WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1473/99 by Carmen CERDEIRA MORTERERO Xenophobic attacks in Spain
Date: 1999-09-01
Institutions: CERDEIRA MORTERERO Carmen, European Parliament
Subjects: European social policy, Spain, aid to refugees, racism

C 27 E/54

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.1.2000

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 1999)

There is no legislation at Community level governing the training of children(cid:146)s entertainers and the issue of
licences to practice. The matter raised does not therefore fall within the responsibility of the Commission.

(2000/C 27 E/064)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1411/99

by Carlos Carnero GonzÆlez (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Evacuation of the settlements at Malmea in the Community of Madrid (Spain)

Last week, the central government delegation in the Community of Madrid evacuated the makeshift
settlements at Malmea. The operation was carried out by large numbers of police, acting with the support
of Madrid Council. Hundreds of families of Romanian origin (including more than one hundred minors
under the age of 16), who had occupied the site for some time, were dispersed in an uncontrolled manner.
Tragically, a child was run over during the incident, and died from his injuries. These devastating events
have been widely reported in the media, provoking widespread social concern and condemnation across
the political and social spectrum. The incident demonstrates the lack of any real social integration policy
aimed at immigrants living in existing makeshift settlements in the Community of Madrid and throughout
the rest of Spain. The immigrants at Malmea were living in sub-human conditions, and their situation
following the eviction will clearly continue to be unacceptable when measured against the values of
equality and solidarity which are fundamental to all the states of the European Union. Furthermore, these
events show once again that governments (the Spanish in this case) continue to treat the problem of illegal
immigration as a public order issue, rather than one of social integration.

Is the Commission aware of these facts and, if not, does it intend to ask the Spanish authorities for all the
relevant information? Does the Commission agree that, in accordance with the values and policies which
are fundamental to the European project, all Union Member States have an obligation to implement a
policy of social integration of immigrants, so as to avoid such dreadful conditions as those which exist in
temporary settlements in Spain, and should not resort to public order measures as in Malmea, the terrible
consequences of which are clear?

Is the Commission of the opinion that the instruments of economic and social cohesion at the Union(cid:146)s
disposal should also be used by the Member States to achieve such integration? What measures does the
Commission intend to take to ensure that groups of immigrants in similar situations are able to live
normal lives, without suffering the hardship in evidence in regions such as the Community of Madrid and,
especially, to ensure that the needs of children are taken into account?

(2000/C 27 E/065)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1473/99

by Carmen Cerdeira Morterero (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Xenophobic attacks in Spain

Recent months have seen a serious escalation in racist and xenophobic attacks in Spain. In the current
month of July, a mosque and a home have been set on fire, an immigrant has been attacked in the street
and a group of Romanians has been forcibly expelled from Madrid. Such incidents had previously been
isolated events in Spain, which if anything gives still more cause for concern. The relevant Spanish
legislation is antiquated and incapable of providing an adequate response to such problems, chiefly because
it emphasises the police and security aspects in relation to immigrants while neglecting more important
aspects such as measures designed to foster tolerance and social integration.