WRITTEN QUESTION P-3415/03 by Francesco Rutelli (ELDR) to the Council. Statements made by the Presidency at the EU-Russia Summit of 7 November 2003.
Date: 2003-11-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Union, Russia, cooperation policy, democratisation, human rights, presidential election, rule of law, summit meeting, war of independence

C 84 E/238

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

ensure the proper implementation of the Union’s rules and policies. Taking into account the Commission’s
role to safeguard the smooth functioning of all EU policies upon and after accession, the Council also
noted the Commission’s determination to take, wherever necessary, all appropriate measures for this
purpose. Furthermore, the Council took note of the Commission’s intention to keep the Council fully and
regularly informed on any remaining concerns and on the appropriate measures that it will take in this
regard.

(2004/C 84 E/0281)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3415/03

by Francesco Rutelli (ELDR) to the Council

(12 November 2003)

Subject: Statements made by the Presidency at the EU-Russia Summit of 7 November 2003

The Joint Statement of 31 May 2003 issued at the EU-Russia Summit in St Petersburg expressed the hope
that ‘the recently started political process as well as the economic and social reconstruction will lead to the
restoration of
thus promoting the protection of human rights, and to a genuine
the rule of
reconciliation in Chechnya’.

law,

The Declaration of 8 October 2003 made by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the
presidential elections in Chechnya stated that ‘the EU had already noted negative developments as, inter
alia, the lack of real pluralism of candidatures to the presidency and the absence of independent media’ and
that ‘considering these developments, the EU expresses serious concerns regarding the conditions in which
these elections were held.’

In the same Declaration the Presidency said ‘the EU once again would like to express its hope that
commitments will be followed by their implementation and that an immediate, significant improvement of
the human rights situation in Chechnya will bridge the divide between the authorities and the population.
The EU urges the Russian authorities to do their utmost to advance a genuine political process and to
intensify its cooperation with international organisations, and in particular with OSCE, as agreed in the
EU-Russia Joint Statement at St. Petersburg.’

Can the Council say what new facts the Presidency has in its possession that allowed Mr Berlusconi to
claim that the problems linked to Chechnya can be considered as ‘tales’ put about by the international
press?

(2004/C 84 E/0282)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3473/03

by Daniel Cohn-Bendit (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(17 November 2003)

Subject: Statements made by the Presidency at the EU-Russia Summit of 7 November 2003

The Joint Statement of 31 May 2003 issued at the EU-Russia Summit in St Petersburg expressed the hope
that ‘the recently started political process as well as the economic and social reconstruction will lead to the
thus promoting the protection of human rights, and to a genuine
the rule of
restoration of
reconciliation in Chechnya’.

law,

The Declaration of 8 October 2003 made by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the
presidential elections in Chechnya stated that ‘the EU had already noted negative developments as, inter
alia, the lack of real pluralism of candidatures to the presidency and the absence of independent media’ and
that ‘considering these developments, the EU expresses serious concerns regarding the conditions in which
these elections were held.’

In the same Declaration the Presidency said ‘the EU once again would like to express its hope that
commitments will be followed by their implementation and that an immediate, significant improvement of
the human rights situation in Chechnya will bridge the divide between the authorities and the population.
The EU urges the Russian authorities to do their utmost to advance a genuine political process and to
intensify its cooperation with international organisations, and in particular with OSCE, as agreed in the
EU-Russia Joint Statement at St. Petersburg.’