WRITTEN QUESTION E-4019/03 by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission. Burma Forum.
Date: 2004-01-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Myanmar/Burma, common foreign and security policy, the EU's international role

C 88 E/666

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

(2004/C 88 E/0684)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4019/03

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission

(9 January 2004)

Subject: Burma Forum

On 15 December 2003 a meeting arranged by the government of Thailand on the road map for Burma
took place in Bangkok. The EU (and critics such as the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Scandinavian
countries) were not invited to attend. Only a few EU Member States were invited because in practice they
have always obstructed more stringent measures against the Burmese regime (Germany, France, Italy and
Austria).

Significantly, those EU countries that attended the meeting followed the line taken in the EU’s common
position on Burma. The EU should also ask to be involved in the follow-up. It is very important to make it
clear to all Asian countries that there can be no solution to the problems in Burma without the active
involvement of both the democratic opposition (NLD) and the ethnic minorities. The EU must not allow
itself to be divided as a result of some countries being played off against others.

1. What measures is the Commission taking to promote such an approach?

Can the Commission give details of the outcome of the recent review of the EU’s common position

2.
on Burma in the light of the impact of the current sanctions?

3. Will the Commission encourage the EU delegations in China and India in particular to facilitate
discussions between those two governments and relevant Burmese democratic and opposition forces in
some way, possibly maintaining a low profile? As the Chinese and Indian governments now have contacts
with the junta, will the EU take greater advantage of its links with them and specifically ask them to use
those contacts or bring pressure to bear on the Burmese regime?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2004)

The Commission, and all Member States, continue to call on the Government of Burma/Myanmar to enter
in to substantive dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, the National League for Democracy and ethnic minority
groups. This was also the line followed by those Member States who participated in the Bangkok meeting
on 15 December 2003.

The Common Position is up for renewal before 29 April 2004. As discussions are on-going in relevant
Council working groups, the Honourable Member will understand that the Commission is currently not in
a position to comment, or anticipate the outcome of these discussions.

The European Union has on several occasions raised its concerns regarding the situation in Burma/
Myanmar with neighbouring Asian countries, including India and China, encouraging them to use their
influence to encourage the Burmese regime to undertake some firm steps towards national reconciliation
and a return to democracy.

(2004/C 88 E/0685)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4038/03

by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission

(12 January 2004)

Subject: Processing of radioactive waste in Ukraine

On 10 November 2003, the Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten, attended a conference in
Kiev on the ‘Wider Europe (cid:1) New Neighbourhood’ initiative. He also visited the Chernobyl nuclear power
plant and laid the foundation stone of an industrial centre for radioactive waste treatment.