WRITTEN QUESTION E-1249/00 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission. Turkish green passports.
Date: 2000-04-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Türkiye, common foreign and security policy, diplomatic protection, illicit trade, organised crime, passport

C 46 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.2.2001

Estimates put the total number of these passports at the excessively high figure of 1,5 million (see the
Turkish newspaper (cid:145)Milliyet(cid:146), 14 March 2000). The most worrying aspect of the Turkish (cid:145)green passport(cid:146)
industry is the fact that many of these passports are held by individuals with direct links to the Turkish
mafia, organised crime, drug trafficking, espionage and the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction.
Contrary to the assurances it has given on various occasions, Turkey has not stopped issuing (cid:145)green
passports(cid:146) or set about recalling them to the Turkish issuing authority.

What action does the Council intend to take to control and restrict the entry into the EU of individuals
from Turkey with (cid:145)green passports(cid:146) in order to prevent the (cid:145)backdoor(cid:146) entry of individuals who have links
with international smuggling and organised crime?

Reply

(10 July 2000)

The Council would inform the Honourable Member that, except in the cases covered by Article 17(2) of
the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement, the movement of bearers of diplomatic, official
and service passports is, in the current state of development of Community law, within the competence of
the Member States.

(2001/C 46 E/180)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1249/00

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission

(14 April 2000)

Subject: Turkish (cid:145)green passports(cid:146)

In spite of representations from various European governments to date, Turkey is continuing to issue
(cid:145)green passports(cid:146) to Turkish nationals who are travelling abroad, especially to Europe. These passports
enable Turkish citizens to avoid obtaining a visa for countries which they are about to visit and are usually
issued to high-ranking Turkish state officials and members of their families.

Estimates put the total number of these passports at the excessively high figure of 1,5 million (see the
Turkish newspaper (cid:145)Milliyet(cid:146), 14 March 2000). The most worrying aspect of the Turkish (cid:145)green passport(cid:146)
industry is the fact that many of these passports are held by individuals with direct links to the Turkish
mafia, organised crime, drug trafficking, espionage and the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction.
Contrary to the assurances it has given on various occasions, Turkey has not stopped issuing (cid:145)green
passports(cid:146) or set about recalling them to the Turkish issuing authority.

What action does the Commission intend to take to tackle the issue of Turkish (cid:145)green passports(cid:146), with the
additional aim of preventing the (cid:145)backdoor(cid:146) entry of
individuals who have links with international
smuggling and organised crime?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 2000)

The Commission is aware that the Turkish authorities issue green passports to people such as senior
officials and their families. The special passports are recognised by several Member States, which exempt
holders from the visa requirement for entry in to their countries, whereas the holders of ordinary Turkish
passports need a visa to cross the external borders of the Member States.

This practice is in conformity with the law as it stands, since Article 4 of Council Regulation No 574/1999
of 12 March 1999 determining the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when
crossing the external borders of the Member States (1) states that (cid:145)a Member State may exempt nationals of
third countries subject to visa requirements (cid:133) from such requirements. This shall apply in particular to (cid:133)
holders of diplomatic passports, official duty passports and other official passports(cid:146).

13.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 46 E/157

It is not for the Commission to give an opinion on the character of holders of Turkish (cid:145)green passports(cid:146),
and it has no information on alleged unlawful acts by such persons on the territory of the Member States.

(1) OJ L 72, 18.3.1999.

(2001/C 46 E/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1252/00

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstr(cid:246)m (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Tar content of tobacco in Greece

(14 April 2000)

The maximum tar content of cigarettes for sale within the European Union is being harmonised at a level
of 10 milligrams. However, the Commission has granted Greece a long-term derogation, whereby it may
continue to allow tobacco products to be sold within the country with a maximum tar content
significantly higher than the EU limit.

Why has the Commission granted Greece a derogation from the rules on tar content which does not
accord with the Union(cid:146)s public-health objectives?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(26 May 2000)

Under Council Directive 90/239/EEC of 17 May 1990 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and
administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the maximum tar yield of cigarettes (1), the
Commission has granted Greece a derogation enabling it to postpone its obligation to achieve a tar yield of
12 milligrams (mg) per cigarette until 31 December 2006. This derogation has been granted as a result of
this Member State(cid:146)s socio-economic difficulties.

Under the recasting of Council Directives 89/622/EEC of 13 November 1989 on the approximation of the
laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the labelling of tobacco
products (2), 90/239/EEC and 92/41/EEC of 15 May 1992 amending Directive 89/622/EEC (3), which has
been proposed by the Commission (4) and is currently being discussed by Parliament and the Council, the
Commission proposes to maintain Greece(cid:146)s derogation for the same reasons,
i.e. the socio-economic
difficulties faced by this Member State.

it must be pointed out that although the implementation derogation is maintained until
However,
31 December 2006 (or six years from the date of adoption), the maximum tar content per cigarette has
been reduced to 10 milligrams (mg).

This is already contained in the recitals of the Tar Directive (90/239/EEC) and refers to the fact that
tobacco produced in Greece has a high tar content. This Member State is therefore more affected by the
Directive(cid:146)s provisions than any other tobacco producing country. It also takes a long time to change
tobacco varieties. Lastly, the number of workers employed in tobacco production in Greece is very high,
thus a large number of families depend on this industry.

(1) OJ L 137, 30.5.1990.
(2) OJ L 359, 8.12.1989.
(3) OJ L 158, 11.6.1992.
(4) COM(1999) 594 final.