WRITTEN QUESTION E-0396/04 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Guantánamo-on-Thames?.
Date: 2004-02-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Convention on Human Rights, United Kingdom, public safety, right to justice, rights of aliens, terrorism

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/783

Community framework, while considering sub-regional specificities, is a prerequisite not only to ensuring a
level playing field but also to putting forward fisheries management proposals in the wider international
framework.

Illegal fishing is a problem that may affect not only third country fishing vessels but also Community ones;
for example, Greek waters and resources are negatively affected both by the illegal use of explosive and
poor compliance with the legal cod-end mesh size in trawl fisheries. These problems must be tackled
within the Community, not only at international level.

The outcome and final declaration of the Venice Ministerial Conference, organized by the Commission in
November 2003, have provided a strong political basis on which to progress more speedily and effectively
towards sustainable fisheries management in the Mediterranean. The extension of fisheries jurisdiction was
identified as an important means of achieving this goal.

In particular, the maturing debate of possible coordinated extension of national jurisdictions on open sea
together with the likely imminent
the new General Fisheries Commission for the
Mediterranean (GFCM) autonomous budget will allow both conservation and compliance issues to be
better addressed in a coordinated manner at Mediterranean level.

ratification of

(1) OJ L 171, 6.7.1994.
(2) OJ L 292, 21.11.2000.
(3) COM(2001) 135 final.
(4) COM(2002) 535.

(2004/C 84 E/0879)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0396/04

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

(16 February 2004)

Subject: Guantánamo-on-Thames?

This question is being asked in the European press with regard to the situation of foreign prisoners in the
UK, who, despite the fact that they have been declared innocent, remain held in the Belmarsh High
Security Prison in London, under the provisions of the anti-terrorist laws enacted after 11 September
2001. These laws allow the British authorities to keep foreigners suspected of constituting ‘a threat to
national security’ in prison indefinitely, thus violating the European Convention on Human Rights. What is
the Commission doing in terms of approaching the UK Government to resolve this serious and intolerable
situation?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 2004)

On the basis of information available to the Commission, it appears that the particular situation to which
the Honourable Member refers does not fall within the scope of Community law.

(2004/C 84 E/0880)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0397/04

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

Subject: Legalising irregular migrants working in the Union

(16 February 2004)

Several million irregular immigrants work in the EU, and to date, the European Institutions have not taken
any decisions comparable to those of the President of the USA, who has just forwarded to Congress