WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3192/97 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Human rights in Turkey
C 134/112 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 4. 98 (98/C 134/144) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3192/97 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (16 October 1997) Subject: Human rights in Turkey Is the Commission aware of the Turkish Interior Ministry document (number BO50HID0000073/472), dated January 1997, which sets forth a programme for impeding the activities of NGOs reporting on human rights? This document suggests: Parliamentarians, men of religion, representatives of the press and in particular members of NGOs such as International Human Rights and Amnesty International who may come from abroad with the aim of collecting progaganda material should be steered appropriately and followed, and advantage should be taken of the Diyarbakir Press Office to this end. í In the light of its recent communication calling for cooperation with Turkish NGOs working for improvements in human rights, what assurances does the Commission have that this is no longer the policy of the Turkish government? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (6 November 1997) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to his Written Question E-2998/97 (1). (1) OJ C 117, 16. 4. 1998, p. 124. (98/C 134/145) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3193/97 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (16 October 1997) Subject: Harmonization of traffic regulations In the light of the large number of pedestrians killed in road accidents every year, does the Commission have any plans to introduce legislation that will have a significant effect in reducing this number? In particular, does the Commission have any plans to introduce harmonization legislation as regards the guidelines used to prosecute drivers guilty of killing pedestrians? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (18 November 1997) The Commission has prepared an Action Programme, including legislative measures, with the aim of trying to reduce the numbers killed and injured on Europeís roads. The Honourable Member is referred to the Communication entitled Promoting road safety in the EU: the programme for 1997-2001 (1)í, which lays out in detail the Commissionís approach. The Commission currently has no plans to introduce legislation to harmonise criteria for prosecuting drivers killing pedestrians since this is an area that, in accordance with the subsidiarity principle, has to be left to the criminal justice systems of the Member States. Work is going on in the Council, with the Commissionís participation, to establish a Convention between all Member States to ensure that traffic offences leading to disqualification from driving (withdrawal of licence or right to drive) committed in a Member State other than the Member State where the offender is residing, will be given effect by the Member State of residence when the offender returns there. (1) Doc. COM(97) 131 final