WRITTEN QUESTION E-3349/03 by Koenraad Dillen (NI) to the Council. Eurobarometer opinion poll.
Date: 2003-11-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, European Council, Israel, Middle East, establishment of peace, opinion poll, peacekeeping, the EU's international role

C 84 E/234

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Reply

(9 March 2004)

The Council has not taken any formal position on the draft Constitutional Treaty, or on any issues for
discussion in the intergovernmental conference, in which the Council as an institution has no role. The
paper to which the Member refers relates to an Informal meeting of Ministers of Economy and Finance.

Following discussions at
Ministers’ discussions to the President of the intergovernmental conference.

informal meeting,

the Presidency communicated,

that

the outcome of

the

In preparing its documentation for IGC discussions, the IGC President highlighted those points which were
discussed by Finance Ministers, (cid:1) as indicated in document CIG 37/03 Presid 3 of 24 October 2003,
which is publicly available.

(2004/C 84 E/0277)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3349/03

by Koenraad Dillen (NI) to the Council

(13 November 2003)

Subject: Eurobarometer opinion poll

October’s Eurobarometer opinion poll, carried out at the Commission’s request, on ‘Iraq and peace in the
world’ claims that 59 % of Europeans view the State of Israel as a threat to world peace. The opinion poll
was carried out by EOS Gallup Europe. After its findings were made known, the European Council,
through Italian Foreign Minister Frattini, distanced itself from the survey (Le Figaro, Tuesday, 4 November).

Is this an instance of disagreement between the Council and the Commission? Why did the Council say
that the Commission had sent out a ‘false signal’ with this survey? Was there any consultation between the
Council and the Commission on the matter?

What would the Council’s actual response be if it was itself asked whether ‘Israel present’s a threat to peace
in the world’?

Is this the first time that the Council has distanced itself from an opinion poll carried out at the
Commission’s request? If not, when has this happened before?

Does the Council agree with the Israeli Ambassador to Italy that such an irresponsible survey makes it
more difficult for Europe to play a part in the Middle East peace process?

What approach to the Israeli authorities will the Council take so as to combat the negative image of
Europe to which this survey may give rise among the Israeli population?

Reply

(9 March 2004)

1.
The Eurobarometer opinion poll the Honorable Member of the European Parliament is referring to
has been carried out under the authority of the European Commission, which has already explained its
position on the outcome. The Council has not commented on the opinion poll specifically.

2.
The Council is however concerned with Israel’s role in the Middle East Peace Process. The specific
expectations by the EU towards Israel in this context, and the reasoning behind it, were raised at the EU/
Israel Association Council on 18 November. They were spelled out in the EU Statement prepared for that
occasion, with a view to giving a complete and transparent picture of the EU position, including to the
Israeli population.

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/235

The Council does not see any direct implications of the survey on the EU’s role in the Middle East
3.
Peace Process. The Council will continue to pursue its balanced policy to promote peace in the Middle East
based on the Quartet Road Map and is confident that this policy will also find recognition with the Israeli
public.

The Council has raised this issue and discussed it with its Israeli counterparts in its regular dialogue

4.
with Israel.

(2004/C 84 E/0278)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3354/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Council

(13 November 2003)

Subject: Minority language groups in Greece and official statistics

Commissioner Reding carries out her duties impeccably and her contribution towards upgrading the status
of the Directorate-General for Education and Culture is clear. It appears, however, that certain members of
staff within that Directorate-General do not provide her with sufficient information and the inadequacy of
the answers which they draw up create a poor impression of the Commission which is totally unfounded.

In my question No E-2777/03 (1), I noted that the 1996 Euromosaic study reported (page 41 of the English
version) that the number of speakers of Aromanian, Albanian and Slavo-Macedonian in Greece ranged
between 50 000 and 80 000 and I asked who had compiled these statistics and whether they were official
and reliable. The distinguished Commissioner, Mrs Reding, replied that the three drafters of the report
collaborated with an expert committee comprising ten members from the Union, the USA and Canada.

Does the Council agree with the above statistics? What official information have the Greek authorities
provided concerning speakers of Aromanian, Albanian and Slavo-Macedonian? Is it ethical not to use the
official statistics of a Member State to estimate the size of certain language groups? Does the Council
believe that it is not sufficient for European experts to draw up reports on language groups in the Union?
What is its view of the involvement in purely European affairs (which are also extremely sensitive) of
experts from countries outside the EU who express opinions on the existence or non-existence of linguistic
minorities in Europe? What specific measures has the Council taken in the last ten years on behalf of the
(internationally recognised and numerous) Greek minority in northern Epirus, which the Albanian regime
persistently tried for almost 50 years to deprive of their language and religion?

(1) OJ C 65 E, 13.3.2004, p. 215.

Reply

(9 March 2004)

Concerning the statistics contained in the Euromosaic Study of 1996, the Council would stress that it is
neither its role nor within its competence to pass judgement on work carried out by a third party
following a call for tender by the European Commission.

As far as the situation of the Greek-speaking minority in Albania is concerned, it should be recalled that
the current negotiations between the EU and Albania taking place in the context of the stabilisation and
association process pay particular attention to issues of democratisation and protection of minorities. The
European Commission, which received the mandate for negotiations in October 2002, could provide more
detailed information in this connection.