WRITTEN QUESTION E-0208/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
C 26 E/18 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 26. 1. 2001 (2001/C 26 E/020) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0203/00 by Niels Busk (ELDR) to the Commission (4 February 2000) Subject: Customs stamps in non-Community countries When customs stamps in non-Community countries are changed, the intervention bodies frequently withhold export refunds and guarantees, and European exporters are thus made responsible for events outside their control. Will the Commission ensure that the responsibility for recording changes to official customs stamps in non-Community countries as they occur is borne by the authorities alone? Will the Commission establish a set procedure with all non-Community countries for which there is an entitlement to refunds to ensure that all alterations in their customs stamps are reported to a central unit in Brussels for subsequent notification to the intervention bodies in the individual Member States? Does the Commission believe that the actual usefulness of customs stamps ü which can be stolen, copied or illicitly used in other ways ü as a means of verification, is in reasonable proportion to their economic importance? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (15 March 2000) When the rate of the refund is differentiated according to the destination of the products exported, Community legislation requires the recipient of the refund to provide proof that the product in question was imported into the non-member country for which the differentiated rate of refund was fixed. In a large number of cases, this proof is provided by the customs documents of importation issued by the various countries whose authenticity is usually validated by the seals and signatures of the customs authorities of those countries. National paying agencies normally have a compendium of specimens of the most usual customs seals. When they find changes in the seals, they take steps to check the validity of the new seal in order to verify the validity of the documents provided to support the application for payment of the refunds. The Commission does not intend to create a centralised catalogue of the forms and customs stamps used in the customs procedures of non-member countries. Application of the Community rules on the payment of export refunds is a matter for the national paying agencies, which have considerable experience of this matter and maintain regular contacts with the customs authorities of non-member countries. Such a catalogue could be drawn up by the World Customs Organisation. (2001/C 26 E/021) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0208/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission (4 February 2000) Subject: Human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo Is the Commission aware of the recent Amnesty report on human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo? The report catalogues evidence of the often brutal targeting of opposition politicians, journalists and other government officials. What action does the Commission intend to take and will it press for the reinforcement of UN human rights field monitors in the Great Lakes region, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo? 26. 1. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 26 E/19 Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (8 March 2000) The Commission is following very closely the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and is aware of the recent report of Amnesty International on the subject. The Commission is engaged in initiatives to give direct assistance in support of the human rights situation in the DRC, in order to prepare a programme aimed at improving the judicial system and at contributing to the establishment of the rule of law in the DRC. A specialist funded by the Commission has been working in Kinshasa for a year now in close contact with the delegation of the Commission, the ministries of Human Rights and Justice, the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for human rights, representa- tives of the local civil society and other donors. to local human rights The programme to be funded will deal with aspects such as the support organisations, the rehabilitation of the judicial system, and assistance in the publication of a national register. The Commission is also ready to examine and, where appropriate, give support to, any valid initiative intended to promote the respect for human rights in the region. (2001/C 26 E/022) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0213/00 by GØrard Caudron (PSE) to the Commission (4 February 2000) Subject: Harmonisation of rules on the transport of dangerous goods by road A directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the transport of dangerous goods by road came into force on 1 January 1997, containing a number of transitional provisions valid until 1 January 1999. After that date, Parliament should have been asked for its opinion on a Commission proposal to end these derogations. Under the usual procedure, it is the European Committee for Standardisation (ECS) which proposes rules in this field. The ECS was not able to complete its work in the time available. As a result, the Commission has proposed a directive designed to amend the existing directive, providing a short-term solution to the problems rather than ending the transitional arrangements, as it was supposed to do. This is exactly what happened in the case of the transport of dangerous goods by rail, except for the fact that a deadline was fixed. Is the Commission able to say when the ECS will submit the results of its work to Parliament? Until that happens, it is pointless for the Member States to amend their national rules. A certain amount of flexibility has therefore been introduced with the Member States being given the option of adopting or applying different rules. The Member States may also continue to apply their own rules for certain types of transportable pressure equipment for which there are no European rules. They may also adopt different provisions for local transport or ad hoc shipments. How does the Commission plan to ensure a minimum level of coordination at European level? In any case, it is deplorable that in a field as crucial as the transport of dangerous goods the Commission continues to put off the adoption of harmonised rules, thereby jeopardising human safety and the environment? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (27 March 2000) As stressed by the Honourable Member the transitional arrangements under Council Directive 94/55/EC of 21 November 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the transport of dangerous goods by road are linked to the progress made in the activities of the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN/ECS) (1)