WRITTEN QUESTION P-3732/03 by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission. Vietnam.
Date: 2003-12-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Viet Nam, aid programme, governance, human rights, joint committee (EU), political cooperation

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/637

(2004/C 78 E/0672)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3732/03

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(3 December 2003)

Subject: Vietnam

Under the terms of the EU-Vietnam Cooperation Agreement, the EU-Vietnam Joint Committee which
monitors the implementation of that agreement met on 21 November 2003 in Brussels. According to the
Agence Europe bulletin of 25 November 2003, the Commission and the Vietnamese authorities decided to
broaden their dialogue to embrace subjects such as governance and human rights, which will be dealt with
by a new sub-group set up at the meeting in question. However, the Commission has not supplied any
information concerning undertakings given by the Vietnamese authorities to implement reforms which
would ensure that in future Vietnam is not in breach of Article 1 of the Cooperation Agreement (human
rights clause). This is particularly relevant because, the day before the meeting of the Joint Committee,
Parliament had adopted a fresh resolution calling on the Commission to make the issue of freedom of
religion and more specifically, the granting of legal status to non-recognised churches one of the priority
objectives of the legal reform policy which the Commission is supporting by means of an aid programme.

What are the legal and political bases for the Commission’s decision to consider broadening EU-Vietnam
dialogue?

Does the Commission not take the view that Article 1 of the Cooperation Agreement (human rights
clause) already constitutes an adequate legal and political basis for tackling all issues relating to respect for
human rights by both parties?

Does the Commission not take the view that the establishment of a sub-group with responsibility for
human rights and governance in fact amounts to devaluing the issue of human rights and to creating a
main forum for dialogue which will enable the two sides to discuss ‘important’ matters, such as the
cooperation programme, the implementation of the agreement on textiles, etc., without being distracted by
‘marginal’ issues, such as serious breaches of freedom of religion, association, expression, etc.?

At the meeting of the Joint Committee, what assurances did the Commission obtain regarding the
willingness of the Vietnamese authorities to grant legal status to non-recognised churches, and first and
foremost the Unified Buddist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), without delay?

Under its legal reform support programme, does the Commission intend to provide the Vietnamese
authorities with technical assistance which will enable them to grant the UBCV and other non-recognised
churches legal status as soon as possible?

Does the Commission intend to make the continuation of the legal reform aid programme and, more
generally, all cooperation aid to Vietnam contingent on reforms granting the various religious faiths in
Vietnam legal status?

More generally, can the Commission provide detailed information concerning the projects which it has
financed or co-financed under its legal reform aid programme?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(21 January 2004)

At its meeting of 21 November 2003 in Brussels the Community-Vietnam Joint Commission agreed to
reinforce the dialogue and cooperation on human rights and related issues and established a sub-group on
‘Cooperation in Institution Building, Administrative Reform, Governance and Human Rights’ in accordance
with Article 14(3) of
the Community-Vietnam Cooperation Agreement. Two other sub-groups on
Development and Economic Cooperation as well as on Trade and Investment were already created in
1996 and have since met on a regular basis, last on 20 November 2003, to prepare and report to the Joint
Commission.

C 78 E/638

Official Journal of the European Union

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27.3.2004

The specific objectives of the new sub-group are to establish a regular dialogue to increase the mutual
understanding in the sectors concerned, to devise guidelines for cooperation activities in the areas covered
by the sub-group and to identify subjects for which Community assistance would be most useful and
productive. The sub-group reports and makes recommendations to the Joint Commission, which will
monitor progress of its work. The activities of the sub-group will consist of formal meetings and informal
events (seminars, round tables, visit programmes, etc) and will be complementary to the established and
recently reinforced EU-Vietnam Human Rights dialogue between the Union Troika Heads of Mission in
Hanoi and the Government of Vietnam.

The Commission reconfirms its commitment to addressing the situation of human rights in Vietnam in all
political dialogue meetings with Vietnam. The Commission has raised human rights concerns during the
Joint Commission meeting, amongst others by pointing to the Parliament Resolution on religious freedom
of 20 November 2003. Moreover, the EU Troika ambassadors at the EU Human Rights dialogue meeting
with the Government of Vietnam on 26 November 2003, have again expressed concern and raised
questions about the free exercise of fundamental freedoms in Vietnam (freedom of opinion, press, religion
and association), the situation of persons of concern, death penalty and torture as well as the situation of
ethnic minorities. The EU Troika emphasised the importance of increased transparency, and the need for
the dialogue to translate into concrete improvements on the ground. In following up on these meetings
the Union will continue to monitor the situation closely, and to press for improvements in Vietnam’s
human rights record.

The Commission, like the Member States, believes that only a combination of dialogue and cooperation
can contribute to an improvement of the human rights situation in Vietnam. These will contribute to
develop greater tolerance towards dissent and acceptance of different views. Moreover, the country is in
the process of challenging social, economic and legal reform, not least in view of its intended World Trade
Organisation (WTO) accession, which entails the need to develop more transparent, accountable and
factor for the emergence of a more open
modern governance. This process is also an important
environment, where civil, political and religious rights can be improved.

Under the National Indicative Programme 2002-2004, EUR 9 million is earmarked for an institutional
support programme, which is currently under preparation and shall target key capacity problems within
the most significant legislative and judicial agencies, the National Assembly, Ministry of Justice, Supreme
Peoples Court, and Supreme Peoples Procuracy, and their respective training institutions.

(2004/C 78 E/0673)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3733/03

by Constanze Krehl (PSE) to the Commission

(10 December 2003)

Subject: Social partnerships for regional structural development in Saxony

The ‘Stiftung Innovation und Arbeit Sachsen’ (‘Foundation for Innovation and Employment in Saxony’) is a
specific example of one of Saxony’s ‘Alliances for Employment’. Employers, employees and the state are
represented in equal numbers in the foundation’s bodies, and one of its tasks is to provide expert advice to
small and medium-sized enterprises. The regional forums provide an infrastructure enabling regional actors
to become involved in the development of regional models and projects.

How important does the Commission believe it

1.
structural development?

is to support social partnerships for regional

2. What forms of EU aid are available to social partnerships for regional structural development, such as
the ‘Stiftung Innovation und Arbeit Sachsen’?