WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3139/97 by Joaquim MIRANDA to the Commission. Case C-150/97 at the Court of Justice of the European Communities
Date: 1997-10-13
Institutions: European Parliament, MIRANDA
Subjects: European Commission, Portugal, action for failure to fulfil an obligation, environmental impact, impact study, national implementing measure, national law

C 158/42

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

25. 5. 98

(98/C 158/52)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3135/97

by Giuseppe Rauti (NI) to the Commission

(13 October 1997)

Subject: Drawing up a register of paedophiles Europe-wide

Has the Commission carried out a proper assessment of the positive impact of the decision to establish a register
of paedophiles in the United Kingdom, a decision taken in August 1997 as part the new law on the subject, which
immediately entered into force. As reported by the Belgian newspaper (cid:145)Le Soir(cid:146) (2 September 1997), under the
new provisions, anyone currently serving a sentence for paedophile acts or released on remand or on probation in
the United Kingdom must supply the police with his name and address within two weeks and must notify the
police of any subsequent change of address.

The  new  law  ›  which  will  make  it  possible  to  prosecute  British  paedophiles  even  in  respect  of  offences
committed abroad, with a view to combating (cid:145)sex tourism(cid:146) › concerns some 6 000 people, and it is reckoned that
a further 3 500 names will need to be added each year. Anyone convicted under the new law may face a prison
sentence  of  up  to  six  months  and  a  LIT  15  million  fine.  In  certain  cases,  the  police  will  be  entitled  to  warn
schools, youth groups and local clubs that a potentially dangerous man has moved into the neighbourhood.

Given that new laws are being drafted in various European countries, is the Commission prepared, taking its
inspiration from the British law, to introduce legislation common to all fifteen Member States, providing for the
establishment of a (cid:145)European register of paedophiles(cid:146), which would also record any travels and transfers within
any of the countries concerned?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 1997)

The  Commission  shares  the  concern  of  the  Honourable  Member  regarding  the  unfortunate  sexual  abuse  of
children.

The Europol drugs unit (EDU), the forerunner of Europol, could, on the basis of its mandate in the field of the
fight against trafficking in human beings, recommend ways of improving the present situation in the Member
States on the basis of the experience gained by those countries which have established specific registers of sexual
offenders.

Under the 1997 Daphne initiative a feasibility study is being undertaken on the collection, exchange and use of
personal data about child sex offenders in order better to protect children from organised abuse within and across
Member States.

The Commission is not at present considering a register of the type proposed by the Honourable Member.

(98/C 158/53)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3139/97

by Joaquim Miranda (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 October 1997)

Subject: Case C-150/97 at the Court of Justice of the European Communities

On 17 April 1997 the Commission brought proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Communities
against the Republic of Portugal for its failure to comply with Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985.

In  view  of  the  importance  of  the  application  of  this  Directive  in  Portugal  and  the  implications  for  the  other
Member States, can the Commission say, as the plaintiff, what stage has been reached in the proceedings brought
before the Court of Justice?