WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2803/97 by Mark WATTS to the Commission. Human Rights in Honduras
17. 3. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 82/143 Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (24 September 1997) The Community does not finance any of the modifications being carried out at present in the Temelin 1. nuclear power plant (NPP) and therefore has no information about details of work being performed in this plant. Moreover and more in general, it would like to indicate that through the Phare programme it provides support to the Czech nuclear safety authority, the State office for nuclear safety (SONS). This support includes general methodology transfer and, in the case of the Temelin NPP, a contract is under preparation in order to support the SONS during the licensing process. The Commission will continue the support to SONS, in order to ensure that an independent and competent 2. body is responsible for the licensing of the plant. The Commission is aware of the vote of the Austrian parliament. In this connection, it refers to the relevant 3. part of the Commissionís opinion on the Czech Republic of 16 July 1997 (1). (1) COM(97) 2009. (98/C 82/228) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2803/97 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1997) Subject: Human Rights in Honduras Is the Commission aware of the current atrocities taking place in Honduras which have resulted in the murder of at least two street children? What action is the Commission taking to ensure that full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is observed in Honduras in accordance with national laws and international standards? Answer given by Mr Mar ·n on behalf of the Commission (30 September 1997) The Commission is aware of Hondurasís problems with street children and children in custody. With regard to the imprisonment of children in adult gaols, the Commission believes that the Honduran government is doing what it can to resolve the problem. The Commission has acceded to a request for help. It did so all the more readily because the government has made clear its intention to take effective action to ensure proper treatment for children in custody and resolve the problems associated with street children. The project in question, which will soon be under way, involves schemes aimed at gaining a better understanding of the issues involved and finding solutions for street children. Activities include the strengthening of institutions dealing with children, e. g. the National Council for Social Welfare and the Supreme Court, prevention schemes and measures to boost the capacity to help of NGOs working with street children. The project specifically includes measures to disseminate and enforce the recently adopted childrenís code. The project is, moreover, wholly consistent with the Honduran governmentís policy of strengthening the rule of law. The Commission is therefore convinced that it will be providing the Honduran government with valuable help in overcoming these problems