WRITTEN QUESTION E-0049/04 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. EU aid to Iran to tackle the tragic consequences of the Bam earthquake.
Date: 2004-01-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: ECHO, EU relations, Iran, aid to disaster victims, earthquake, humanitarian aid

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/167

Dialogue and cooperation have continued to deepen in the entire range of political, economic,
development and civil society matters.

In this context, the cultural dimension has received increased attention, and the Commission, already
active, is looking at ways and means to further strengthen this important element of EU-India relations.

The Economic Cross-Cultural Programme to which the Honourable Member refers was re-launched
through a call for proposals in July 2003 in the fields of media and communication, university and studies
and entrepreneurial networking. This resulted in the selection of 26 projects which are in the process of
being signed.

An EU-India Scholarship programme is currently being designed. It will aim to attract Indian post-graduate
level students to European (cid:1) including possibly Portuguese (cid:1) universities, as a means of deepening
EU-India ties and understanding.

The EU-India Small Projects facility also offers scope for the funding of cultural activities. One of the nine
projects being financed from the last call for proposals aims to increase cultural interchange through the
translation of European and Indian literature.

The Commission was actively involved in the organisation of a dense cultural week around the Delhi
Summit: A large number of European cultural activities organised by the Member States attracted a lot of
attention among the Indian public.

The Commission fully agrees with the Honourable Member that cultural exchanges are a crucial element of
EU-India relations. Hence, in its current effort to elaborate a strategic partnership with India, due account
will be taken of the importance of cultural links, both around Summit meetings and in furthering the day-
to-day relationship.

(2004/C 88 E/0175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0049/04

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(20 January 2004)

Subject: EU aid to Iran to tackle the tragic consequences of the Bam earthquake

What is the nature of the EU’s relations with the Iranian government following the major disaster at Bam?
How much aid has the EU sent to Bam? What will the EU contribute to enable the cities and villages
affected to resume normal life as far as possible? Does the Commission have the resources required to aid
communities affected by such disasters, commensurate with the Union’s economic capacity?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2004)

The EU has for many years explored ways of developing wider political and economic relations with Iran.
To that effect, the EU launched negotiations in December 2002 on a Trade and Cooperation Agreement as
well as on an Agreement on Political Dialogue and the Fight against Terrorism. Almost simultaneously, a
dialogue on Human Rights was established with Iran. Working groups on trade and investment, and
energy, exist since 1999. The EU continues to base its approach towards Iran on the global concept of
Comprehensive Dialogue, introduced in 1998.

C 88 E/168

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Following the tragic earthquake on 26 December 2003, the Commission through its Humanitarian Aid
Office (ECHO) promptly reacted by allocating, on 27 December 2003, EUR 2,3 million for the most
urgent humanitarian needs. The funds have been channelled through the Red Cross movement and
international non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Already on 26 December 2003,
the EU Civil
protection and Monitoring and Information Centre, hosted by the Commission, dispatched and
coordinated the Search and Rescue teams’ response of Member States, the European Economic Area
(EEA), Candidate and Acceding Countries.

On 18 February 2004 the Commission adopted a follow up decision of EUR 6,2 million for continued
humanitarian aid. As before, funds will be disbursed through the Red Cross and international NGOs, as well
as through the United Nations agencies. The sectors targeted will be health, water and sanitation and
psycho-social care with a focus on the most vulnerable, in particular children.

The Commissioner in charge of development and cooperation visited Iran 18/19 February 2004. He had
talks with the government, the Iranian Red Crescent and United Nations organisations in Teheran and
visited Bam where he met the organisations working in the field.

(2004/C 88 E/0176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0072/04

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Suspected traffic in human organs (cid:1) Mozambique

(20 January 2004)

At the end of 2003, there were rumours that in a region in Northern Mozambique, a criminal network
was operating in trafficking in human organs, removed from people (children above all, but also adults)
kidnapped and murdered for this purpose. It was claimed that mutilated corpses were appearing on a
weekly basis around a monastery in the Nampula area. There were apparently also countless cases of
people who had vanished without trace. The trade in organs was possibly being carried on via South
Africa, with reference being made to the possible involvement of a South African citizen. The population
was panic-stricken, and there were fears that the network might be connived at by high-ranking politicians
or businessmen.

The seriousness of such crimes can scarcely by overestimated, and public knowledge of their possible truth
first came from religious sources; fear for the lives of clergy and religious in the area (cid:1) there have been
death threats against missionaries disturbed by these crimes and outraged by the possible traffic in organs
(cid:1) meant that they treated the reports with extreme caution, while seeking to gather further evidence.
However, the rumours had already hit the news, when a Brazilian woman missionary levelled accusations
during a television broadcast in Brazil at the end of 2003. News coverage in Portugal followed, in the
‘Público’ newspaper of 24 December 2003 and 2 January 2004. The latter further stated that
the
Mozambique state prosecutor was aware of the accusations and was investigating the facts.

The European Parliament recently addressed this problem in a general sense, when assessing, on a Greek
initiative, the proposal for a framework directive on the prevention and control of trafficking in human
organs and tissues (cid:1) see the proceedings in plenary of 23 October 2003 and the report by Robert
J.E. Evans (A5-0326/2003).

The Commission:

(cid:1) does the Commission have any information concerning these crimes in Mozambique;

(cid:1) how might it be able to help the Mozambique authorities in the investigation of these claims, and in
the international fight against trafficking in human organs and any other crimes which may be being
perpetrated;

(cid:1) what guarantees are there that no EU Member State is the destination of criminally obtained and

illegally traded human organs?