WRITTEN QUESTION P-0048/99

by Antonio Tajani (PPE) to the Commission

(15 January 1999)

Subject: European measures to combat specific forms of crime in Italy

What steps does the Commission intend to take to combat the alarming growth of specific forms of crime in large European cities, as evidenced by the escalation of violence and murders in Milan and Rome?

What measures will it recommend to governments to break the international links of criminal organizations based outside the Community, such as those originating in Russia, Albania and China?

Does the Commission know about the existence of a Chinese mafia headquarters in Paris headed by a mysterious Mr Feng, who also controls the organization in Italy?

What is the Commission's opinion of how the Italian Government is implementing the Schengen agreement?

Does the Commission intend to launch new initiatives to combat illegal immigration into Italy, in particular to prevent an increase in the numbers of criminals arriving from outside the Community?

Answer given by Ms Gradin on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 1999)

The Commission is concerned about the increase in urban petty crime of the sort recently experienced in the cities to which the Honourable Member refers. However, under the terms of the Treaties as they now stand the adoption of practical measures to counter such phenomena is primarily a matter for local and national authorities.

Nevertheless, under the programmes in the area of justice and home affairs, and in support of the resolution on the establishment of a comprehensive strategy on the prevention of organised crime, adopted by the Council on 21 December 1998(1), the Commission is prepared to support any initiative to reduce such crime, for example by using a multidisciplinary approach to promote the exchange of experiences and good practice between Member States in the field of crime prevention. Such support would complement the efforts to improve cooperation on crime prevention between European police forces.

The Commission also felt the need to include urban safety in its communication and action plan on sustainable urban development, adopted in November 1998 and currently under discussion in the Council, Parliament and the Committee of the Regions.(2) Action 21 of this 24-point plan aims to improve safety in the cities by means of preventive measures. Member States developing schemes at urban level will be eligible for Structural Fund grants.

The Commission has supported a number of measures in the past aimed at improving safety in certain regions. Through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) it financed an operational project entitled "Security for the development of the Mezzogiorno", presented by the Italian authorities on the initiative of the Interior Ministry. The project consists of specific measures such as computerisation, coordination between police forces and improvements in intelligence to enable the authorities to police the region more effectively. It is linked to other initiatives by the Italian authorities, for example under the Interreg II programme. This initiative implements recommendation 9 of the Action Plan to combat organised crime, adopted by the Amsterdam European Council in June 1997.(3)

The 1997 Action Plan and the two reports produced for the Cardiff and Vienna European Councils show how the different levels of authority (Member States, Commission, Europol) work together to combat international organised crime. Through its Oisin and Falcone programmes, in particular, the Commission supports cooperation between the police, customs and judicial authorities aimed at curbing the activities of organised criminal gangs.

The Commission cannot comment on the third question raised by the Honourable Member because it is outside its competence.

The Commission would point out that it is not currently responsible for the application of the Schengen agreement by the Member States that are a party to it. The Schengen acquis will be integrated into the institutional framework of the Union once the Treaty of Amsterdam comes into force.

Under the Treaty of Amsterdam, questions relating to immigration, including illegal immigration, will become the responsibility of the Community. The Council is required to take measures relating to illegal immigration and unauthorised residence within five years of the Treaty's entry into force. The Commission intends to play a full part in implementing the Treaty of Amsterdam as a whole, including the provisions relating to this area, but insists that illegal immigration should not be equated with crime.

(1) OJ C 408, 29.12.1998.

(2) COM(98) 605.

(3) OJ C 251, 15.8.1997.