WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1956/98 by Glenys KINNOCK to the Commission. Human rights abuses in Senegal
8. 4. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 96/17 Information Society (4) has been recently adopted by the Commission and forwarded to the Council and Parliament for adoption). As part of the cultural action provided for in Article 128 of the EC Treaty, performers benefit from projects carried out under Community cultural programmes. The Honourable Member is referred to the recent Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the Committee of the Regions: European Community framework programme in support of culture (2000-2004) (5). Aids for cultural purposes are allowed by way of exception by Article 92(3)(d), subject to Commission supervision. National aids directly or indirectly benefit performers depending on the areas in question. The Commission would remind the Honourable Member of the limits set to powers conferred by the EC Treaty in relation to this matter and the principle of subsidiarity, both of which make it more appropriate to take certain measures and carry out specific projects at national level. (1) OJ L 77, 27. 3. 1996. OJ L 290, 24. 11. 1993. OJ L 248, 6. 10. 1993. OJ L 346, 27. 11. 1992. OJ L 122, 17. 5. 1991. (2) OJ C 178, 21. 6. 1996. (3) OJ C 125, 23. 4. 1998. (4) OJ C 108, 7. 4. 1998. (5) COM(98) 266 final. (1999/C 96/023) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1956/98 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission (30 June 1998) Subject: Human rights abuses in Senegal Senegal is a signatory to the LomØ Convention and as such is bound by Article 5. In the light of this could the Commission state what action is being taken in response to human rights abuses in Senegal, reported by Amnesty International? Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (24 July 1998) On 17 September 1997 the presidency made a statement on behalf of the European Union on the situation in Casamance. On 31 December 1997 it sent a letter to Senegalís Minister of Foreign Affairs calling for a ceasefire, respect for human rights and a negotiated solution for the region based on Senegalís territorial integrity. A copy of this letter was given to the Senegalese authorities on 19 March by the Troika of ambassadors on the spot and the head of the Commission delegation. EU resources for displaced persons and refugees have been available since 1996 and include ECU 750 000 under Article 255 of the LomØ IV Convention and ECU 300 000 for humanitarian aid (after the ECU 1 million approved in 1993). The Commission is currently considering the provision of further humanitarian aid. Amnesty Internationalís report Climate of terror in Casamanceí, published in January and heavily criticised by the authorities, condemned serious human rights violations. The Troikaís demarche on 19 March encouraged the Senegalese authorities to conduct independent investigations of the facts alleged by Amnesty. On 9 April the Senegalese Government published a report entitled The truth about Casamanceí, which claims to refute Amnestyís report but is considered unsatisfactory by the international community