WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2552/97 by Olivier DUPUIS to the Commission. China - GSP
25. 2. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 60/137 Nevertheless, and although the United Kingdom was not a Member State at the time of the dumping, the Commission has asked for more precise information in order to consider what further steps may be appropriate, if any, in order to guard against any future consequences. (98/C 60/226) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2551/97 by Richard Balfe (PSE) to the Commission (15 July 1997) Subject: Sri Lanka Will the Commission make a statement on the current situation in Sri Lanka? Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (1 August 1997) The Commission, as it has already stated on a number of occasions, remains seriously preoccupied by the internal conflicts which continue after 14 years to prevent normal life being resumed inside Sri Lanka and its people moving forward to what otherwise might be expected to be a prosperous future. It is particularly concerned at the persistence of all too credible reports of grave violations of human rights perpetrated not only by the so called Tamil Tigers but also sometimes by the security forces, resulting in the deaths of innocent civilians, who are in no way responsible for the armed conflict. It therefore supports fully the recent statement by President Chandrika Kumaratunga that all measures have been taken to protect innocent Tamil civilians and the reassurance she gave to Tamil parties that innocent Tamils living in Colombo and its suburbs should not be harassed by the security forces. Nevertheless, the Commission cannot avoid some disquiet about whether the Human rights commission which has rather abruptly replaced the Human rights task force, will be able both to become fully operational quickly and also to exercise effectively its wider mandate. For its part, the Commission remains ready to launch a substantial programme of rehabilitation and reconstruction to help the government of Sri Lanka as soon as conditions make this possible. Obviously a precondition must be to identify needs and prepare a programme which can be implemented in secure conditions. The Commission will therefore continue to watch the local situation closely so that it can begin such a programme without delay. (98/C 60/227) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2552/97 by Olivier Dupuis (ARE) to the Commission (15 July 1997) Subject: China › GSP In its report on the communication from the Commission on a long-term policy for China-Europe relations (McMillan-Scott report, A4-0198/97), Parliament ácalls on the Commission to open investigations into forced labour and prison labour in China, pursuant to Articles 9, 10 and 11 of Council regulations on the Generalized System of Preferences, No 3281/94 (1) and 1256/96 (2)í. Has the Commission opened these investigations? If so, when does it expect to be able to forward its conclusions to the Council? Does it intend to inform Parliament of the investigations? If so, when and how? If the Commission has not yet opened the investigations, when does it intend to do so? In conducting the investigations, does the Commission intend to make use of the experience of specialized organizations, such as the Laogai Research Foundation? (1) OJ L 348, 31. 12. 1994, p. 1. (2) OJ L 160, 29. 6. 1996, p. 1