WRITTEN QUESTION E-3498/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Iran — nuclear energy.
Date: 2003-11-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran, international relations, nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear policy, nuclear safety

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/293

(cid:1) Is Romano Prodi going to resign as President of the Commission in order to pursue his party political
intervention in Italian politics? Or does the Commission feel comfortable with a President who
appears to have stepped directly into the disputed leadership of the left in Italy? How does it intend to
guarantee the impartiality of its acts and opinions from now on?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 2003)

The Honourable Member is referred to the discussions that
took place during the debate on the
Commission’s work programme at Parliament’s November 2003 part-session and to the remarks made by
the Commission President on the matter at hand.

(2004/C 78 E/0294)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3498/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(24 November 2003)

Subject: Iran (cid:1) nuclear energy

In a communiqué of 10 November 2003, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that
the Iranian Government had accepted an Additional Protocol, granting the Agency additional powers and
inspection facilities, and had decided to suspend work on enriching and processing uranium.

The IAEA report on this issue indicates that for years, the Iranian regime disguised part of its research
programmes for years, and explored every possible avenue that would allow it to acquire nuclear weapons,
specifically by enriching uranium by centrifuge or laser, and separating plutonium, with the help of four
unidentified countries.

The Commission:

(cid:1) Does it believe that Iran meets the obligations incumbent on it as a signatory of the Nuclear Non

Proliferation Treaty?

(cid:1) How does it view the information provided to the IAEA by the Iranian regime? Does it believe that

the control measures agreed between the IAEA and Iran are adequate?

(cid:1) Does it believe that there is a need for more and better information? Does it have any further data on
nuclear activity on Iranian soil? Does it know the identity of the countries which cooperated with Iran
on nuclear programmes, and does it intend to do anything about these countries?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 January 2004)

The meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on 26 November
2003 based its discussions on the third report by Director-General El Baradei. Both the report and the
resolution adopted by the Board, confirmed a past pattern of concealment and irregularities by Iran. At the
same time, progress on outstanding issues and recent cooperation with the IAEA, were noted. The visit of
the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom, France and Germany and the resulting Tehran ‘Agreement’ of
21 October 2003, were welcomed.

The Commission, for its part, believes that the IAEA has managed to shed light on a number of failures
and breaches by Iran in relation to its implementation of the (Nuclear) Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
safeguards agreement.
It, nonetheless, appreciates that Iran appears to have entered into a new and
improved phase of cooperation with the Agency.

C 78 E/294

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

The Commission has no reason to believe that the information collected by the Director-General as a basis
for the Board’s discussions and the resulting resolution, has not been adequate. It appreciates that Iran has
invited the IAEA to set up relevant verification mechanisms, a process the Commission believes is of
utmost importance and which will have to be followed closely.

The Commission notes that the Director-General of the IAEA is scheduled to deliver another report by mid
February 2004. It has no specific additional information about further nuclear activity on Iranian soil. The
Commission is aware of information relating to certain countries believed to have cooperated with Iran on
its nuclear programme. It is, at this stage, not yet in a position to be able to comment in any greater detail
on this matter, but looks forward to the results of the further investigations carried out by the IAEA.

(2004/C 78 E/0295)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3503/03

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(24 November 2003)

Subject: Stray dogs and the Olympic Games

According to information released by the Associated Press, last August in the Attiki region alone 3 000
stray dogs were killed in order to ‘clean up’ streets in preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games. It is the
third time this year, following the campaigns launched at the beginning of the year and in April, that such
barbarous acts have been committed.

Does the Commission intend to take action at some point to ensure adequate long-term protection for
stray domestic animals in Greece?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(22 December 2003)

The Commission would refer to its answer given on 27 February 2003 to Written Question E-0177/03 of
Mr Papayannakis (1) on the same issue.

For the additional information of the Honourable Member, the Commission is also able to state that during
a mission of the Food and Veterinary Office to Greece in September 2003, the competent authorities
indicated that there was now an official programme to deal with the stray animal problem in Athens in a
manner which respected their welfare.

(1) OJ C 161 E, 10.7.2003, p. 189.

(2004/C 78 E/0296)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3509/03

by Helmuth Markov (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Interreg IIIA: Future funding of Euroregion offices

(18 November 2003)

Euroregion offices have to date been funded under the ‘Technical Assistance’ component of the Interreg
IIIA programme. The Spree-Neisse-Bober Euroregion office has however recently learnt by means of an
oral communication from the Ministry of Economic Affairs that as of 2004 Euroregion offices will no
longer be funded under the ‘Technical Assistance’ component of the Interreg IIIA programme, but under
the programme’s cooperation funds. In addition, as of 2005 the level of funding will gradually decrease.
According to the Ministry, the reason for the change in funding arrangements is a request from the
Commission. This change in funding arrangements would cause particular problems for the Spree-Neisse-
Bober Euroregion, which includes only one administrative district in Germany. It would be impossible to
increase the membership fees of this district sufficiently to fund the office.

Has the Commission asked for the Euroregion offices to no longer be funded under the ‘Technical
Assistance’ component of the Interreg IIIA programme, but under the programme’s cooperation funds;