WRITTEN QUESTION E-3309/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 November 2002)

Subject: Acts of aggression directed at Community nationals at a Turkish sports stadium

A few days ago, an official international football match was held between the Greek Panathinaikos and Turkish Fenerbahce teams. Before, during and after the match the 1500 Greek Panathinaikos fans were attacked and many of them injured by thousands of Turkish supporters. The situation was further aggravated by the presence in the stand of a giant hoarding bearing anti-Greek slogans erected by means of a special mechanism situated directly opposite the Panathinaikos supporters' seats, which had clearly required a concerted effort to bring it into the stadium and set it up, leading to the justified conclusion that this was not simply a case of isolated actions by Turkish supporters.

Moreover, serious episodes occurred before, during and after the Fenerbahce-Galatasaray fixture on 6 November 2002, with Turkish television continuously broadcasting scenes of Fenerbahce supporters wielding knives (!) in the vicinity of the football field and trainers' benches. Turkish supporters were also behind serious incidents occurring two years ago involving the stabbing of British Arsenal fans at a match against the Galatasaray team in Istanbul.

As a member of the European Parliament's Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport, I should like to know the Commission's view of the precedented attacks on the Panathinaikos fans, European Community nationals who were visiting Turkey for an international sports fixture. What provisions are contained in the Schengen Agreement regarding supporters with a record of provoking such incidents in the past or where there are grounds for suspecting that they wish to enter Community territory in order to provoke further violent clashes?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2003)

The Commission condemns all forms of hooliganism, irrespective of the nationality of the persons involved or the place where the incidents occur.

To improve co-operation between law enforcement authorities of the Member States, the Council adopted on 25 April 2002 on the basis of Art 30 of the Treaty on the European Union a decision concerning security in connection with football matches with an international dimension(1), that aims at improving the information exchange between the authorities involved in guaranteeing that these sportive events do not get distracted by trouble-makers.

An important tool for improving operational co-operation is the Handbook with recommendations for international police cooperation and measures to prevent and control violence and disturbances in connection with football matches with an international dimension, in which at least one Member State is involved. The handbook was made available to police forces by means of the Council Resolution of 6 December 2001(2). It calls for intensified co-operation with third country authorities and other persons responsible for security of football matches.

The Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement (the Schengen Convention) does not contain specific provisions on hooliganism. According to the general rules on entry on the territory of Member States that are member of the free travel area, a Member State should in principle refuse the entry of third country nationals who are reported in the Schengen Information System (SIS) to be refused entry under art. 96 of the Schengen Convention. Besides, if judicial authorities of a Member State launch an international request for extradition against a person who has been identified as a perpetrator of criminal acts, the relevant data concerning this person are introduced on their request in the SIS under article 95 of the Schengen Convention.

(1) Decision 2002/348/JHA OJ L 121, 8.5.2002.

(2) OJ C 22, 24.1.2002.