WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4164/97 by Rijk van DAM to the Commission. Extension of the 'old for new' provision
C 304/12 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 2. 10. 98 3. Is the Council fully aware of the seriousness of the situation which could occur in the event of the arrest or hostage taking of foreigners, including Dutch nationals, for involvement in the planning of the alleged coup as the Suriname government would then want to start negotiations for a mutual ending of investigations. This would involve the halting of proceedings against and release of those foreigners, including Dutch nationals arrested for alleged involvement in organizing the coup in exchange for the dropping of the international investigation and extradition request for the Suriname state counsellor Desi Bouterse, the dropping of the investigation of Bouterse for involvement in large-scale international cocaine trading and involvement in and leadership of an international criminal organization of which Desi Bouterse is accused by the Dutch judicial authorities? 4. Is the Council properly prepared to respond adequately if such hostage-taking occurs? Joint answer to Written Questions E-4160/97, E-4161/97, E-4162/97 and E-4163/97 (18 May 1998) The Council is only aware of the information provided by the Suriname authorities. According to this information, a number of persons have been arrested in the weekend of 25 October 1997 allegedly planning a coup. The Council is also aware of a letter of the human rights organisation Moiwana 86 to the Inter American Com- mission on human rights concerning the case mentioned by the Honourable Member of Parliament. In so far as the Council has been able to obtain information in relation to the case of the alleged suspect who came to the Netherlands Embassy in October 1997, that person was not seeking asylum. The Council is of the opinion that should a hostage-taking case occur in Suriname the necessary measures would have to be taken in order to try to find a peaceful solution to an action of this type. The Council is unaware of the allegations and accusations to which the Honourable Member refers to as having been made by Desi Delano Bouterse. Furthermore, taking into account the fact that the judicial investigations referred to by the Honourable Member are still pending, the Council is not in a position to comment on this subject. (98/C 304/18) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4164/97 by Rijk van Dam (I-EDN) to the Commission (21 January 1998) Subject: Extension of the áold for newí provision Article 8 of Regulation 1101/89 (1) states that for a period of five years from the entry into force of the regulation no newly constructed vessels may be brought into service on inland waterways unless the owner scraps a tonnage specified by the Commission or pays a contribution set by the Commission. In 1994 under Regulation 844/94 (2) the term of this áold for newí provision was extended by five years to ten years after the entry into force of Regulation 1101/89. This means that the áold for newí provision would apply until 1 May 1999. The industry has now stated almost unanimously that an extension of this provision even after this date is needed. 1. Can the Commission confirm that the áold for newí provision is applicable until 1 May 1999? If so, what procedure must be followed by the Commission for an extension of the áold for newí provision 2. after May 1999? 3. How much time would this procedure normally take? 4. When does the Commission intend to start the procedure referred to in 2 above? (1) OJ L 116, 28. 4. 1989, p. 25. (2) OJ L 98, 16. 4. 1994, p. 1