WRITTEN QUESTION E-0171/98 by Freddy Blak (PSE) to the Commission (2 February 1998)

Subject: Trade in Ukrainian women

1. The International Herald Tribune of 12 January 1998 reports that large numbers of women are being exported from Ukraine and many other east European countries for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Many of the women are illegally resident in EU Member States, where they are often kept in slave-like conditions and forced into prostitution. Is the Commission aware of this phenomenon?

2. Has the Commission done anything or does it intend to do anything to stamp out this modern form of the slave trade? What for instance is being done to stamp out the organized crime responsible for the slave trade, and is it possible to use some of the money the East European countries receive from the EU so that women have more possibility of creating a meaningful existence for themselves in their home countries?

3. Will the Commission do something to improve the situation of the women already illegally resident in the EU?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (12 March 1998)

The Commission is fully aware of the problem of trafficking in women and devotes particular attention to this issue. The fight against trafficking in human beings in general and for the purpose of sexual exploitation needs to be tackled by promoting a multidisciplinary approach involving migration policies, judicial and law enforcement co-operation and, not least, preventive measures and support for the victims. The Commission took several initiatives such as at the international conference held in Vienna (11-12 June 1996), which was followed by its communication on trafficking in women ((COM(96) 567 final. )) addressed to the Council and the Parliament. The follow-up of this communication will be presented during the second semester of 1998. Trafficking in women will be discussed at the 42nd United Nations session on the status of women and the Commission will provide its input to this meeting. The Commission is also in charge of the STOP programme, an exchange programme for those responsible for combating trade in human beings and the sexual exploitation of children. The Justice and home affairs Council has adopted three joint actions on criminalisation with effective penal sanctions for offences relating to trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation, extension of the mandate of the Europol drugs unit, and establishment of the above mentioned multiannual programme STOP.

As regards co-operation in the field of the fight against trafficking in women with third countries such as the Central and eastern european countries (CEECs) and the Newly independent states (NIS), the Comission has given its support to a number of projects. The Ukraine, considered to be a country of origin of victims, is for instance one of the countries covered by the IOM project cofinanced by the 1996 STOP programme (study on available statistical data). The STOP committee also adopted in 1997 three other projects involving the Ukraine. First of all, a Community and United States initiative has been launched in order to develop an information campaign for women in the Ukraine and Poland. Furthermore, the Community is also supporting, via the TACIS and PHARE democracy programme, NGOs in this field such as the on-going project 'La Strada' organised by the Dutch NGO STV in three East European countries, including the Ukraine.

In the context of the pre-accession strategy, the fight against organised crime, including the fight against trafficking in women, has been identified as a priority.

As regards more specifically illegal immigration, the Commission supports the efforts of applicant countries to control more efficiently borders with other countries, including third countries.