WRITTEN QUESTION E-1181/00 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Conservation of the district of San Lorenzo in Florence.
26. 1. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 26 E/157 Does the Commission not consider that it should prevail upon the Ankara government to put an end 2. to the judicial and other forms of persecution inflicted on Mr Birdal and Mr Erkaban? Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission (22 May 2000) The Commission shares the concern expressed by the Honourable Member on the situation of Mr Akin Birdal, who has had to return to prison to complete his sentence, and Mr Necmettin Erbakan, who was sentenced to a year in prison. With regard to Mr Birdal, a well-known defender of human rights in Turkey, the Commission fully supports the statement by the Council Presidency of 30 March 2000 calling on the Turkish Government to take steps to free him. This latest development is all the more regrettable since the decision of the last European Council in Helsinki on 10 December 1999, confirming Turkeyís status as a candidate country, called on it to make a special effort to respect the political criteria laid down at Copenhagen. It is therefore vital that Turkey resolutely commit itself to a sustained process of democratisation and adopt the necessary reforms. In this respect the revision and even repeal of Article 312 of the penal code, under which Mr Birdal was convicted in 1998 and Mr Erbakan in March 2000, appears inevitable. (2001/C 26 E/195) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1181/00 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Conservation of the district of San Lorenzo in Florence (12 April 2000) Is the Commission aware that the district of San Lorenzo in Florence is deteriorating and suffering neglect? How does it intend to safeguard the artistic, historical and cultural heritage of this district, whose market attracts millions of tourists from all over Europe every year? How does the Commission intend to guarantee the safety of tradesmen, itinerant salesmen and tourists and ensure that trading can be carried on normally, thereby preventing the deterioration from gradually discouraging craft industries and driving people away from Florenceís historic centre? Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission (29 May 2000) Article 151 (ex Article 128) of the EC Treaty gives the Community responsibility for encouraging cooperation between the Member States in the area of culture. The question raised by the Honourable Member does not come under the responsibility of the Community but, on the basis of the principle of subsidiarity, is the sole responsibility of the Member State. (2001/C 26 E/196) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1185/00 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission (12 April 2000) Subject: Tax burden on single persons The tax rates to which single persons are subject vary from one European Union country to another. A recent OECD study shows that the tax levied on single persons in some countries exceeds 50 % of