WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2738/98 by James MOORHOUSE to the Council. Lebanese prisoners in Syria
14. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 135/109 (1999/C 135/129) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2738/98 by James Moorhouse (ELDR) to the Council (8 September 1998) Subject: Lebanese prisoners in Syria What pressure has the Council brought to bear in negotiating the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement with Syria, or under the Common Foreign and Security Policy, to secure the release by the Syrian Government of the 250 Lebanese detainees still held in its prisons? Reply (14 December 1998) 1. The standard clause on human rights is included in the negotiating directives for an Association Agreement with Syria. The clause, which states that relations between parties will be based on respect for the democratic principles and fundamental human rights which guide their internal and international policy, constitutes an essential element of the agreement. The negotiations with Syria were opened in April 1998 and the second round of negotiations took place on 20-21 October 1998. The Council follows closely all aspects related to the negotiations. 2. Syria is also a signatory of the Barcelona Declaration in which the participants undertook to act in accordance with the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as with other obligations under international law; and to develop the rule of law and democracy in their political systems. The Council is following closely the question of Lebanese detainees in Syria. It noted that on 5 May 3. 1998, 121 detainees had been liberated by the Syrian authorities. The Council can assure the Honourable Member that it will not hesitate to employ all means at its 4. disposal, of a formal or informal nature, to invite the Syrian authorities to abide by the rules of law and justice so as to allow the liberation of all prisoners unjustly detained. (1999/C 135/130) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2741/98 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (3 September 1998) Subject: Inward investment agreements with car manufacturers Can the Commission comment on whether or not it is legal for Member States to enter into inward investment agreements with car manufacturers that result in car prices in such Member States becoming artificially inflated compared to the rest of Europe? Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (28 October 1998) The Commission is not in a position to comment on the question submitted by the Honourable Member, as it has not been informed about such investment agreements. As for the analysis of car price differences across the Community, the Commission is sending its bi-annual publication on car prices direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat. In this context, the Commission would also refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-2577/98 by Mrs Anita Pollack (1). (1) OJ C 31, 5. 2. 1999, p. 150