WRITTEN QUESTION P-2849/00

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(4 September 2000)

Subject: Albania and crime

The recent tragic events which occurred in Apulia as a result of the ramming of a Customs patrol boat (which led to the deaths of the two customs officers on board) by Albanians ferrying illegal immigrants across the sea have once again raised the issue of the relations between Italy (and other European countries in general) and Albania.

There is no sign of any fall-off in the trade in human beings from Albania, the hallmarks of which are cynicism and violence.

The Albanian Government (and the country's authorities in general) are failing to keep the phenomenon in check, either through inability or through a lack of will.

Human rights in Albania therefore lack the safeguard which is a prerequisite for intervention by the EU.

In view of the above facts, will the Commission consider immediately suspending any kind of financial support for Albania until the latter provides tangible proof that it has succeeded in halting the traffic in human lives and also in drugs and weapons, all of which undermine the security of EU citizens and territory, especially Italy and Apulia in particular?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 2000)

The Commission is fully aware of the problems caused by trafficking of human beings across the Adriatic Sea. Albania is one of the most important routes of illegal or illicit entry from the Balkans into the Community. Organised crime has developed in Albania, in particular following the state crisis in 1997. The fight against organised crime must be seen in the overall context of the need in Albania to improve public order, law enforcement and to enhance the fight against corruption (also within its own administration). As regards the trafficking of human beings, an activity that has particularly increased since 1999, existing legislation is clearly inadequate to deter trafficking networks. This problem has been repeatedly addressed in bilateral relations. A new set of laws should be adopted during autumn 2000.

In response to this situation, the General Affairs Council adopted in July 2000 the action plan for Albania and the neighbouring region drawn up by the cross-pillar High level working group on asylum and migration. The action plan identifies a number of measures in the areas of external relations, development policy and justice and home affairs, i.e. to counter trafficking in human beings. Funding for these actions comes from Member States and existing Community budget lines and from 2001 a specific budget line on cooperation with third countries in the area of migration.

In general, the aid granted by the Community to Albania focuses on institution building (including customs, police, judiciary, public administration reform) and infrastructure development (roads, water, sanitation) designed to promote stabilisation and development in the country. Budgetary assistance is provided in line with specific sector related conditions or, in 1999, in order to cover costs related to the Kosovo crisis, during which Albania the poorest country in Europe hosted temporarily 500 000 Kosovars (more than 8 % of their population). The Commission takes the view as pointed out in reply to Written Question P-2787 by Mrs Angelilli(1) that freezing aid to Albania because of defects in its record in controlling illegal migration would not be helpful.

Finally, the fight against organised crime in general and trafficking of human beings in particular is being fully addressed in the framework of different regional initiatives such as the stability pact for South-Eastern Europe and the Adriatic initiative, based on the Ancona Declaration of 19/20 May 2000.

(1) See p. 9.