WRITTEN QUESTION E-0655/04 by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission. Human rights in Algeria.
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Algeria, EU relations, association agreement (EU), human rights, political violence, torture

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/833

measures, in particular the introduction of a new charging scheme for road haulage, liberalisation of the
rail sector and opening it up to competition, the promotion of intermodal transport (the Marco Polo
programme), and the development of railway infrastructure. With regard to the latter, it should be noted
that, since the mid-1990s, the Commission has insisted that the Brenner base tunnel be considered a
priority infrastructure project of European interest and that
the Member States concerned should
implement this project as soon as possible.

On road charging, it should be noted that Directive 1999/62/CE (1) does not allow the Commission to
adopt derogatory measures as regards the toll between Kufstein and Verona, since the toll charge must
correspond to the costs of constructing, operating and developing the infrastructure network concerned.
However, the Directive does allow the Member States concerned, Italy and Austria, to allocate a percentage
of the amount of the tolls to the funding of other transport infrastructure, for example the Brenner base
tunnel.

The Commission proposal (2) to amend the Eurovignette Directive provides for specific measures in
particularly sensitive areas. In order to cover the cross-financing of the investment costs of other transport
infrastructure of high European interest in the same corridor (for example, the Brenner base tunnel),
Member States may increase tolls by up to 25 % in these areas. Mountainous areas, which include the Alps,
are specifically referred to. It should also be noted that the proposal for a Directive provides that the rates
at which tolls are charged should vary according to several criteria, which more especially will enable the
Member States to reflect their concerns about congestion and the environment when implementing road
charges. The Member States will therefore be able to vary the charges according to the particular route of
the road network, the environmental sensitivity of the area or the risk of accidents. All of these measures
should enable Austria to introduce a system of tolls which reflects the costs engendered by infrastructure
use and contributes to an efficient and sustainable transport policy, in particular in the Tyrol.

Whatever decisions are taken on the modal transfer from road to rail, they must take account of the
obligations arising from the free movement of goods and the freedom to provide services as well as the
railway capacity made available by operators.

(1) Directive 1999/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 1999 on the charging of heavy

goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures, OJ L 187, 20.7.1999.

(2) COM(2003) 448 final.

(2004/C 84 E/0927)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0655/04

by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Human rights in Algeria

In light of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Algeria and in particular Article 2,
can the Commission inform me what continuing action it is taking and will take in relation to human
rights in Algeria?

1. What is the Commission doing to ensure that the Algerian authorities have at their disposal relevant
expertise and equipment in dealing with the crimes against humanity committed throughout the last
decade and that they respect recommended procedures in exhuming mortal remains from mass graves?

2. What is the Commission doing to ensure that families of the ‘disappeared’ in Algeria are able to carry
out their campaigning work as legally registered organisations?

Has the Commission asked the Algerian authorities to extend an invitation to the UN Special

3.
Rapporteur on Torture (who has asked to gain entry to Algeria since 1997)?

4. Will the Commission press the Algerian authorities for concrete information on the alleged trials of
some 20 security officers following the killing of dozens of unarmed protesters in Kabylia and to make
public the information on these and similar trials?

C 84 E/834

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(13 April 2004)

The Honourable Member rightly mentions Article 2 of the Association Agreement as an important

1.
legal basis on which to build dialogue and cooperation in the human rights field.

The Association Agreement which was signed in April 2002 has so far not been ratified and is not in
force. Nonetheless, human rights and democracy form an integral part of the EU’s political dialogue with
all third countries.

2.
Regarding assistance to the Algerian authorities to help them properly and concretely deal with these
issues, MEDA cooperation for the period 2004-2006 focuses on ‘third generation’ programmes, that is
projects that support good governance, and in particular justice, non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
and media. This is in line with the 2003 Commission Communication on Human Rights which aims at
maximising the effectiveness of the instruments at the disposal of the EU and its Mediterranean partners in
the field of human rights and democracy. Algeria is also a focus country under the 2003-2004 European
Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. This Programme aims at supporting NGOs through micro
projects directed towards civil society.

Furthermore, pending ratification of the Association Agreement, the Commission has continued to raise
the issue of human rights and in particular that of the ‘disappeared’ and ‘mass graves’ in various fora and
most notably at the last Troïka meeting which took place in Rome in November 2003. In its talks with the
Algerian authorities, the Commission has in particular highlighted the need to grant families’ associations
legal recognition if proper interaction with those directly concerned is to be guaranteed in this process.

It is the Commission’s intention, with active support from the Council, to raise this issue again following
the 8 April 2004 presidential election.

The EU has repeatedly raised with Algeria the issue of the fight against torture as well as cooperation
3.
with the human rights Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations, including the pending request by the
United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on torture, ‘inter alia’ in its speeches before the UN Commission
on Human Rights. The principle of promoting full cooperation by all States with the human rights
mechanisms of the United Nations forms a central part of EU human rights policy.

The Commission will raise the issue of the killing of protesters in Kabylia, in its forthcoming talks with the
Algerian authorities.

Furthermore, the Commission would like to underline the utmost importance it attaches to another human
rights issue, namely the revision of the Family code’s which defines equality between men and women
within the family. This and other issues will be raised in its next meetings with the Algerian authorities.

(2004/C 84 E/0928)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0657/04

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Misfuelling of motor vehicles

Is the Commission aware that hundreds of thousands of drivers across the EU each year inadvertently fill
their vehicles with the wrong fuel, either petrol or diesel?

In the UK alone it is reported that some 120 000 misfuelling incidents take place at filling stations each
year, resulting in costly service bills, damage to vehicles, and potential environmental pollution.