WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1550/99 by Graham WATSON Presidential elections in Togo
29. 1. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 27 E/127 (2000/C 27 E/154) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1550/99 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: Presidential elections in Togo Is the Commission aware that a number of members of Amnesty International have been detained by the Togolese authorities following the publication of a report by AI which reveals compelling evidence that intimidation, torture and extrajudicial executions were commonplace during and after the 1998 presiden- tial election campaign? What pressure will the Commission bring to bear the Togolese authorities given the demands for upholding democratic rights and principles placed on signatory nationals of the Fourth LomØ Convention in Article 5? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (12 October 1999) The Commission is aware of the report entitled Togo: Rule of Terror published by Amnesty International on 5 May 1999. However, being unable to confirm or deny the extremely serious occurrences denounced in the report, it would support an international inquiry, possibly under the auspices of the United Nations. The Commission has taken a consistent stand since 1992, when it suspended financial and technical cooperation because of grave human rights violations. Following serious irregularities reported in the course of the presidential election in June 1998, it held consultations with Togo. The EU informed the Togolese authorities that cooperation would not resume as long as there continued to be blatant violations of human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, the key principles set out in Article 5 of the LomØ Convention that underpin relations between the EU and the ACP countries. Since then, the only projects implemented have been decentralised cooperation projects directly benefiting the people of Togo, and projects to uphold human rights. At the same time, the Commission intends to continue to support the mission of the European facilitators which has brought about dialogue between the authorities and the Togolese opposition with a view to organising direct elections in a democratic and transparent manner. (2000/C 27 E/155) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1551/99 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (1 September 1999) Subject: Subsidies for organic farmers Given food scandals in Britain and, more recently, on the continent does the Commission believe that measures which disadvantage organic farming practices are becoming increasingly untenable? Does the Commission agree that tiering subsidies, thus enabling the farmer to have more capital to expand, might be one approach in encouraging alternative forms of farming from conventional, intensive practices?