WRITTEN QUESTION E-0334/04 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. The unchanged human rights and democracy situation in China and Hong Kong, the threat to Taiwan and the need for the arms embargo.
Date: 2004-02-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: China, EU relations, Hong Kong, Taiwan, arms trade, export restriction, human rights

C 84 E/774

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

What is the situation as regards the establishment of this regional social policy coordination centre for
countries in south-eastern Europe?

In particular:

(cid:1) how far have preparations for setting up the centre come;

(cid:1) what is the scheduled date for its activities to begin;

(cid:1) where will the centre be;

(cid:1) what staff and financial resources will be assigned to the coordination centre;

(cid:1) what are the centre’s tasks;

(cid:1) what partners will be involved in the setting up and operation of the centre;

(cid:1) how will the countries in the region be involved in the setting up and operation of the centre?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2004)

The establishment of a regional co-ordination centre for social policy is envisaged as a continuation of the
project: ‘Strengthening Social Cohesion by promoting Coordination of National Social Security Schemes in
South Eastern Europe (SEE)’ under the auspices of the Initiative for Social Cohesion of the Stability Pact for
SEE.

The regional co-ordination centre will be financed by the 2003 CARDS regional programme (EUR 2 million
over three years) and established in close co-operation with the Council of Europe (co-financing
EUR 200 000). The overall project implies more than the mere setting up of a regional co-ordination
centre (the location of which has not yet been decided). The objective is to share with, and propose to, the
national authorities various co-ordination instruments and to share EU ‘best practice’ in relation to matters
with trans-border implications.

The activities of the project will focus on three major areas:

(cid:1) support for co-operation on social protection reform;

(cid:1) institutional support and vocational training in the social sector;

(cid:1) support for social dialogue and information exchange, in particular regarding social and civil rights

and trans-border questions (equal treatment, export of benefits, etc.).

Preparatory work for the establishment of the centre has been on-going since September 2003 and the
terms of reference for the CARDS project are almost finished. Certain procedural details as well as the
deployment of human and budgetary resources still need to be agreed between the Commission and the
Council of Europe. However, it is envisaged that a direct agreement will soon be signed with the Council
of Europe and that the activities of the centre will start at the latest at the beginning of June 2004.

(2004/C 84 E/0871)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0334/04

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(10 February 2004)

Subject: The unchanged human rights and democracy situation in China and Hong Kong, the threat to

Taiwan and the need for the arms embargo

1.
Does the Commission agree that the main change for the better in the People’s Republic of China
since 1989 has been its rapid and often uncontrolled economic growth, which gives rise to the hope that
in future the people of China will no longer need to live in poverty?

3.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/775

Has the Commission been able to detect major improvements in the People’s Republic of China since

2.
1989 with regard to freedom of association, freedom of speech and freedom of the press?

3.
Has the Commission been able to detect major improvements in the People’s Republic of China since
1989 as regards refraining from arresting political dissidents, ending the monopoly on power of a single
political party or abolishing the frequently used death penalty?

4.
Has the Commission been able to detect major improvements since 1989 in the handling of the
efforts of the inhabitants of the former British crown colony of Hong Kong, now part of China, towards a
fully fledged parliamentary democracy based on the rule of law?

5.
Has the Commission been able to detect major improvements since 1989 as regards setting aside
plans to conquer the island of Taiwan, which belonged to China only between 1945 and 1949, and whose
original population is now opting for lasting independence and neighbourly relations with China?

Is the Commission sure that tragic events involving the power of the State, comparable with the

6.
crackdown on the uprising in 1989, could now never happen again?

7.
Is the Commission prepared to contribute to ensuring that the arms embargo against the People’s
Republic of China is maintained at the same level for as long as there is no constitutional democracy in
that country, obstacles are placed in the path of democracy in Hong Kong and no non-aggression pact is
concluded between China and Taiwan?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 March 2004)

Although acknowledging certain improvements in the situation of Human Rights in China over recent
years, the EU remains concerned with the present state of play in many respects and, in particular, in the
field of civil and political rights. Most issues mentioned by the Honourable Member have been addressed in
the framework of the EU-China dialogue on Human Rights and it is the intention of the EU to proceed
soon with an overall assessment of this dialogue. At the same time, the EU has been following (cid:1) and will
continue to follow (cid:1) closely the situation in Hong Kong and Taiwan. These issues, be they related to the
human rights situation in China or of a regional nature, will certainly have to be carefully considered in
the discussions on eventually lifting the embargo on arms sales to China.

(2004/C 84 E/0872)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0335/04

by Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission

(10 February 2004)

Subject: Extension of operating licence for Sosnovy Bor nuclear power plant

In the autumn of 2003, the operating licence for the Sosnovy Bor nuclear power unit, the same type as
Chernobyl, expired and an application has been made to extend it.

In the light of the EU’s cooperation with Russia under TACIS, does the Commission consider that safety at
this nuclear plant meets international standards? Does the administration granting the licence meet the
standards that must be required of such an authority? Any there any guarantees that the nuclear waste is
managed and dealt with in accordance with international conventions?