WRITTEN QUESTION E-0821/04 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Signing of the Agadir Agreement.
Date: 2004-03-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Portugal, Tunisia, Union for the Mediterranean, cannery, crop production, economic consequence, free-trade agreement

C 88 E/540

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(22 April 2004)

The Commission is aware that persecution based on religious belief is taking place in Eritrea. It recalls that
the Eritrean Constitution provides for freedom of religion. However, the Government restricts this right in
practice. Only the four government-sanctioned religious groups in the country (cid:1) Orthodox Christians,
Muslims, Catholics, and members of the Evangelical Church of Eritrea (which is affiliated with the Lutheran
World Federation) (cid:1) are allowed to meet freely.

In May 2002, the Minister of Information issued a decree that all religious groups should be registered,
however this did not apply for the four sanctioned groups. Other groups were warned that, until the
registration applications were approved, no religious activities or services could be held. No authorizations
have been granted so far.

Since then, according to various reports received, persecution has intensified. The Government harassed,
arrested, and detained members of non-sanctioned Protestant
religious groups locally referred to
collectively as ‘Pentes’, reform movements from and within the Coptic Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and
adherents of the Baha’i Faith. The reports mention that on occasion police physically mistreated those
detained, and that some detainees were required to sign statements repudiating their faith or agreeing not
to practice it as a condition for release. Reportedly, these events involved hundreds of individuals.

Members of Jehovah’s Witnesses seem to be particularly targeted, because of their refusal to perform duties
under the National Service. Many were evicted from or not allowed to occupy government-owned housing,
denied passports and exit visas and some had their identity cards refused or revoked. At the end of 2003,
Jehovah’s Witnesses reportedly remained in detention without charge.
an estimated 11 members of
National service is compulsory in Eritrea for all males between 18 and 45 and all females between 18 and
28 and the Government does not provide non-military alternatives.

in
The Commission agrees that the above constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights and,
coordination with Member States, closely follows developments. This issue will be discussed in the
framework of the political dialogue foreseen by Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement. The dialogue re-
started in 2003, after a period of suspension following the crackdown on political opposition and the
media at the end of 2001. During a first phase it proved to be difficult to table the sensitive political
issues. However, a second phase is about to start. The European Union has been assured that it will be
possible to discuss civil, political, religious, economic, social and cultural rights.

(2004/C 88 E/0552)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0821/04

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(15 March 2004)

Subject: Signing of the Agadir Agreement

The free trade agreement between Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco was signed on 25 February 2004 in
the presence of Commissioner Chris Patten. It is known as the Agadir Agreement, in reference to the
political declaration of intent issued by these countries in Agadir in May 2001. The agreement is part of
the broader objective of partnership between the EU and the countries on the shore of the Mediterranean,
envisaged in the Barcelona process launched in 1995, with a view to creating a pan-Euro-Mediterranean
free-trade area by 2010.

In this context, can the Commission say what impact it thinks the process will have on Community
products of a specifically Mediterranean nature, particularly in Portugal? More specifically, what does it
think the impact will be on the fruit and vegetable sector and the canning industry,
including fish
(sardines, tuna, etc.), particularly in Portugal?

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/541

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 2004)

The Agadir Agreement signed on 25 February 2004, is a free trade agreement between four Mediterranean
partners: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan. Therefore,
this
Agreement, although it has strongly encouraged its conclusion. Each of these four countries has concluded
Association Agreements, including free trade provisions, with the European Union in the context of the
Euro-Mediterranean partnership. The Agreements with Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan are already in force.
The Agreement with Egypt should enter into force in the near future although its trade and trade related
provisions have been in force since 1 January 2004. The Agadir Agreement should therefore have no
direct effect on sectors in the EU.

the European Union is not part of

so that

the North-South economic dimension of

The policy of the Commission is to promote the conclusion of free trade agreements between Southern
Mediterranean partners,
the Euro-Mediterranean
partnership is complemented with a South-South dimension to further attract investment and promote
trade between partners. The Agadir Agreement, in line with this objective, constitutes a positive step in the
gradual creation of the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area and should have a positive impact in the trade
relations of the four countries concerned, and in the development of economic and trade relations in the
whole Euro-Mediterranean region. The Commission follows very closely the impact and developments
resulting from the implementation of free trade in the region and is funding a sustainability impact study
on the Euro-Mediterranean Free trade Area. The study is in its initial phase, and is intended to produce an
overall evaluation of the economic, social and environment sustainability of free trade in the Euro-
Mediterranean region.

(2004/C 88 E/0553)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0833/04

by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission

(15 March 2004)

Subject: VAT rating of 0 % or 5 % on all audio-books

Can the Commission inform me if it would have objections, and if so on what grounds, to the UK
Government applying a reduced VAT rating of 0 % or 5 % on all audio-books? This would bring audio-
books closer into line with the 0-rating on print books in the UK and ensure that people with sight loss
are not penalised for reading books in audio format rather than print format. Such measures have been
supported by the Royal National Institute of the Blind Scotland and other organisations of and for people
with sight loss.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

Under present Community legislation, the United Kingdom has no legal base to apply a reduced VAT
rating of 0 % or 5 % on audio-books.

The maintenance of zero rates was authorised by Council Directive 92/77/EEC (1) as a temporary
derogation for the duration of a transitional period prior to the introduction of a definitive VAT system
involving taxation in the country of origin. It is allowed on the condition that such rates were legally in
force on 1 January 1991. Under these provisions, the United Kingdom was allowed to apply zero rates to
books but not to audio books. This sort of derogation is an exception to the normal rules which foresee
that the standard VAT rate should apply to all taxable transactions with an option for Member States to
apply a reduced rate only to goods and services listed in Annex H (list of goods and services which may be
subject to reduced rates of VAT) to the Sixth VAT Directive 77/388/EEC (2). Audio books are not, as such,
included in Annex H so they are submitted to the standard rate.