WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2944/97 by Graham WATSON to the Commission. International criminal court
C 102/152 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 4. 98 (98/C 102/227) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2940/97 by Georges Berthu (I-EDN) to the Commission (17 September 1997) Subject: Statement by Mr Michel Rocard In an article in Le Monde newspaper on 14 August 1997, Mr Michel Rocard, referring to his efforts to secure the setting up of a voluntary international peacekeeping force between the armed factions in Congo, concluded with the following words: The European Commission, replying to my inquiries, says that it still has some áexternal and security policyí appropriations at its disposal. The plan can go ahead. í Can the Commission explain what procedure this initiative comes under? Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (10 October 1997) The Commission was indeed questioned by Mr Rocard, Chairman of the Committee on Cooperation and Development, about the situation regarding appropriations under the budget heading ácommon foreign and security policyí (CFSP). It provided the information requested according to its usual practice and in line with the principle of transparent management of budget resources. (98/C 102/228) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2944/97 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (17 September 1997) Subject: International criminal court In view of the existing limitations of the International Court of Justice, what is the Commissionís position on the current negotiations to create an International Criminal Court which would be empowered to prosecute any individual for genocide, aggression, war crimes and other crimes against humanity, without any veto by national governments? Does the Commission support giving individuals and citizenís groups, as well as national governments and the Courtís prosecutor, the right to bring cases before the court? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (8 October 1997) The Commission is convinced of the need for an international criminal court because events of recent years have shown the urgent need to set up a permanent institution which, by its very existence, may play a considerable part in preventing serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, and act as an important means of preventing culprits from going unpunished. The Commission is not involved in the current negotiations on the creation of the International Criminal Court and does not consider it expedient to make any statement at this stage on the powers of that body. (98/C 102/229) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2953/97 by Angela Sierra Gonza·lez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (10 September 1997) Subject: Protection of the Montaña Tindaya and its surroundings (Canary Islands) On the island of Fuerteventura (Canary Islands) there is a mountain known as Montaña Tindaya. It is of major cultural, ethnographic, archaeological, natural and geological interest and has been declared a ánational