EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/506

(2004/C 88 E/0518)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0516/04

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(24 February 2004)

Subject: Illegal transplantation of children's organs in Albania intended for patients in EU countries

Reports have appeared in the Albanian press citing official Italian sources and stating that at a clinic in the Albanian town of Fieri children's organs are being removed and transferred for transplantation in Italy and France. According to the same Albanian press report, Italian and Albanian doctors are involved in this practice. The doctors contact Albanian networks which find the children and they remove the organs for transplantation for a fee paid to the children's parents. Finally, it is reported that 39 Albanian children have gone missing without trace, and that no one — not even their families — have searched for them.

What actions does the Commission intend to take to bring pressure to bear on the Albanian government to put an end to these grave incidents forthwith and on EU Member States to improve judicial and police co-operation?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(6 April 2004)

The Commission is aware of allegations that a clinic in Fieri (Albania) is involved in the trafficking of children's organs to the EU. The Commission has been in contact with the EU Police Assistance Mission in Albania, and has closely followed the reaction of the Albanian authorities in respect of this issue. The EU Police Mission has confirmed that Albanian and Italian police forces are investigating the case. The Albanian authorities have so far expressed doubts about the existence of this clinic. They claim that, to their knowledge, the technology and specialisation necessary to extract and transport organs for transplantation is not available in the country.

Besides the results of the investigations in this particular case, trafficking in human beings, including children, remains a problem in Albania. The Commission is permanently exerting pressure on the Albanian authorities, most notably in the framework of the ongoing negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Albania, in order that further efforts be made to address this issue properly. While reports indicate that progress has been achieved by Albania in reducing the flows of illegal migration/trafficking in human beings through the Adriatic, more determined action remains necessary to solve this problem.

Regional and international co-operation are essential to tackle trafficking successfully. There is ongoing cooperation between Albania and the EU in this area of Justice and Home Affairs. However, the Commission has been stressing on every appropriate occasion that collaboration should be further strengthened, particularly between Albania and its neighbouring countries, with the objective of improving results in the fight against these criminal activities. The Commission has also emphasised how important it is for Albania to take the necessary steps to prepare for conclusion of an agreement with Europol, as this would also be a useful contribution to strengthening cooperation in the fight against organised crime. In this context, it is important to note that Europol's mandate has been extended to include illicit trade in human organs and tissues since 1 January 2002, and Europol is currently collecting information from Member States concerning the situation within the European Union.

With regard to the situation within the European Union, a considerable number of measures to improve cooperation between Member States' police services and customs administrations, and to strengthen external borders, have been adopted. Regarding, in particular, trafficking in human organs, in February 2003, Greece presented an initiative for the adoption by the Council of a Framework Decision concerning the prevention and control of such trafficking. The aim of the proposal is to define which types of conduct should be punishable in all Member States and the minimum penalties which should apply to such offences. The Commission welcomed the proposal in principle. The Commission has sought to support the Greek initiative by inviting applications for the funding of further projects in this area under its 2004 AGIS programme for police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.