WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1490/97 by Angela SIERRA GONZÁLEZ to the Commission. Protecting Cetacea in Tenerife and La Gomera (Canary Islands)
Date: 1997-04-30
Institutions: European Parliament, SIERRA GONZALEZ
Subjects: Canary Islands, marine life, marine mammal, protected area, protected species, protection of animal life, protection of animals, tourism

C 82/8

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

17. 3. 98

(98/C 82/09)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1487/97

by Tony Cunningham (PSE) to the Council

(30 April 1997)

Subject: Assessment of the joint action to combat trafficking in human beings

What action does the Council propose to take in the short term to pursue the aims proposed in the joint action to
combat trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of children, which came into force on 24 February
1997?

In the period prior to the official assessment of the results of the joint action at the end of 1999, how does the
Council propose to monitor its effectiveness?

Answer

(16 October 1997)

The  Council  attaches  great  importance  to  the  questions  raised  by  the  Honourable  Member  of  the  European
Parliament, and is actively pursuing the matter in relevant working groups of the Council, such as the Europol
Working Group, the Mutual Assistance Working Group and the Drugs and Organized Crime Working Group.

These  discussions  aim  at  a  better  coordination  of  the  efforts  of  the  Member  States  and  the  international
organisations working in this area, such as ICPO/Interpol, the Council of Europe, and to an increasing extent
EDU/Europol.  The  discussions  so  far  have  emphasized  the  need  to  promote  and  facilitate  the  exchange  of
information between Member States, to give analytical support to international investigations, to develop the
centres  of  excellence  concept  currently  being  created  within  EDU/Europol,  and  to  include  the  subject  in  the
annual situation report on organized crime in the EU.

The Dutch Presidency of the Council organized from 24 to 26 April 1997 a Ministerial Conference on trafficking
in women in the Hague. The declaration adopted at the Conference has been made public.

The Council intends to commence the assessment of the implementation of the Joint Action in 1998.

(98/C 82/10)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1490/97

by Angela Sierra Gonza·lez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 April 1997)

Subject: Protecting Cetacea in Tenerife and La Gomera (Canary Islands)

The sea channel separating the islands of Tenerife and La Gomera contains a site of outstanding natural and
scientific  interest  frequently  visited  by  many  species  of  Cetacea  such  as  the  pilot  whale  (Globicephala
macrorhynchus)  and  the  bottle-nosed  dolphin  (Tursiops  truncatus).  Both  species  are  covered  by  Council
Directive 92/43/EEC (1) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, specifically Annexes
IV and II, and the stable population of more than 250 animals makes the area an important observation site for
these species.

More than 500 000 people now visit the habitat of these mammals and tourists are taken to the site by dozens of
authorized and unauthorized boats, generating an annual income of around PTA 2 billion.

This activity is placing excessive pressure on the cetacean population, and the environmental departments of the
Canary Islands Government have acknowledged that the animals are suffering from being constantly chased and
cornered throughout the year, which is leading to stress, nervousness, the dispersal of individual animals and
families and even accidents with visiting boats. The regulations issued by the Canary Islands Government in
response to this situation are not preventing incidents such as those described above.

Is the Commission aware of this situation?