WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1465/97 by Glyn FORD to the Council. Ratification of 'third pillar' agreements
22. 1. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 21/57 Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (2 July 1997) The question by the Honourable Member refers to the problem of the transmission of property rights by authors and other rightholders to their heirs. These matters are, as a general rule, left to the Member States to deal with under their civil law. However, the Commission would point out that the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights has already been harmonised at Community level by Council Directive 93/98/EEC of 29 October 1993 (1). The Directive establishes a uniform term of protection at Community level for all works and other protected objects which is fixed at 70 years after the death of the author. The rights of performers expire 50 years after the date of the performance. However, the Directive does not harmonise any aspect of succession to rights, these continuing to be governed by national law. (1) OJ L 290, 24. 11. 1993. (98/C 21/143) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1460/97 by James Moorhouse (PPE) to the Council (5 May 1997) Subject: Detention of EU citizens in Saudi-Arabian prisons How many EU citizens have been arrested and detained in Saudi Arabia in each of the years 1990 to 1996 inclusive, and in 1997 so far? In each year, how many of those persons have complained to their respective Ambassador in Saudi Arabia about ill treatment while they were in custody? Answer (6 August 1997) Figures about EU citizens prisoners in third countries are given by Member States on a voluntary basis and are therefore not complete. No historical record of these figures is kept. At this moment the Council is aware of 12 EU citizens prisoners in Saudi Arabia. No complaints about prison conditions in Saudi Arabia have reached the Council. (98/C 21/144) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1465/97 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Council (30 April 1997) Subject: Ratification of áthird pillarí agreements According to a report in The Guardianí of Monday, 24 March, p. 10, A joint EU customs/police surveillance operation in the Balkans to monitor drug-trafficking was áagreedí at a meeting of EU Fisheries Ministers last Decemberí. Is the Council aware of this report? Is this report correct? If this report is correct, does the Council really feel it appropriate that decisions which should be taken by Interior Ministry Council are taken in secret by Fisheries Ministers, who will not be aware of all the issues?