WRITTEN QUESTION E-2215/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE)and Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 July 2002)

Subject: Female prostitution

According to the Greek press, a report on child prostitution (drawn up by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in cooperation with Unicef and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and recently published in Sarajevo) indicated that 90 % of female prostitutes coming from south-east European countries were victims of the white slave trade. Furthermore, according to the International Organisation for Migration, each year over 120 000 young girls and women seeking employment in other countries fall victim to the white slave trade. It is estimated that over 2 000 children in these circumstances have entered Greece from Albania, mostly boys and girls below the age of 12 who are used as beggars and adolescent girls who fall victim to sexual exploitation. According to non-governmental organisations, 80 % of all victims of human trafficking from Albania are underage girls. As yet insufficient information is available concerning trafficking and sexual exploitation of underage boys.

Is the Commission aware of this and what are its views on the matter? Can it provide further information concerning the dimensions of the problem? What measures has it taken, or does it intend to take to eradicate the problem? Has it consulted the Greek authorities and what information has it obtained from them?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(27 September 2002)

The Commission is aware of the difficult situation as regards trafficking in human beings to, from and through the Balkans. The specific problem of trafficking in children, including Albanian children being trafficked to Greece, is an issue of particular concern for the Commission. Given the nature of the complex phenomenon of trafficking, the Commission can not provide further information concerning the dimension of the problem with trafficking in children from Albania.

The matter of trafficking in human beings has been raised in several fora, e.g. the High Level Steering Group of June last year that in its conclusions urges for a greater determination to tackle the problem if Albania is to demonstrate that it shares the political and human values of the Union and is able to manage its borders effectively. The matter is also included in the Stabilisation and Association report on Albania adopted by the Commission in April 2002. Furthermore, the Union, and the Commission in particular, participate actively in the workings of the multilateral organisations concerned to monitor and address the

problem of trafficking of human beings, notably minors, in Europe. Within the Organisation on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) the subject will be remain under scrutiny at the Annual Meeting of review of Commitments of the Human Dimension, to be held in Warsaw from 9 to 19 September 2002. The future Dutch Presidency of the OSCE has also announced its intention to organise (probably in spring 2003) a specific seminar covering the different aspects of trafficking of human beings in the OSCE area, in the framework of the Economic Dimension.

A series of research projects and conferences on unaccompanied minors have been supported by the STOP Programme. In 2002, additional projects are being planned. Between 18-20 September, a European Conference gathering more than 600 participants will also be held in the European Parliament. The conference is organised by the International Organisation for Migration and funded by the STOP II Programme. Representatives from the Balkan states will participate and the issue concerning trafficking in children will be one of the issues at the front of the discussions. Furthermore, under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights, priority is given to non-governmental organisations' activities that aim to combat trafficking in Bosnia & Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia(1). On that basis, a call for proposals was launched on 8 August 2002, which refers to the fight against trafficking in those two countries(2).

The above participation and projects form part of a comprehensive and multidisciplinary policy that the Commission has developed against trafficking over the past years. This policy builds on in particular three parts, namely development of protection and assistance to victims, development of prevention policies and the development of criminal law as well as law enforcement and judicial co-operation. Furthermore, the policy is based on the view that trafficking in human beings involves serious violations of human rights as underlined by the European Union Charter on Fundamental Rights.

In addition, with the support of Greece, Germany and Italy, the Albanians established last year a centre for anti trafficking in Vlore. The centre's aim is to counter act all types of trafficking including that of human beings.

In parallel to this specific initiatives certain programmes in the area of employment and social affairs also provide support to transnational projects and contribute to a better comprehension as regards the issue of trafficking of human beings, in particular the programme related to the Community framework strategy on gender equality 2001-2005 and the Community initiative Equal. Within this context the Commission intends to organise on 5/6 December 2002 in Syracuse (Italy) a European conference aiming in particular in highlighting new initiatives undertaken at European level and enabling the exchange of good practice.

(1) Commission Staff Working Document on the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights adopted on 20 December 2001 and available on the following website:http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/human_rights/doc/eidhr02_04.pdf.

(2) See information provided on the following website:http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/eidhr/cfp-general-2002_en.htm.