those related to the non-
discrimination of minorities.

(2004/C 88 E/0148)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3303/03

by Luigi Vinci (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(3 November 2003)

Subject: Turkey and latest report of the Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD)

In its latest report, the Human Rights Association of Turkey (IHD) states, following a detailed description
of cases, that the number of human rights violations committed by the various state bodies in Turkey over
the last six months is equal to the total number of violations for the previous year.

What is the Commission’s opinion on this general statement by the IHD, i.e. does it consider the statement
to be accurate? Is the Commission aware of all the cases mentioned by the IHD in this report and, more
generally, the cases mentioned in the various reports published by the IHD and other Turkish human
rights organisations?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(26 November 2003)

The Commission is aware of
the report produced by the Turkish Human Rights Association. The
Commission receives on a regular basis reports prepared by this Association along with a number of other
non-governmental organisations working in the area of human rights. These reports are useful sources of
information in assessing the human rights situation in Turkey.

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/141

In its Regular Report published on 5 November 2003 (1), the Commission gives a detailed assessment of
the reform process underway in Turkey and the impact of the measures taken on the human rights
situation.

(1) COM(2003) 676 final.

(2004/C 88 E/0149)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3375/03

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 November 2003)

Subject: Nuclear safety: plant decommissioning and incorporation of costs

Ahead of the accession of ten new Member States, it is a matter of priority to improve nuclear safety in
the European Union, the accession states and the applicant countries. After carrying out an assessment, the
Commission requested the closure of certain units which cannot be brought up to internationally
acceptable safety standards at a reasonable cost (Kozloduy 1-4, Ignalina 1 and 2, and Bohunice 1 and 2)
together with an improvement in safety of the other reactors in the applicant countries to a level
comparable to that for equivalent reactors currently operating in the Union. However, Bulgarian officials
have recently raised the issue of re-opening negotiations on the closure of Kozloduy 3 and 4, which has
justifiably given cause for concern.

the Commission ensure that States comply with the commitments they have given in
How will
memoranda signed between them (e.g. Bulgaria) and the Commission, and in the context of
their
partnerships with the EU, to close down and decommission dangerous plants which cannot be brought up
to internationally acceptable safety standards at reasonable cost?

What measures, appropriations and loans for the decommissioning of dangerous plants which cannot be
brought up to internationally acceptable safety standards at reasonable cost have been authorised or put
into effect and what measures have been taken to prevent the funding of projects and programmes in
States which are in breach of or non-compliance with their international commitments?

What steps will the Commission take to incorporate the external costs of nuclear energy arising from
expenditure on decommissioning or modernisation with safety improvements in order to prevent
distortion of competition on the market in electricity in the Union?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 2003)

Bulgaria committed itself to the closure of units 1 and 2 of Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant by the end of
2002, in the framework of the provisional closure of the Energy Chapter of the Accession Negotiations on
18 November 2002. Bulgaria furthermore committed itself to the closure of units 3 and 4 in 2006. In the
context of the so-called ‘Peer Review’ mechanism under the auspices of the European Council, the Union
has commissioned an expert mission to Bulgaria, as agreed in the Accession Negotiations. This mission
took place on 17 to 19 November 2003, and the results will be assessed by the Council.

The commitments to close the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant in Lithuania and to close the V1 Bohunice
Nuclear Power Plant in Slovakia have been included in Protocols to the Accession Treaty. The Commission
will propose a similar inclusion of the closure commitments for the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant in the
Accession Treaty for Bulgaria at the appropriate time.

The Commission expects that the countries fully adhere to their closure commitments as part of future
Union primary law, and will continue to carefully monitor this adherence.