WRITTEN QUESTION E-0289/00 by Arie Oostlander (PPE-DE) to the Council. Kosovar prisoners in Serbia.
28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/51 renewable energy industry and its representatives. Moreover, SMEs in the sector and Member States with more generous support systems are strongly opposed to the idea. Does the Commission therefore intend to consult representatives from the renewable energy sector as well as energy producers in the Member States, in order to avoid a fresh confrontation between the advocates of state support and those who favour harmonisation? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (28 February 2000) In March 1999 the Commission presented a working paper Electricity from renewable energy sources and the internal electricity marketí (1). The objective of this paper was to highlight the numerous options available to the Community in addressing the issue of renewable sources electricity generation in the internal electricity market. Prior to the publication of this paper, the Commission had undertaken extensive including representatives of all sectors of the renewable consultations involving all parties concerned, industry (wind, solar, hydro, biomass). Furthermore, the energy consultative committee, in which the renewable industry is represented, had been formally consulted on the issue and gave an opinion. Following the publication of the above working document, the Commission has again received numerous comments on the issue from the renewable industry and other interested parties, further investigations were made and discussions held. Indeed, in the working paper the Commission made it clear that it would make a final decision on the issue only in the light of the reactions to the working paper. Furthermore, the energy consultative committee has again discussed the issue in depth and will give a formal opinion in the near future. Intensive discussion in the working group of the committee involving all sectors of the renewable industry have already taken place. When taking a final decision on the issue, the Commission will take all views into account, including those expressed by the renewable industry, which are of particular relevance and importance in this respect. (1) SEC(1999) 470. (2000/C 374 E/060) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0289/00 by Arie Oostlander (PPE-DE) to the Council (14 February 2000) Subject: Kosovar prisoners in Serbia In a statement by the Interparliamentary Delegation for Relations with South-East Europe, which referred to an EP resolution of 16 September 1999 (B5-0100/1999), the Serbian Government was called upon to release the approximately 1 900 Kosovar prisoners still being held under appalling conditions in Serbian gaols. Is the Council aware that nearly two thousand Kosovars are still imprisoned in Serbia, as they have been since the end of the Kosovo crisis? Will the Council take effective measures to enable these people to return to their families as soon as possible? Reply (16/17 May 2000) The Council fully shares the Honourable Memberís concern over the fate of the Kosovar prisoners still held in Serbia. On the occasion of the 19 July 1999 General Affairs Council, Ministers called on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to guarantee the International Committee of the Red Cross full access to those C 374 E/52 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 prisoners. The Council also called for the immediate release of prisoners held without charge and for prisoners to be treated in accordance with applicable international standards. After the 19 July General Affairs Council, the ICRC has been allowed access to Serbian jails by the Belgrade authorities. It has identified nearly 2 000 Kosovar Albanian prisoners during its visits on the spot. Since June, the ICRC has helped approximately 326 persons to go back home in safety after their release in Serbia. At its meeting on 13 September 1999, the Council expressed its deep concern that the issue of the disappearance of several thousand persons, predominately Kosovo Albanians, remains open. The Honourable Member can be assured that the Council will continue to do everything within its power in this context and in particular will consider progress in democratic freedoms and respect for the rights of minorities as one of the key elements for eventual lifting of sanctions against the Belgrade regime. (2000/C 374 E/061) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0292/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission (11 February 2000) Subject: Zimbabwean defence of asbestos industry In view of the fact that EU Member States have until 2005 to remove all white asbestos from the market, how does the Commission intend to deal with the claim made by the Zimbabwean government that their white asbestos mine is safe? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (29 February 2000) In August 1999, the former Member responsible for development, Mr Pinheiro, on behalf of the President of the Commission, wrote to the Zimbabwean minister of industry and commerce, Mr Shamuyarira, regarding a request for assistance to restructure the asbestos industry and communities affected by the Community ban on asbestos. The Commission maintained that the Community proposal to ban chrysolite asbestos was based on solid scientific evidence taking due regard of the independent scientific committee on toxicity, ecotoxicity and the environment, which stated that no safe threshold for crysolite asbestos can be identified; of the absence of contrary evidence to dispute the fact that all types of asbestos may cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a form of cancer of the lining of the lungs and of the fact that evidence indicates that the main substitutes for chrysolite asbestos are likely to be less dangerous and should therefore be used in all cases. In respect of Zimbabweís request for assistance for transitional arrangements for the asbestos industry, the Commission suggested that the National authorising officer contact directly the Commission head of delegation in Harare to further discuss the possibilities and resources for assistance available under the national indicative programme or the System of stabilization of export earnings from mining products (SYSMIN) facility. To date, the Zimbabwean government has not replied to this offer