WRITTEN QUESTION E-0306/04 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission. Use of sky marshals.
Date: 2004-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United States, air transport, firearms and munitions, piracy, public safety, terrorism

C 88 E/494

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

More generally, for each agreement under negotiation, a Sustainability Impact Assessment is carried out in
order to assess potential trade related impacts on the environment, social development and the economies.
Poverty, gender equity and health are social dimensions that are appraised in each SIA. Ultimately,
integration of SIA results into policy making help ensure increased coherence between trade and
development policies and mitigate potential negative effects on disadvantaged social groups.

The Commission is also actively engaged in the development of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
practices focused on developing countries. As well as promoting a number of established CSR instruments,
following its
the Commission established the European Multi-Stakeholder Forum on CSR in 2002,
Communication on CSR (1). The Development Issues Round Table of the Forum has examined a number of
issues relevant to sustainable development and the strengthening of social and environmental standards in
developing countries. These have included the role of global CSR standards and codes, the possibility of
developing sectoral approaches to CSR, the need to develop CSR-awareness at local and regional level, and
the importance of ensuring that CSR practices apply throughout the supply chain in developing countries.

3.
The Commission learned of the chemical accident on the Apsentos plantation in November 2003
with great regret. It is beyond the remit of the Commission to react further to an incident of this kind
occurring in a third country, but EC cooperation programmes do aim at avoiding such situations as the
one in the flower industry in Bogotá. In Colombia, for instance, the Commission supports the ‘National
Trade Union School’ (Escuela Nacional Sindical) to foster the respect of social and economic rights in this
country. Furthermore, social issues will be at the core of the agenda of the coming EU-Latin America and
Caribbean Summit in Guadalajara, Mexico, on 28 May.

(1) COM(2002) 347 of 2.7.2002.

(2004/C 88 E/0506)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0306/04

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(6 February 2004)

Subject: Use of sky marshals

The US authorities have demanded that European airlines deploy armed sky marshals as a protective
measure on certain transatlantic flights. Some Member States are willing to use armed sky marshals,
whereas others are strongly opposed.

The type of ammunition is a crucial
ammunition cannot be used due to its penetrating power.

factor when deploying armed sky marshals, as conventional

Can the Commission therefore answer the following questions:

1. What type of ammunition do the armed sky marshals use?

2. Does the type of ammunition used comply with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the

European Convention on Human Rights?

3. What further action does the Commission plan to take?

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/495

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2004)

The Commission has no information on the weapons, ammunition or intervention techniques used by
armed sky marshals. In view of the nature of these duties, such information is confidential. The methods
used by the police forces of an individual Member State are a matter for that State, which is bound by the
European Convention on Human Rights.

In view of US demands on the airlines of several Member States to deploy armed sky marshals on certain
high-risk flights it will be necessary in future to establish a common response enabling cooperation with
the US authorities to be organised on a more balanced basis. The Commission regards sky marshals as just
one aspect of the broader issue of the need to adopt optimum security measures for transatlantic or
domestic flights. The Commission is about to launch a wide-ranging debate on this subject with the
Member States which takes the existing divergences of opinion into account.

(2004/C 88 E/0507)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0318/04

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(6 February 2004)

Subject: People with mental disabilities in Russia

Is the Commission aware of the lack of legal protection for people with mental disabilities in Russia?

Would the Commission identify and clarify what action is being taken on behalf of these people and
whether the matter has been raised at the highest possible level with the authorities?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(10 March 2004)

According to information at the disposal of the Commission, the Russian Constitution does not directly
address the issue of discrimination against persons with disabilities. In addition, although laws to prohibit
discrimination do exist, it appears that these are not always adequately enforced.

The Commission has been working for several years via the Tacis programme to improve the treatment of
the disabled in Russia. Examples of projects include: ‘Partnership in health, education and social assistance’,
implemented as part of the 1999 Tacis Action Programme for Russia in cooperation with the Ministry of
Education, which has promoted the early detection of disabilities and the better treatment of Russian
children in several regions of Russia.

Further projects (cid:1) to be implemented with Russian institutions including the Russian Ministry of Labour
and Social Development (cid:1) are currently being prepared.

These projects aim, inter alia, to:

(cid:1) improve existing legislation;

(cid:1) develop mechanisms of cooperation between different departments/agencies and organisations dealing

with disabled children;

(cid:1) develop programmes for the social inclusion of children with disabilities and provide support to their

families;