Full Minutes of the Meetings

SESSION OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2003

Question Time (Committee)

Karamanou (PSE). – Commissioner, your answer is partially satisfactory, but I addressed the Commission to leverage its authority and exert pressure on the United Arab Emirates. Of course, we had a positive development, the Emirati court acquitted Ms. Tiouli of the charges brought against her by her rapists, but her ordeal is not over yet, because 15 days must pass from the issuance of the ruling. The ruling was issued on January 26, and if I’m not mistaken, today marks 15 days, and we need to see if her passport will be returned to her so that she can leave the country.

I would like to ask you, Commissioner, if, in cooperation with the French government and the French Consulate in the United Arab Emirates, you intend to exercise the authority and influence you have as European Union Commissioner in order to bring an end to the incredible ordeal of this woman, who is a French citizen.