WRITTEN QUESTION E-0413/04 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE)and Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Migrating birds and Habitat Directives with regard to the republic of Malta.
Date: 2004-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Malta, accession to the European Union, bird, national implementing measure, protection of animal life, wildlife

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/183

(2004/C 88 E/0189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0411/04

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE)
and John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: Persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Bangladesh

Mindful of the amendment of the 2003 Human Rights Report concerning the Pakistani governments
inaction over the persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in that country, the Parliament called on the Pakistani
government to prevent any further persecution of this minority in the future.

In light of this 2003 Human Rights Report amendment, is the Commission aware that the government of
Bangladesh has similarly been appeasing extreme religious groups, who have initiated a campaign of
persecution against the Ahmadi Muslim community?

If so, what action will the Commission take to prevent a repetition of what happened in Pakistan in 1974
(i.e. bowing to the demands of fanatical groups resulting in over three decades of sustained persecution
and murder of the Ahmadi Muslims and destruction of mosques) from occurring in Bangladesh today?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2004)

Both the Commission and the Member States are very concerned by the deteriorating human rights
situation of minorities in Bangladesh,
including the Ahmadia Muslims. Following the attacks on the
Ahmadia Muslim community at the end of 2003, a local EU Troika called on the Government on
23 December 2003 to express the EU’s concerns regarding the violation of minority rights.

As the promotion of democratic principles and the respect for human rights constitute essential elements
of the Commission’s relations with the country, it intends to raise the issue at the next Commission-
Bangladesh Joint Commission Subgroup meeting, tentatively scheduled in May 2004. Such meetings
provide a formal platform for a structured dialogue on Human Rights and Governance issues. Furthermore,
the Commission expects the international donor community to voice its concerns at the next annual
Bangladesh Development Forum, also to be held in May 2004.

The Commission also plans to increase its support to specific human rights and governance activities in
2005 and 2006, in the framework of the review of the National Indicative Programme for Bangladesh.
At the same time, it continues to monitor very closely the human rights situation through its Delegation in
Dhaka.

(2004/C 88 E/0190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0413/04

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE)
and Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: Migrating birds and Habitat Directives with regard to the republic of Malta

In May of this year Malta will be joining the European Union. It is alleged that Malta is making little effort
to enforce the EU Bird and Habitat directives. The bi-annual slaughter of exhausted migrating birds of prey
continues unabated.

Will the Commission join Parliament in condemning Malta for its stance on this important issue and take
effective action to ensure that the Maltese authorities fulfil their obligations in the area of nature protection
and animal welfare?

C 88 E/184

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

This issue is especially important, as next year is the 25th anniversary of the Bird and Habitat Directives
which many individuals, organisations, agencies and governments have fought
to introduce and
implement.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2004)

Malta will be required to implement and enforce the Wild Birds Directive as from its accession on 1 May
2004, with the exception of the transition period granted for the trapping of seven species of finches until
31 December 2008 to allow Malta to establish a full captive breeding system. If Community legislation is
not implemented and enforced from the first day of membership, the Commission will take the necessary
action to achieve Malta’s compliance with existing Community legislation and procedures.

In the meantime, the Commission has already specifically drawn the attention of the Maltese authorities to
the problem of weak enforcement of the existing legislation on the protection of birds. While the Maltese
Ornis Committee (Committee in charge of bird protection) has taken steps such as the establishment of a
warden system, to better enforce the legislation, the Commission has pointed out that priority should be
given to produce a comprehensive strategy for the enforcement of legislation. The Commission continues
to monitor and report on the progress made by Malta in working towards compliance with obligations
stemming from the Birds Directive, and has published a strategy for monitoring the process leading up to
the first day of membership.

(2004/C 88 E/0191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0419/04

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: Bride burning in Pakistan

Fresh reports have emerged about the continuation of the hideous practice of bride burning in Pakistan,
India and Bangladesh. This is a form of violence within the family in which women are burned by their
own husbands or parents-in-law for reasons ranging from financial disagreements to the drunkenness of
the husband. The perpetrators of
them alight;
alternatively, they simply throw acid at them. The official explanation is that the woman suffered an
accident while cooking. In any case, the victim usually dies as a result, either directly or subsequently due
to inadequate treatment. Because women are intimidated, charges are only brought rarely.

this crime pour kerosene over the women and set

What action does the Commission intend to take to persuade the governments of Pakistan, India and
Bangladesh to overcome their indifference and lack of political will so that they combat misogyny and
ensure that those guilty of bride burning are punished in an exemplary fashion?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2004)

The Commission is aware of this practice in the three countries mentioned by the Honourable Member.

Burning attacks, and more specifically acid attacks, are one of the multiple forms of violence against
women in Pakistan. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 55 cases were registered in
2000, 63 in 2001 and 88 in 2002. The fact that these cases are increasingly reported by the media has
forced the authorities to acknowledge the existence of the problem. However, this may also have had the
unintended effect of spreading the idea of such practices.