WRITTEN QUESTION E-3609/03 by Giovanni Pittella (PSE), Marco Cappato (NI),Giovanni Fava (PSE), Glyn Ford (PSE), Sérgio Marques (PPE-DE)and Emilio Menéndez del Valle (PSE) to the Commission. Sending EU observers to Venezuela.
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Organisation of American States, Venezuela, institutional cooperation, observer, organisation of elections, political crisis, referendum

C 88 E/152

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

The USA has accused Syria of developing weapons of mass destruction, of sheltering and supporting
radical terrorists belonging to Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and of allowing its territory to be used
by extremists threatening the coalition forces stationed in Iraq.

The Commission:

(cid:1) has the Commission any information concerning the USA’s accusations of Syrian support

for
terrorism and the production of non-conventional weapons? Can the Commission confirm that Syrian
territory is frequently used by terrorist organisations;

(cid:1) what steps has the Commission taken (or will it take) in order to monitor Syrian activities within the

European Union;

(cid:1) how does the Commission class the Syrian regime? How does it view, and how would it sum up,

current European policy in relation to Syria?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2004)

Apart from openly available sources, the Commission does not have any information on Syrian production
of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or the use of Syrian territory for acts of terrorism.

It seems some organisations listed by the Union as terrorist organisations (in particular Hamas and the
Palestinian Islamic Jihad) use Syria, as well as other countries, for their activities. Syria has recently taken
some measures to stop the public activities of these organisations. The Commission considers these
measures insufficient and has urged Syria to cease its support to these organisations, which condone or
actively perpetuate acts of terror, which, apart from being unacceptable as such, undermine the Palestinian
Authority and, therefore, constitute an obstacle to re-launching the Middle East Peace Process.

The European policy towards Syria is one of constructive engagement. The Commission is concerned
about the situation of democracy and respect for human rights in Syria, but it does not believe that
isolating Syria will contribute positively neither to the regional situation nor to improving the political and
human rights situation in the country.

Instead, the EU tries to engage Syria on the road to economic as well as political reforms in the framework
of the Barcelona Process and, more specifically, through an Association Agreement.

This Agreement will provide a solid platform for the Union to support Syrian efforts to carry out political
and economic reform. The clauses regarding respect for human rights, non-proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction and fight against terrorism, will strengthen its ability to engage with Syria on these issues.

(2004/C 88 E/0162)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3609/03

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE), Marco Cappato (NI),
Giovanni Fava (PSE), Glyn Ford (PSE), Sérgio Marques (PPE-DE)
and Emilio Menéndez del Valle (PSE) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject: Sending EU observers to Venezuela

The social, political and economic events in Venezuela over the last three years have had an adverse effect
on the country’s inhabitants and democratic institutions and been causing the international community
increasing concern and seriously jeopardising democratic life, the rule of law and respect for fundamental
human and civil rights.

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/153

Consistent with its action in other parts of the world, the European Union has the task of promoting
dialogue aimed at finding a peaceful negotiated solution to the current crisis in Venezuela.

In view of the fact that a referendum may be held in the next few months in accordance with the
provisions of the Venezuelan Constitution, if a sufficient number of people support it, an unequivocal
position needs to be adopted quickly.

Can the Commission, in agreement with the Venezuelan government and the opposition, arrange for
expert electoral observers to be sent as soon as the required signatures are collected (cid:1) probably by the end
of November (cid:1) in order to ensure that the referendum is held in a correct and proper manner, at all
stages both before and during the poll?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 2004)

The Union, in several Declarations, has emphasised the need for a peaceful, democratic, constitutional and
electoral solution to the political crisis in Venezuela. Moreover, the Commission has offered financial and
technical assistance for the implementation of the Agreement reached between the government and the
opposition on 29 May 2003. In order to do so, the Commission has signed a project to assist the
Organisation of American States (OAS)
in its efforts to implement the Agreement, which comprises
support for an electoral solution, investigation of the events of April 2002 and disarming the civilian
population. The amount budgeted is EUR 600 000. The Commission is working with the OAS with a view
to ensuring the project’s timely implementation.

Furthermore, the Commission is following closely developments concerning possible referenda and is
prepared to consider providing support, including support in the form of electoral observation. A recall
referendum against any elected high-level State officials can only take place if the number of signatures
required by the Venezuelan constitution has been collected. In two consecutive acts of signature collection,
both the government and the opposition have collected signatures to recall Deputies and President Chávez,
respectively. The government claims to have gathered sufficient signatures to recall a number of Deputies
and the opposition argues that it has also collected the required number to activate the mechanism for a
referendum to recall President Chavez. The signatures collected should be presented to the National
Electoral Council for further verification.

In accordance with the standard methodology for election observation, any decision to deploy a Union
Electoral Observation Mission will depend on the recommendations made by a preliminary Union
Exploratory Mission as to whether observation is advisable, useful and feasible. And, as with every Union
Election Observation Mission, the authorities in the host country would need to issue an invitation to the
Union to observe, prior to deployment.

(2004/C 88 E/0163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3623/03

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject: Discriminatory policy against the Greek inhabitants of Imbros and Tenedos in Turkey

Indigenous Greeks have lived on the islands of Imbros and Tenedos for 3 000 years. These islands were
ceded to Turkey in 1923 under the Treaty of Lausanne with the provision that they ‘shall enjoy a special
administrative organisation composed of local elements and furnishing every guarantee for the native non-
Muslim population in so far as concerns local administration and the protection of persons and property.
The maintenance of order will be assured therein by a police force recruited from amongst the local
population by the local administration above provided for and placed under its orders.’