WRITTEN QUESTION E-1952/99

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Council

(9 November 1999)

Subject: Child pornography

Child pornography, along with the spread of extreme right-wing and left-wing material, constitutes one of the main problems facing us in connection with the Internet. In view of this and given the intense current public debate on the matter.

Can the Council answer the following:

1. How many people in Europol are responsible for combating child pornography?

2. What is their specific task description?

3. What kind of cooperation is there between Europol and national authorities in this area?

4. Is there any specific data concerning successful intervention by Europol in the area of child pornography on the Internet?

Answer

(24 January 2000)

In respect to the questions raised by the Honourable Member of the European Parliament, the following should be noted:

1. In its decision of 3 December 1998(1), the Council supplemented the definition of the form of crime traffic in human beings in the Annex to the Europol Convention in order for it to include the production, sale or distribution of child-pornography material. Europol is thus competent in relation to the distribution of child-pornography, irrespective of the way in which it is distributed (in paper form, through the internet, etc).

2. Europol normal working methods involve the exchange of information by the 45 Europol Liaison Officers seconded by the Member States to Europol, supported by the activities of 17 specialist intelligence analysts. Europol's focus is mainly on analysis activities, specifically in supporting strategic analyses for the preparation of situation reports and threat assessments, as well as supporting operational projects by the Member States authorities. In addition to this, currently two member of Europol staff are full-time involved in the combating of trafficking in human beings, including child pornography. Next year an additional member of staff will be recruited for these tasks. They are supported for specific projects be Europol personnel from other units, in particular by analysts, IT-personnel and training-officers.

3. The specific task of Europol in this area of crime is to facilitate the combating and dismantling of Trafficking in Human Beings networks, focussing on sexual exploitation and child pornography, by the bilateral exchange of information via the Europol Liaison Officers, and by analysing the latest trends, modus operandi and developments. Within this context mention can also be made of a Europol initiative to organise a Europol training course on the specific subject of combating child pornography and the Internet.

4. The co-operation between Europol and the national authorities, apart from the information exchange referred to above, is in the organisation of regular meetings on the subject, attended by the Member States experts in this area of criminality. Through these meetings, an exchange of information on relevant experiences and best practices takes place, as well as information on the latest trends and modus operandi. Some of these meetings are also attended by representatives of non-governmental organisations, such as La Strada and Solwodi.

5. Furthermore, Europol experts participate in other European initiatives in this area, such as giving advise to the STOP-programme. Currently there are no data available on specific interventions by Europol in this area; such interventions are prepared and executed throughout the national law enforcement activities. It is recalled that Europol's task in accordance with the Europol Convention is to support the Member States authorities in combating organised criminality, not to pursue operational activities itself.

6. Since Europol only formally took up its activities on 1 July, time for development of specific support projects has been relatively short.

(1) 1999/C 26/05, OJ C 26, 30.1.1999, p. 21.