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European Parliament question and answer
The Hague, 4 augustus 1996
Sent by: Innu Support Group, Po Box 13670, 2501 ER The Hague NL
ph + 31 70 3888553 fax: + 31 70 3887900
On July 2 Magda Aelvoet MP of the European Parliament asked the European
Commission the following question no 36 (H-0587/96): Various Member States
of the European Union - Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, the
Netherlands and Belgium - take part in low-level military flying over the
territory inhabited by the indigenous Innu people in Labrador, Canada. In
so doing, they cause noise nuisance and air pollution that a serious
threat to the way of life of this indigenous people. Has the Commission
ever considered this matter, and have alternatives to the low-level
flights over this area been sought?
Sir Leon Brittan, Vice-President of the Commission: The Commission has no
jurisdiction to deal with this matter. It is solely for the national
authorities concerned.
Response of Aelvoet:
I already feared, Mr. Commissioner, that such a answer would be given.
Still I wish to call your attention that it is foreseen clearly that
protection and respect for human rights belong to the objectives of the
common foreign and security policy. For that matter, tomorrow we will
debate about the report of Mr. Fernandez-Albor. He especially mentions in
his report -and the whole commission of foreign affairs of this Parliament
has agreed with him- that the Commission takes far too little initiatives
in this precise matter. To my opinion that is a splendid example of this.
(this part tranlated by ISG)
Response of Brittan:
Everybody is entitled to their own views, but I find it very difficult to
believe that the decisions of individual Member States, as part of their
defence arrangements, to engage in flights of this kind over a
non-European Union country is something which the Commission has
jurisdiction over. We are not normally accused of being lacking in
ambitions to extend our competence, but I think this one really goes
beyond what we could be expected to do.