Breach of Articles 2(4) and 6(2) of the Treaty of Amsterdam

27.3.2000

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1069/00
by Koldo Gorostiaga Atxalandabaso (NI)
to the Council

The Austrian coalition government has been the target of intense criticism since taking office last February. In a clear bid to underline EU public opinion, thousands of Europeans marched through the streets of Vienna, encouraged by the global backing of all the EU institutions.

 

On 11 March 2000, at the Spanish-French border that separates Basque people, Paris sent police forces to hinder the passage of Basque citizens going to a popular march in the northern town of Bayonne. The goal of this gathering was to denounce the dispersal of Basque political prisoners all over France and Spain and the violation of their rights and those of their relatives. The French Government, with full agreement from Madrid, put into force Article 2 of the Schengen Convention that exceptionally allows border close downs. Paradoxically, we witness  that, while the Vienna march was encouraged, that of Bayonne was forbidden.

 

1. Can the EU Member States tell European citizens which human rights they are allowed to defend?

 

2. Can the Schengen provisions, as used by the French Government, thoroughly revoke fundamental rights as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and the very principle of free movement of persons inside the EU?

 

3. Can the Basques live in an EU without their internal iron curtain?

 

OJ C 26 E, 26/01/2001