WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3102/97 by Roberto MEZZAROMA to the Council. Catholic church in Russia
25. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 158/31 (98/C 158/39) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3102/97 by Roberto Mezzaroma (UPE) to the Council (9 October 1997) Subject: Catholic church in Russia I have learnt from reliable sources that Russian President Boris Yeltsin is about to sign a law approved by the Duma on 23 June and by the Council senators on 4 July 1997 which will reduce the Catholic church to a simple sect with very limited rights. Not only would the oecumenical dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic churches be compromised, but a fundamental human right, freedom of religion enshrined in Article 18, would be violated. What is the Council doing to stop this serious and unjust act? Should not the Council, the Commission and the EP take joint action and set up a committee of inquiry to safeguard the rights of Russian Catholics who have embraced the Catholic faith and protect the Catholic church? The Catholic religion can never be regarded as equivalent to a sect like so many in the world that have often been created for purely financial ends. Answer (19 January 1998) In common with other countries sharing the same concerns, the European Union - in particular by making appropriate representations - firmly requested the Russian authorities not to adopt the law in question, emphasizing the central importance attached by the Union to equitable treatment of all religions in accordance with internationally recognized principles, which Russia has undertaken to comply with. Now that this law has been adopted, the Council will keep a close watch to see that it is applied in accordance with Russiaís international commitments, including those undertaken within the Council of Europe. The Council has not learnt of the occurrence of any cases of persecution of Russian nationals of the Christian or other faiths, following adoption of this law. (98/C 158/40) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3109/97 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (13 October 1997) Subject: Roma-Pantona line at Tor Bella Monaca The residents of Tor Bella Monaca, a densely populated Roman suburb, have recently made representations to the commune of Rome to stop construction work on the Rome-Pantano light metro and revise the plans. The present plan for this project, which would pass overground through the built-up area of Tor Bella Monaca, involves the construction of a railway line enclosed between two concrete walls several metres high. The local residents point out that, if the railway followed the planned route, the walls would be built almost directly in front of peopleís homes, and the impact on the environment would be disruptive to say the least. It appears that the official plans for the project fail to indicate a large number of homes situated right next to the proposed high concrete walls. In view of the foregoing, 1. Is this project covered by Annex II of Directive 85/337/EEC (1) on environmental impact assessment? 2. Does the failure to involve local residents in the environmental impact assessment study for the Rome- Pantano light metro project constitute a breach of Directive 85/337/EEC?