WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3769/98 by Susan WADDINGTON to the Commission. Treatment of British passport holders by French border police
Date: 1998-12-11
Institutions: European Parliament, WADDINGTON
Subjects: EU national, France, United Kingdom, border control, freedom of self-determination, gender equality, passport, police, police checks, position of women

15.10.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 297/101

The Commission’s Green Paper on combating counterfeiting and piracy in the single market should help
measure the true economic impact of counterfeiting and piracy in the single market, including their effects on
investment and employment, and establish a framework for devising appropriate solutions.

(1999/C 297/136)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3769/98

by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Treatment of British passport holders by French border police

In response to my Written Question P-2892/98 (1) the Commission focused upon the right of Member States
to check the identity of citizens crossing borders. However, the central point of my question concerned the
manner in which citizens are treated when these checks are carried out. In the case described, was it prudent of
the French authorities not to have women officers on duty at an international port to deal with situations
involving women?

Does the Commission therefore agree that the French authority’s mismanagement of an otherwise easily
resolvable situation, i.e. its failure to provide a woman officer, exacerbated the problem unnecessarily and
resulted in the woman’s expulsion from France? Does not the Commission agree that this is unacceptable and
that, in order to safeguard the dignity of women in such situations, in line with the Union’s general policies on
non-discrimination, women officers should be on duty at all times at major points of entry into the Union and
transit between Member States?

(1) OJ C 118, 29.4.1999, p. 161.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(11 March 1999)

The Commission shares the honourable Member’s opinion on the importance of respecting the dignity of
women, including during identity checks when crossing borders.

However, with the exception of the case mentioned in Written Question 2892/98, the Commission is not
aware of any problems relating to the rights and dignity of women that may arise when citizens are checked at
Community borders.

The Commission therefore believes that there is no reason to take specific measures concerning this matter.

(1999/C 297/137)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3777/98

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Standardising qualifications for posts in the European civil service

The Commission does not accept applications for category A posts in the European civil service from holders
of Spanish university qualifications issued on completion of a three-year study period comprising two ‘cycles’,
since under European legislation they are deemed to fall within category B.

In contrast, holders of university qualifications issued after three years in the remainder of the Member States
are entitled to apply for category A posts.

1. What criteria does the Commission employ to differentiate between the university qualifications issued
after three years in the various Member States?

2.

On what basis does it establish the individual categories within the European civil service

3. What corrective measures does it intend to adopt in order to remove these inequalities?