WRITTEN QUESTION E-1744/99 by Carmen Cerdeira Morterero (PSE) to the Commission. Attacks on homosexuals.
20. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 170 E/89 Obviously any unwarranted action taken against companies from a Member State will be dealt with according to existing Community procedures. Relations between the Community and its Member States and Chile are governed by the Framework Cooperation Agreement. Article 33(2) of the agreement says that the Joint Council, made up by members of the Council and the Commission, and representatives from Chile, should examine important problems and all other bilateral and international issues of common interest, with the aim of achieving the objectives of the agreement. The aim of the agreement is to strengthen existing relations between the Community and Chile, and the Commission will do everything within its power to preserve and improve the level and quality of the relations. (2000/C 170 E/102) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1742/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (1 October 1999) Subject: Construction of nuclear power plant in earthquake zone at Akkuyu, Turkey The recent disastrous earthquake measuring 7,4 on the Richter scale in north-east Turkey and last yearís earthquake measuring 6 on the Richter scale at Adana have provoked further alarm over the risk of a future earthquake in the region of Akkuyu, where Turkey plans to build a nuclear power plant. This area is only 27 kilometres from the active seismic fault known as Ecemis. We are aware that the European Union áis not empowered to participate in procedures for selecting sites for nuclear reactorsí but that does not reassure the populations of Turkey and its neighbouring countries about the risk of a nuclear accident owing to the exceptionally high level of seismic activity in the region. What means does the Commission have at its disposal to persuade Turkey to devise other solutions to its energy problem? What initiatives does it intend to take? Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission (11 November 1999) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question P-1423/99 by Mr Trakatellis (1). (1) See page 9. (2000/C 170 E/103) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1744/99 by Carmen Cerdeira Morterero (PSE) to the Commission (1 October 1999) Subject: Attacks on homosexuals There has recently been an escalation in the number of attacks on gay and lesbian communities throughout Europe. Incidents such as the throwing of an explosive device at a gay bar in the city of Gijón on 1 August 1999, or the terrorist attack on a similar establishment in London in which several lives were lost, are truly alarming developments. Such crimes are particularly serious in a region such as the European Union, where the protection of human rights is a basic issue, especially at the present time when we are drafting a European Charter of Fundamental Rights. C 170 E/90 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 6. 2000 Moreover, the basic treaties of the European Union incorporate such principles as freedom of, entitlement to and respect for any religious, political or sexual opinion and prohibit discrimination on any of these grounds. is entitled to take Hence under new Article 13 introduced by the Treaty of Amsterdam the Council appropriate action, on a proposal from the Commission, to combat discrimination based, amongst other things, on sexual orientation. For this reason, deplorable incidents of this kind call for a clear and tough response from the Unionís institutions, and specifically from the Commission as the proper guardian of the Treaties. The Commission: 1. Can it give details of the number of attacks on gays, lesbians and trans-sexuals within the territory of the European Union, in each of the Member States, from 1995 to date? 2. What range of measures does it plan to take to prevent and avoid attacks of this kind? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (3 November 1999) 1. The Commission does not have the information requested. With regard to non-discrimination based on sexual orientation, the Commission co-funded in 1998 a report of the International lesbian and gay association (ILGA) entitled Equality for lesbians and gay mení. This report gives a comprehensive overview of the legal and social situation of lesbians and gay men in the 15 Member States. The Commission is sending copies of the report direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliamentís Secretariat. Article 13 of the EC Treaty (ex-Article 6a), empowers the Council, on a proposal 2. from the Commission, to take appropriate action to combat discrimination based, inter alia, on sexual orientation. Following extensive consultations, the Commission intends to propose a package of anti-discrimination measures based on Article 13 in the near future, involving both legislation and an action programme. (2000/C 170 E/104) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1745/99 by Isidoro SÆnchez García (ELDR) to the Council (1 October 1999) Subject: Immigration and the outermost regions Despite the goodwill the Council has shown in recent years in conducting a sensible immigration and asylum policy, there is still illegal immigration and it is taking as its point of entry into the European Unionís territory some of the outermost regions close to the African continent, as is happening with the Canary Islands. How does the Council propose to give practical shape to Community strategy in order to control immigration of this kind and what, if any, operational programme will it be carrying out in this unusual frontier region? Reply (7 December 1999) 1. The question posed by the Honourable Member relates to the Councilís actions as regards, on the one hand, the controls by Member States of external air and maritime borders and, on the other hand, the root causes of flight and migration from some African countries