WRITTEN QUESTION E-2160/99 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Responsibility for freedom of movement and public safety.
Date: 1999-11-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU police cooperation, approximation of laws, competence of the Member States, fight against crime, free movement of persons, illegal migration, non-lethal weapon, personal weapon, physical aggression, public safety, self-defence, single market

8.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 225 E/61

(2000/C 225 E/060)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2160/99

by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(24 November 1999)

Subject: Responsibility for freedom of movement and public safety

The pressing problem of security, with reference to illegal immigration, was discussed at the Tampere
European Council of 15 and 16 October 1999. It has now finally been acknowledged that immigration is
an issue to be dealt with at European level, rather than by each Member State working on its own. There
has nonetheless been a failure to understand the difference between the freedom of movement established
following the abolition of internal borders, which comes within the Union(cid:146)s sphere of responsibility, and
the management of public safety issues, which is the responsibility of the Member States, whose laws have
not been harmonised and are in some cases totally dissimilar. For example, the sale and use of self-defence
devices, such as sprays used to ward off attacks by bag-snatchers or rapists, is permitted in some Member
States, while in others even their very use is prohibited.

Without going into the merits of an internal market within which some products are legal in certain
in others, does the Commission not consider that it would be useful and
Members States and illegal
appropriate, pending the implementation of the (cid:145)third pillar(cid:146), to call on the Member States, as part of
action to combat crime and protect the public, to ensure that basic self-defence devices such as sprays and
low-voltage electrical fences are legalised in all Member States, with, if necessary, each being free to lay
down its own rules governing the sale and installation or use of such devices?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(27 January 2000)

According to the Treaty on European Union, and as confirmed by the special meeting of the European
Council held on 15 and 16 October 1999 in Tampere, one of the objectives of the Union shall be to
provide citizens with a high level of safety within an area of freedom, security and justice.

This shall be done by, inter alia, developing common action among Member States in the fields of police
cooperation.

Common action in the field of police cooperation shall include cooperation and joint initiatives in, among
others, the use of equipment.

Any action developed in this context shall not, nevertheless, affect the exercise of the responsibilities
incumbent upon Member States with regard to the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of
internal security.

The measures suggested by the Honourable Member seem to fall under the said responsibilities of Member
States.

Moreover, the Commission reaffirms its willingness to promote the full and immediate implementation of
the Treaty of Amsterdam on the basis of the Vienna action plan and of the political guidelines and
concrete objectives agreed by the European Council in Tampere.

(2000/C 225 E/061)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2164/99

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 November 1999)

Subject: Inquiry into rising foreign exchange costs

Will the Commission confirm that there has been a very sharp rise in the foreign exchange dealing costs
between the euro and the pound sterling over the past year, and will it consider whether there has been
any illicit collusion between participants in this market, or whether there is an abuse of a dominant
position?