objectivesforapossiblenewapproachtowardsmoreaccessible,equitableandmanagedasylumsystems.
Suchnewapproachshouldrespectanumberofbasicpremises,setoutinthisCommunication,oneofthembeingthecomplementaritywiththeCommonEuropeanAsylumSystem,calledforatTampere.
InlinewithpreviousCommunications,thisCommunicationconfirmstheimportancetheCommission
attachestothethreeidentifiedobjectivesof:
(i) managedarrivalintheUnion,(ii) burden-andresponsibilitysharingwithregionsoforiginand(iii) streamlined,efficientandenforceableasylumdecision-makingandreturn.
TheEuropeanCouncilinvitedtheCommissiontoexploreallparametersinordertoensuremoreorderly
andmanagedentryintheUnionofpersonsinneedifinternationalprotection,andtoexaminewaysandmeanstoenhancetheprotectioncapacityofregionsoforigin,aswellasthepossibilitiestoreinforcetheasylumproceduresinordertomakethemmoreefficient.
The Commission believes that the Thessaloniki European Council marks an important step in the
consolidationoftheUnion’sactionsinthefieldofimmigrationandasylum.Ithasgivenastrongsignal
markingtheUnion’scommitmenttothedevelopmentofthecommonimmigrationandasylumpolicycalledforinTampere(15/16October1999).
(1) Communicationonthedevelopmentofacommonpolicyonillegalimmigration,smugglingandtraffickingof
humanbeings,externalbordersandthereturnofillegalresidents,COM(2003)323final,Communicationtowardsmoreaccessible,equitableandmanagedasylumsystems,COM(2003)315final,Communicationonimmigration,
integrationandemployment,COM(2003)336final.
(2004/C58E/111) WRITTENQUESTIONE-1790/03
byClaudeMoraes(PSE)totheCommission
(28May2003)
Subject:Eurojust
HowdoestheCommissionproposethatMEPswillbeconsultedontheactivitiesofEurojust?
AnswergivenbyMrVitorinoonbehalfoftheCommission
(14July2003)
Eurojustisabodywithlegalpersonality,establishedbytheCouncilundertheprovisionsoftheEU-Treaty
onjudicialco-operationincriminalmatters.BeingcomposedofjudicialofficialsandjudgesoftheMemberStates, Eurojust’s position towards the Commission is independent. Therefore, it is mainly in theresponsibilityandtheinterestofEurojusttoestablishanexchangeofviewswiththeMembersoftheParliament.
The CouncilDecision2002/187/JHA establishing Eurojust of28February 2002(
1) provides for direct
contactswiththeParliamentonlyinbudgetmatters.AccordingtoArticle36(2)oftheCouncilDecision,theEurojustPresidentshallsubmittotheParliamentdetailedaccountsforthepreviousfinancialyearnolater than 31March. paragraph (3) of this Article provides for discharge to Eurojust by Parliament.Furthermore, direct contacts may be established and ‘experiences of a non-operational nature’ beexchanged(Article26(5)oftheCouncilDecision).TheRulesofProcedureprovidethatEurojustmaintain‘thenecessarychannelsofcommunication’withtheParliamentinaccordancewiththeDecision.However,anexchangeofinformationonoperationalmatters,particularlyonpersonalfiles,isnotforeseen(
2).C58E/96 EN6.3.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Rightfromitsstartingphaseonbeginning,Eurojusthasmadeuseofthoseprovisionsbyestablishing
various contacts with Members of Parliament. For instance, the Commission has been informed thatMembersoftheParliament’sCommitteesonCitizens’FreedomsandRightsandJustice/HomeAffairsandonBudgetaryMattershavebeeninvitedtoEurojust.TheCommissionappreciatesthis.
Furthermore,Eurojusthaspublisheditsfirstannualreport(
3)andprovidedcopiestoParliament.According
totheCouncilDecision(Article32),EurojustsofaronlyhadtoreporttotheCouncilandtheCommission
(theJointSupervisoryBodyondataprotectiononlytotheCouncil,Article23(12))(4).Onproposalofthe
Commission(5),the CouncilDecisionisgoing tobeadaptedtothe new Financial Regulation. Inthis
context,theCommissionproposedamongotherthingsthatthereportbesentdirectlytotheParliament;amendmentislikelytobeadoptedbytheCouncilsoon(
6).
In this context, the Commission is ready to provide support for further arrangements if need be,
particularlyifeithertheParliamentorEurojustconsidersthisnecessary.
(1) OJL63,6.3.2002,p.5.
(2) AsconcernstheCommission,theRulesofProcedure(OJC286,22.11.2002,Article21(5))expresslyexcludeaccess
tooperationaldata,althoughtheCommissionisfullyassociatedwiththeworkofEurojust,Article11(1)oftheCouncilDecision.
(
3) Councildoc.9124/03Eurojust11.
(4) TheCouncilDecisionprovidesonlyforareportbythePresidencyoftheCounciltotheParliament,butnodirect
report,Article32(2).
(5) OJC331E,31.12.2002,p.67.
(6) SeeInterinstitutionalFile2002/0173,Councildoc.9015/03of19.5.2003.
(2004/C58E/112) WRITTENQUESTIONE-1799/03
byKonstantinosHatzidakis(PPE-DE)totheCommission
(28May2003)
Subject:DelaysaffectingtheconstructionofthenorthernIonianhighwayandtheviabilityoftheRion-
Antirionlink
Thenorthernsectionofthewestern(Ionian)highwayinGreeceforwhichconcessioncontractsaretobe
awarded is being delayed considerably. Furthermore, the financial viability of the new Rion-Antirionbridge,scheduledforcompletioninDecember2004,willobviouslybeaffectedbythelateopeningoftheAntirion-Ioanninamotorwayowingtothedisruptionoftrafficflowstoandfromthebridge.
1. Whereexactlydoestheproblemlieregardingtheawardingofconcessioncontractswhichappearsto
beholdinguptheproject?
2. Whatstagehasbeenreachedbyworkonthesectionsunderconstruction,whenaretheyscheduled
forcompletionandwhenisitanticipatedthatthenorthernIonianhighwaywillfunctiontofullcapacity?
3. WhatisthelevelofCommunityfundingforconstructionofthenorthernIonianhighway?Isthe
projectremainingwithinitsoriginalbudgetandifnotwherehavethechangesoccurred?
4. WhatindicationsdoestheCommissionhaveregarding:
/dash thedelaysaffectingcompletionofthenorthernIonianhighwayandthetimetableforredemptionof
publicandprivateinvestmentcapital;
/dash thefinancialviabilityoftheRion-Antirionbridgeasaffectedbytheconstructionofthenorthern
Ionianhighway?6.3.2004EN C58E/97 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion