WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2898/98 by Ursula SCHLEICHER to the Commission. Access to universities in Portugal
14. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 135/135 (1999/C 135/164) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2891/98 by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission (28 September 1998) Subject: Human rights violation in Colombia According to human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, there are still widespread violations of human rights in Colombia. The situation in San José de Apartade is, apparently, particularly serious. Is the Commission aware of the situation in San José de Apartade, and what action has it taken to bring this matter to the attention of the Colombian authorities? Does the Commission provide financial aid of any sort for refugee groups in Colombia? Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (26 October 1998) The Commission is closely monitoring the human rights situation in Colombia, whose generally unsatisfactory development continues to give cause for concern. It has repeatedly expressed concern to the Colombian authorities about the seriousness of the situation regarding human rights and humanitarian issues and asked them to show firmer commitment to improving the situation. The Commission is aware of the situation in San José de Apartade, which is one of the many examples of the situation referred to above. The Member State Ambassadors to Bogota and the Head of the Commission Delegation regularly visit the areas affected by armed conflict to demonstrate their support for the victims of violence and extorsion and to bear witness to the international community. The Commission gives high priority to initiatives designed to protect human rights and monitor human rights violations in Colombia in three main ways: − by increasing the presence of the international community in the country (renewing financing for international observers made available to the UN Commission for Human Rights for monitoring the human rights situation throughout the country); − by financing initiatives for local non-governmental organisation (NGO) active in the field of democracy and human rights; − by mobilising ECU 11 million of humanitarian aid specifically for displaced persons and victims of violence between 1997 and 1998. (1999/C 135/165) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2898/98 by Ursula Schleicher (PPE) to the Commission (28 September 1998) Subject: Access to universities in Portugal Is it the case that students completing their studies at the European Schools enjoy preferential and significantly easier access to universities in Portugal if one of their parents is employed by the European Union, while these privileges are not extended even to Portuguese school-leavers from the European Schools if neither of their parents is employed by the European Union, and what view does the Commission take of this situation bearing in mind the principles of equality and equal opportunities, which also apply to the general recognition of the leaving certificates awarded by the European Schools?