92001E2129

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2129/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(17 July 2001)

Subject: Legislation against domestic and sexual violence for the protection of women and minors in the candidate countries

It is an undeniable fact that violence against women and minors in the family is on the increase.

In many EU countries domestic violence, including sexual violence against wives or female partners, is punished, with sanctions including banning a husband or partner guilty of such an offence from the family home. Despite this legislation in the present Member States the scale of violence against women continues to be alarming and substantial.

Can the Commission say:

1. how cases of violence against women and minors in the family are regulated and sanctioned in the candidate countries;

2. whether, in these pre-accession years, checks are being carried out on the laws protecting women and combating the violence to which they are subjected in all sectors of social life, including the world of work;

3. whether it intends to ask the governments of the candidate countries to bring their legislation on the subject into line with standards in the existing Member States;

4. whether it does not consider it appropriate to ascertain, as a prerequisite for accession, the existence of such laws to protect women and combat domestic violence?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(10 September 2001)

The Commission would point out that the matters raised by the Honourable Member are dealt with by the Commission in the regular reports which it presents every year to Parliament and the Council on the progress made towards accession by the candidate countries. The next regular reports will be presented in November.

In the last reports, presented in November last year:

1. and 4. the Commission pointed out the problems encountered and the measures taken (including those concerning the ratification of certain agreements) and shortcomings in the legislation, particularly as regards Cyprus, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey;

2. for all the candidate countries the Commission analysed the existing situation regarding equal opportunities for men and women. The analysis covered the chapter on observance of the Copenhagen political criteria, and in particular respect for human rights, of a social, economic and cultural nature, and also the application of the social chapter of the Community acquis.

3. The Commission would point out to the Honourable Member that application of the Community acquis formed part of the conditions laid down for accession by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993 (21 and 22 June 1993). In the Commission's regular reports, under the association agreements concluded between the Community and its Member States on the one hand and each of the candidate countries on the other, and also as part of the accession negotiations, it therefore reminds the candidate countries of this obligation, stressing that the social acquis is essential in this area and that they must comply with it.