WRITTEN QUESTION P-2787/00

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Illegal immigration from Albania

In October 1999 the Tampere European Council spelled out the key elements of the common European asylum and migration policy, namely: partnership with countries of origin as part of a comprehensive approach to tackle the political aspects, human rights, and development problems in the countries and regions from which migrants start out or which they pass through; a common European asylum system; fair treatment of nationals of non-member countries; and migration control based on an active common policy on visas and forged documents and on measures to combat organised crime, in this case smuggling of migrants into the Union, and trafficking in and exploitation of human beings.

Moreover, in March 1999 the Council adopted joint actions in which a Union contribution was earmarked to help re-establish effective police forces in Albania.

The situation in recent years can only be described as intolerable because there have been several incidents in which many illegal immigrants and Italian police-officers have lost their lives. In one particularly serious incident off Apulia on 24 July 2000, traffickers in human beings (or scafisti) rammed an Italian customs patrol boat, resulting in the deaths of two customs officers, a Kurdish refugee, and two traffickers.

The Commission:

1. Does it not believe, therefore, that the Union should address itself to this problem, given that the Italian borders are now European borders and drugs, cigarettes, and arms, as well as immigrants, do not just stop at the Italian coast, but find their way to European capital cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, and so forth?

2. Does it not take the view that Albania needs to crack down more severely on organised crime?

3. Does it not consider that it should freeze the various forms of financial aid granted to Albania?

4. What is the Commission's general opinion on the events now taking place?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(3 October 2000)

1. The Commission is fully aware of the problems caused by smuggling and 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 Union. As regards customs, a Community customs assistance mission (CAM-A) is already in place in Albania since June 1997 in order to support the modernization of the Albanian customs services. This comprises specific anti-smuggling actions, also in cooperation with the Italian Guardia di Finanzia. As for the police, a multinational police mission led by the Western European Union (WEU) and supported by an Community Joint Action and Community assistance is providing advice and training to the Albanian police. Since 1999, this assistance takes also the form of mobile teams training the Albanian police on the ground.

Based on the work of a high level group on asylum and migration established in 1999, the General Affairs Council of July 2000 adopted a comprehensive action plan for Albania and the neighbouring region (similar action plans have been adopted for Iraq and Sri Lanka) focusing on the fight against and the prevention of illegal migration. Equally, in the context of the stability pact for South-Eastern Europe and of the Adriatic initiative, based on the Ancona Declaration of 19/20 May 2000, a number of actions have been identified in the sector of justice and home affairs with regard to protection against smuggling and trafficking of human beings.

2. Organised crime has developed in Albania as a result of both the state crisis in 1997 and, more recently, the Kosovo conflict in 1999. The fight against organised crime must be seen in the overall context of the need to improve public order, law enforcement and to enhance the fight against corruption (also within its own administration). As a first step, the putting in place of the appropriate legislative framework is important. A new customs code, drafted in cooperation with CAM-A and adopted in 1999, provides for a sound legal basis for trading that will have to be fully enforced by the Albanian authorities. As regards the trafficking of human beings, an activity that has particularly increased since 1999, the existing legislation is clearly inadequate to deter trafficking networks. This problem has been repeatedly addressed in bilateral relations. A new set of laws are expected to be adopted during autumn 2000.

3. The aid granted by the Community to Albania mainly focuses on institution building (including customs, police, judiciary, and public administration reform) and infrastructure development (roads, water, sanitation). Budgetary assistance is being 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 that freezing aid to Albania because of its unsatisfactory record in controlling illegal migration would only have a destabilizaing effect.

4. During summer time, there is a traditional increase of illegal immigration and trafficking of human beings which also provoke incidents like that mentioned by the Honourable Member. Apart from the human tragedy, this case also shows that a distinction must be made between illegal migration of Albanians and trafficking of refugees or migrants from third countries. Albania even by making its utmost efforts will certainly be unable to face this problem alone. A wider approach, involving all countries along the trafficking routes and the countries of origin of the people concerned, must be taken. This is why the Union is actively engaged in negotiations within the United Nations (UN) on a protocol on trafficking in human beings as an additional instrument to the UN Convention on fight against transnational organised crime.