WRITTEN QUESTION No. 622/98 by Angela BILLINGHAM to the Commission. Kurdish prisoners of conscience in Turkey
C 310/104 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 10. 98 Industryís delays in delivering the information needed on prioritised substances have contributed to the delays in the implementation of the Regulation. The initial phase of the Regulation relies entirely on the obligatory submission of data from manufacturers or importers. In addition, the inability of some Member States, responsible for the evaluation of a great number of substances in the first list, to deliver any of the planned risk assessments has hindered the operation of this Community measure. However, it should be noted that important progress has been achieved recently. The finalization in the coming weeks of an initial batch of four risk assessments together with risk reduction measures for some of the substances, represents a crucial stage in the operation of the Regulation and should give rise in the next months to a substantial improvement in terms of output of finalized risk assessment reports. Once the first four substances are completed, the Commission intends to proceed with a general stocktaking exercise on the efficiency and effectiveness of the Regulation. This exercise will focus on the weaknesses and difficulties encountered so far, with a view to suggesting specific measures to improve the operation of the Regulation. In this context it should be noted that the European chemicals bureau provides extremely valuable scientific and technical assistance in the implementation of the Regulation. In particular its Existing chemicalsí work area is responsible for data collection, priority setting and risk assessment activities. As far as the resources are concerned, the building up of the European chemicals bureau is still in progress. (98/C 310/139) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0622/98 by Angela Billingham (PSE) to the Commission (9 March 1998) Subject: Kurdish prisoners of conscience in Turkey Is the Commission aware of the desperate plight of Kurdish prisoners of conscience in Turkey? Not only are they subject to inhumane treatment › such as torture using electric batons › but they are also being denied proper medical treatment. Is this acceptable behaviour from a country seeking to join the European Union? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (20 April 1998) The Commission is well aware of the situation as regards human rights and democratisation in Turkey. In its annual report to Parliament on the development of relations with Turkey since the entry into force of the customs union, (1) adopted on 4 March, the Commission noted that the country had not made substantial progress in this area since the previous report. The same view is set out in that part of Agenda 2000 (2) devoted to Turkey. Last Decemberís Luxembourg European Council noted that Turkey had not yet fulfilled the economic and political conditions allowing it to begin accession negotiations. The Council did however think it important to draw up a European strategy to bring Turkey closer to the Community in all areas. The communication A European Strategy for Turkey › The Commissionís initial operational proposalsí adopted by the Commission on 4 March (3) sets out to help Turkey undertake the political and economic reforms needed to draw it closer to the Community. (1) Doc. COM(1998) 147 final. (2) Doc. COM(97) 2000 final. (3) Doc. COM(1998) 124 final