WRITTEN QUESTION No. 358/99 by Paul RÜBIG Survey of crime in European cities
Date: 1999-03-01
Institutions: European Parliament, RUEBIG
Subjects: Austria, EU statistics, Germany, Switzerland, crime, fight against crime, metropolis, public safety, town

3.12.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 348/53

(1999/C 348/064)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0358/99

by Paul Rübig (PPE) to the Commission

(1 March 1999)

Subject: Survey of crime in European cities

A current survey of serious crime in Austria, Germany and Switzerland shows that crime rates in the Austrian
capital, Vienna, are clearly lower than in German or Swiss cities. For example, a figure of 3,9 murders per
100 000 inhabitants is given for Vienna in 1997. A similar trend is also revealed by the number of robberies
where Vienna’s figure of 82 per 100 000 inhabitants is clearly lower than other major cities.

Does there exist a representative survey for all major cities in the European Union showing which urban
centres require particular action to be taken to make them safe areas for citizens of the Union? If not, when
does the Commission plan to arrange for such a survey?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 1999)

To date the Commission has not initiated a study of the type described by the Honourable Member. The
political priority established by the Member States at European Union level was to combat the various forms of
organised crime. Efforts are mainly directed to gathering information on this more specific area. One of the
results is the annual Council report on organised crime in Europe, which is transmitted to Parliament.

One of the difficulties of comparing statistics drawn up in the Member States is that they are not equivalent,
given that there are no common criteria for measuring certain types of crime. Work certainly needs to be done
in this area. It could be supplemented by studies on vulnerability to certain forms of crime originating in
differences in the social or cultural environment. This type of study might obtain financial support from the
Commission.

The Commission is well aware of the need for comparable statistical tools on aspects of crime, and before the
summer intends to put forward a multiannual programme to promote cooperation between experts in crime
statistics with a view in particular to developing Europe-wide crime statistics.

(1999/C 348/065)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0359/99

by Elisabeth Schroedter (V) to the Commission

(1 March 1999)

Subject: Diversion of European regional funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) by
the government of the Land of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to feeder roads to the A20 motorway

In its answer to my question of 16 April 1998 on the same subject (E-0518/98) (1), the Commission stated that
it had no information about the diversion of ERDF funding to basic infrastructure measures at federal or Land
level in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It also stated that general infrastructure measures could not be
funded from ERDF resources.

At the same time, however, it is clear from public statements by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Minister
for Economic Affairs, Mr Rolf Eggert, that planning work is currently beginning on linking the island of Rügen
to the A20 motorway, a project which is to be financed with ERDF funding totalling DM 272 million (of a
planned total estimated amount of DM 724 million, i.e. over one third).