# CE2004078EN.01048701.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/487 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/487

---

(2004/C 78 E/0508)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3200/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 October 2003)

Subject:   Racial appearance as a criterion for police or customs checks on individuals crossing an internal EU border

Subject:

As a result of work in the tunnel between Monaco railway station and the temporary Monte Carlo Country Club station on French territory, through traffic on the route from Genoa (in Italy) and Nice (in France) is barred between September and December 2003 and train passengers are transported by bus. On the evening of Thursday 16 October 2003, between 07.15 and 07.45 p.m., I personally observed how passengers who had taken the IC 346 ‘Riviera dei Fiori’ Basle-Genoa-Nice train were detained for half an hour in the replacement bus on the station square in the Italian border town of Ventimiglia for checks which might normally have taken place on a through train crossing into France. The Italian police's selection process was manifestly racially based, with individuals of African or Asiatic appearance being required to show their travel documents and take their luggage from the baggage compartment, whereas individuals predominantly Caucasian in appearance were left completely alone.

| 1. | Can the Commission say whether this is a customary course of events in line with the intended procedure for random checks at or near the internal EU borders of EU Member States which are parties to the Schengen Agreement? |
| --- | --- |

1.

Can the Commission say whether this is a customary course of events in line with the intended procedure for random checks at or near the internal EU borders of EU Member States which are parties to the Schengen Agreement?

| 2. | Does this mean that non-residents who are not nationals of an EU Member State, but whose skin colour is white, can cross internal EU borders much more easily than residents who are nationals of a Member State, but whose ancestors manifestly came from another part of the world? |
| --- | --- |

2.

Does this mean that non-residents who are not nationals of an EU Member State, but whose skin colour is white, can cross internal EU borders much more easily than residents who are nationals of a Member State, but whose ancestors manifestly came from another part of the world?

| 3. | With regard to this appearance-based selection practice which has apparently arisen, what is it that the Commission would seek to change? What encouragement is being given to ensure that that change actually takes place in the EU? Is it possible for the Commission to bring this about on the basis of the existing Treaty, or does it require further action by the Council? |
| --- | --- |

3.

With regard to this appearance-based selection practice which has apparently arisen, what is it that the Commission would seek to change? What encouragement is being given to ensure that that change actually takes place in the EU? Is it possible for the Commission to bring this about on the basis of the existing Treaty, or does it require further action by the Council?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(24 November 2003)

(24 November 2003)

The Commission has asked the Italian authorities for the information it requires to answer the Honourable Member's question.

It will send him its findings as soon as possible.

---