WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2536/98 by André FOURÇANS to the Commission. Operation of European financial markets
14. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 135/69 (1999/C 135/080) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2526/98 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Council (1 September 1998) Subject: Political oppression in Burma As the military dictatorship of Burma has carried out countless atrocities against the Burmese people and the population of the country lives in extreme poverty despite an abundance of natural resources, what action does the Council intend to take? Would the Council advocate the imposition of economic and financial sanctions against the Burmese government? Reply (16 November 1998) The Council remains deeply concerned at the continuing violations of human rights and the lack of democratic progress in Burma/Myanmar. The regime’s recent tightening of restrictions and increase of pressure on the democratic opposition is particularly worrying and has been condemned by the Union. The Union has on many occasions issued strong public statements deploring the human rights situation and the lack of democracy in Burma/Myanmar, most recently on 26 October 1998. At the 54th meeting of United Nations Commission on Human Rights the European Union presented a Resolution criticising the human rights situation in Burma, which was adopted on 20 April 1998. The Union has also repeatedly urged the Burmese rulers to enter into meaningful dialogue with all democratic opposition parties. The EU furthermore maintains regular contacts with the ASEAN States regarding Burma/Myanmar, and is urging them to put increased pressure on the Burmese regime. On 26 October 1998 the Council decided to extend for a further six months the common position on Burma adopted on 28 October 1996 (1), which provides for a number of restrictive measures vis-à-vis Burma and senior Burmese officials. The Council also decided to strengthen that common position by prohibiting the issue of transit visas and extending the visa ban to cover Burmese authorities in the tourism sector (while ensuring that the ban is applied rigorously to all individual members of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and the military, together with their families). It echoed the view expressed by Aung San Suu Kyi that, in the present situation, it is inappropriate for tourists to visit Burma. The Council also envisaged the possibility of economic and financial sanctions against Burma, but has taken no decision for the time being. It should however be mentioned in this regard that forced labour practices in the country led to the EC’s decision to withdraw GSP benefits from Burma/Myanmar. (1) OJ L 287, 8. 11. 1996. (1999/C 135/081) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2536/98 by André Fourçans (PPE) to the Commission (1 September 1998) Subject: Operation of European financial markets The advent of the euro will result in the increasing integration of Europe’s financial markets. The recent announcement of an alliance between the London and Frankfurt stock exchanges is an early indication of this