WRITTEN QUESTION P-1924/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 June 2001)

Subject: Racist organisations in applicant countries

In her answer of 7 June 2001 to my Question No E-0601/01(1), Commissioner Diamantopoulou refers to a number of measures which the Commission has taken or is to take in order to curb instances of racism and xenophobia in the Member States and in those countries preparing for membership of the EU.

One of the applicant countries is Turkey, whose human rights record has little in common with the standards applying in Europe. As I pointed out in my Question No 0601/01, however, Turkey exports racist fanaticism outside Turkey, as evidenced by the brutal murders in 1996 of two unarmed Cypriot citizens on the green line in Cyprus by members of the racist organisation the Grey Wolves, warrants for whose arrest have been officially issued by the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus. Despite that, the Commissioner's answer is extremely woolly. She avoids answering my Question whether this fascist organisation's activities have been raised with Turkish officials, while adding that the Commission has not raised specific incidents or the existence of specific organisations in this context.

Does the Commissioner's reluctance to answer the Question mean that the Grey Wolves acts of violence and racial hatred inside and outside Turkey have not come to the attention of the Commission? Is the Commission aware of this organisation? What are the Commission's views on its racist activities and the murders it commits, and when does it intend to raise the issue of this organisation's terrorist operations with Turkish officials?

(1) OJ C 318 E, 13.11.2001, p. 83.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

The Commission denounces all forms of racism and xenophobia wherever they may occur. The Union equally condemns terrorism in all its forms.

As regards the events to which the Honourable Member refers, the Union issued on 16 August 1996 a declaration which stated that The European Union strongly deplores the recent violence in Cyprus and the disproportionate use of force by the security forces

in the north of Cyprus in response to unauthorised entry into the buffer zone. It condemns the brutal killings of Tassos Isaac and Solomos Solomou and expresses its deep concern about the injuries sustained by many others, including United Nations peacekeeping personnel. The recent events have again highlighted the urgent need to intensify efforts to promote a comprehensive political settlement in Cyprus, under the aegis of the United Nations. The European Union reiterates its full support for the work of the Secretary-General and his special representative in this regard.

In the 1999 Regular Report on Cyprus's progress towards accession(1) under the heading the situation in the northern part of the island it was also mentioned that no progress has been registered in the investigation of the death of two Greek Cypriot demonstrators in the United Nations buffer zone in 1996.

The Commission follows closely the efforts undertaken by all candidates with regard to the Copenhagen political criteria, in particular in the field of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Commission will make a detailed analysis of the situation in light of the pre-accession strategy as part of the Regular Report to be published in November 2001.

(1) COM(1999) 502 final.