WRITTEN QUESTION E-2797/99

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: Eradication of trafficking in women in the European Union

According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), more than half a million women per year are sold as slaves worldwide. Research indicates that the number is rising. It has been observed that the problem is serious in the European Union too: large numbers of women have been brought from the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe, particularly to Belgium, Holland and Germany.

What new measures will the Commission take to combat trafficking in women more effectively? How will the Commission improve measures under the Daphne and Stop programmes so that the added value of Europol can also be exploited better?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 2000)

Since 1996 the Union has taken a number of initiatives to prevent and combat trafficking in women, e.g. two communications(1), a joint action concerning action to combat trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of children(2) and the Daphne initiative and the STOP programme(3). Recent developments in the field have shown a clear readiness in the Union for new initiatives.

The conclusions of the Tampere European Council of October 1999 clearly confirm that the European heads of states and governments want to go further in the fight against trafficking. They explicitly mention trafficking in women as one of the priority sectors where it is necessary to agree on common definitions, incriminations and sanctions. They also call upon the Member States to set up joint investigative teams, including Europol, to combat trafficking in human beings.

The Commission, on its side, intends to present detailed proposals to approximate the penal provisions of the Member States concerning trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of children. The proposals will also include the issue of temporary residence permits for victims who are ready to provide evidence in front of courts.

The Commission will also draft a proposal for a renewal of the STOP programme to cover the years 2001-2005. The proposal will build on the developments and the experiences gained in the field since the adoption of the STOP programme in 1996. The proposal for a new STOP programme will also include opening the programme for applicants from all the candidate countries. This will allow projects to be developed by partners from these countries and thus a stronger participation than already is the case.

Europol has been successively more involved in projects under the STOP programme and can give them added value by bringing in its expertise. Europol will certainly play an important role in the fight against trafficking in human beings at European level in the future.

Furthermore, the recently adopted Daphne programme(4) (2000-2003) will, as successor to the Daphne initiative, continue to support the combat against all forms of violence against women and children. The programme is victim based and mainly designed to support projects organised by non-governmental

organisations (NGOs). In particular, it supports a number of projects assisting women and children who are victims of trafficking. The Daphne programme is open for organisers from the candidate countries, which will increase its effect in combating the scourge of trafficking.

In addition the Commission will also continue to participate in the work carried out against trafficking in various international fora such as the United Nations (draft convention on transnational organised crime and additional protocols, including one on trafficking), the group of eight most industrialised countries (G8) and the Organisation for security and cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

(1) COM(96) 567 final and COM(98) 726 final.

(2) OJ L 63, 4.3.1997.

(3) OJ L 322, 12.12.1996.

(4) OJ L 34, 9.2.2000.