WRITTEN QUESTION E-2525/01

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) and Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Council

(20 September 2001)

Subject: Monitoring procedures regarding naturalisation and acquisition of Greek nationality

Concerning the reply by Commissioner K. Vitorino (E-1438/01(1)) concerning migratory trends in Greece, while the Greek authorities indicated that the total number of migrants was 22 078 in 1997 and 12 630 in 1998 and that Greek citizenship had been acquired by 930 people in 1997 and 807 in 1998, they did not provide figures for 1999 and 2000. Moreover, the information provided does not concur with that provided by the Greek Foreign Ministry regarding the completion of repatriation formalities, indicating that Greek citizenship was awarded to 135 000 ethnic Greeks repatriated from the former Soviet Union.

Current Greek framework policy regarding migrants is based on Greek law 2790/2000 concerning the reinstatement of repatriated Greeks from the former Soviet Union, laying down fast-track procedures for the acquisition of Greek citizenship, and law 2910/2001 laying down conditions for entry and residence in Greek territory for foreign nationals and acquisition of Greek citizenship through naturalisation.

1. What is the exact number of repatriated Greeks from the former Soviet Union who acquired Greek nationality? How many of them acquired Greek nationality through naturalisation in the period 1993-2001 and what is the total number of migrants in Greece today?

2. What steps has the Council taken in view of the fact that the Greek Government has failed to provide any information for the period 1999-2000 and the number of naturalisations does not tally with the numbers of ethnic Greeks and migrants recorded as having entered the country?

3. What action will the Council take with a view to securing adequate and reliable information regarding migration and asylum with a view to promoting Community migration policy in the Member States of the European Union?

4. What action will the Council take to ensure transparency concerning statistics regarding illegal immigrants and illegal entry and to ensure compliance with EU rules regarding the reception of migrants in Greece in accordance with the Schengen provisions?

(1) OJ C 350 E, 11.12.2001, p. 154.

Reply

(10 December 2001)

The Council has no information regarding the number of persons who have acquired Greek nationality or regarding the total number of migrants in Greece. As the Honourable Member is probably aware, the collection of monthly statistical data within the context of CIREA (Centre for Information, Discussion and Exchange on Asylum) and Cirefi (Centre for Information, Discussion and Exchange on the Crossing of Frontiers and Immigration) was taken over by Eurostat, the Commission's statistical service, following a decision of the Council on 19 March 1998.

The Vienna Action Plan, adopted by the Council on 3 December 1998(1), stated that in the field of asylum, external borders and immigration an overall priority was the improvement of the exchange of statistics and information on asylum and immigration. The Tampere European Council called for a common policy in the field of asylum and migration. Improving the exchange and analysis of Community statistics in this field contributes to enhancing cooperation among Member States and developing a common asylum and migration policy.

On 4 April 2001, the Presidency of the Council organised a meeting where senior officials and statistical experts were brought together to discuss the needs and possibilities for improved statistics in the area of asylum and migration. Following this meeting, the Council at its meeting on 28/29 May 2001 adopted conclusions setting out a number of principles and objectives for future work on improving Community statistics in the field of asylum and migration.

At its meeting on 28/29 May 2001, the Council stated that transparency should become the main principle in the field of asylum and migration statistics. Exceptions to this principle are only possible to protect the confidentiality of the individual or in case of demonstrable sensitivity concerns. The Commission is currently drafting a new Action Plan on statistics to be presented to and discussed by the Council.

(1) OJ C 19, 23.1.1999, p. 1-15.