WRITTEN QUESTION E-1208/00 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council. Persecution of 13 Iranians of the Jewish faith in Iran.
13. 3. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 81 E/21 Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (5 June 2000) The Commission would like to point out that it has at its disposal neither the said legislation nor the document mentioned by the Honourable Member. With regard to both questions, it should be stressed that both Council Directives 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment and 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora do not exclude as a rule the excavation of mineral raw material within sites, which are protected under national legislation. However, if Directive 85/337/EEC applies, it sets up specific requirements such as carrying out an environmental impact assessment as well as involving the public. If sites were particularly affected, the environmental characteristics of the likely impact of the project on these sites would need to be identified and assessed and the results properly taken into account in the decision-making. With regard to Directive 92/43/EEC, it is worth noting that this directive applies in particular to sites, which are part of the network Natura 2000. If such a site is affected, it is to be assessed on a case-by-case basis if the requirements of Directive 92/43/EEC, in particular its Article 6 (such as an assessment of the implications for the site, and non-existence of alternative solutions), are to be respected. Under those Natura 2000 sites, there should be a sufficient number of sites hosting habitats as specified in Annex I of the Directive. With regard to the document mentioned by the Honourable Member, it is worth noting that any provision granting general permits for excavations within Natura 2000 sites under the only condition of taking compensatory measures appears not to be in line with the strict provisions of Article 6. It follows that the Commission is not yet in a position to comment in further detail on the questions put forward by the Honourable Member. The Commission invites the Honourable Member to provide the necessary information. (2001/C 81 E/022) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1208/00 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council (27 April 2000) Subject: Persecution of 13 Iranians of the Jewish faith in Iran For approximately one year, 13 Iranians of the Jewish faith have been imprisoned without trial on charges of spying and have been subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment on a daily basis. The latest reports indicate that most of them are not being allowed to choose a lawyer to defend them at their trial, which is scheduled for 13 April. In the light of the ácritical dialogueí that has been initiated between the Union and Iran, will the Council say what measures it will take to obtain guarantees of a fair and open trial and the safeguarding of the right to choose a defence lawyer? (2001/C 81 E/023) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1250/00 by Alejandro Cercas (PSE) to the Council (27 April 2000) Subject: Legal guarantees and human rights of a group of Jewish Iranian citizens On various occasions the European Parliament (which adopted a resolution on the matter in September 1999) and the media have considered the possibility that a group of Iranian Jews accused of spying may face trial on charges carrying a possible death sentence. Will the Council give details of any measures that have been taken and initiatives it could adopt to ensure respect for human rights and, in particular, a fair trial for these citizens?