WRITTEN QUESTION E-1011/04 by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission. Extremely grave human rights situation in Vietnam and Laos.
Date: 2004-04-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Laos, UNO, Viet Nam, human rights, resolution (EU), the EU's international role

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/929

(2004/C 84 E/1026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1011/04

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(1 April 2004)

Subject: Extremely grave human rights situation in Vietnam and Laos

On 10 February 2004,
the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the rights, priorities and
recommendations of the European Union in respect of the 60th sitting of the United Nations Human
Rights Committee (P5_TA-PROV(2004)0079). Parliament stressed the gravity of the situation in various
countries, and called on the Commission and Council to raise various issues.

What initiatives has the Commission already taken, or will it take, within the framework of the 60th sitting
of the UN Human Rights Committee, so as to ensure that the extremely serious situation of basic rights in
Vietnam and Laos is adequately dealt with by the United Nations? In particular, has the Commission
already submitted a draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Laos and Vietnam to the Member
States and the candidate countries? Does the Commission intend to coordinate possible EU initiatives
Japan,
concerning Vietnam and Laos with initiatives taken by other countries, particularly the USA,
Australia and Canada?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

The EU is one of the most active players in the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and undertakes
responsibility for a wide range of country and thematic initiatives. The General Affairs and External
Relations Council (GAERC) conclusions of 23 March 2004, provided an indication of the initiatives which
will be addressed in 2004. Laos and Vietnam are not included in that list and the EU has not agreed to the
pursuit of resolutions relating to those countries.

EU deliberations on CHR initiatives took full account of the Parliament’s resolution relating to the
60th CHR. However, it is not possible for the EU to put forward draft resolutions on all situations of
concern. In order to operate effectively in the CHR, it is crucial that the EU focus on securing support for a
limited number of initiatives, not least through intensive lobbying efforts.

As an Observer Organisation at the CHR, the Community itself has delivered a statement under Item 19
relating to technical co-operation activities and is not in a position to table or pursue particular country or
thematic resolutions.

Human rights issues of concern in Vietnam and Laos are regularly addressed within the political and
human rights dialogues which the EU has established with these countries.

(2004/C 84 E/1027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1020/04

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Emergency on the ferrous metals market

(5 April 2004)

The alarming rise in the prices of ferrous metals in the last year and the price explosion in 2004 are
affecting a large proportion of businesses (craft industries and SMEs) in northern Italy. There have been
record increases in the prices of steel, copper, aluminium and nickel, ranging from 22 % for nickel to
100 % for steel. Suppliers guarantee price quotations for only a few days, or sometimes even only 24 hours.
The situation is aggravated by the shortage of raw materials, and production is minimal compared with
demand. The greatest threats come from the Chinese, Indian and Russian markets, whose imports of
ferrous metals doubled or (cid:1) in the case of China (cid:1) trebled between 1999 and 2003. The prospects are far