WRITTEN QUESTION P-1391/00 by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Council. Immigration policy.
Date: 2000-05-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU migration policy, accession to the European Union, immigration, legality, moonlighting, political cooperation, trafficking in human beings

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/35

As a result, existing co-ordination at project level will be complemented by a greater degree of coherence
at programming level and by the definition of objectives and co-operation areas. In the implementation of
Interreg III, the management of small projects promoting cross-border activities could be directly entrusted
to cross-border co-operation initiatives, such as Euregios.

In the light of these considerations, the Commission will take into account examples of co-operation
across borders, such as the Euregio Karelia.

(1) OJ C 81, 21.3.2000.
(2) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
(3) OJ L 12, 18.1.2000.

(2001/C 81 E/040)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1391/00

by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Council

(3 May 2000)

Subject: Immigration policy

Illegal immigration to Europe is increasingly taking the form of slave-trafficking, devaluing human dignity
and often costing lives.

Does the European Union bear any responsibility for this? As an area which receives immigrants, should
the European Union not develop a common immigration policy establishing clear and mutually acceptable
relations with the immigrants(cid:146) countries of origin, which will combat illegality and trafficking in human
beings, as well as illegal employment in the European Union? Will the countries applying for membership
participate in the process of drawing up and implementing these policies?

Reply

(29 September 2000)

The Council fully shares the view expressed by the Honourable Member with regard to illegal immigration
and its consequences.

In December 1998, the Council set up the High Level Working Group on Asylum and Migration with a
view to developing a cross-pillar, integrated approach in order to address the root causes of migration and
flight. The High Level Working Group was tasked with drawing up Action Plans for certain source
countries of asylum seekers and/or illegal migration. Action Plans for five countries (Afghanistan and the
region, Iraq, Morocco, Somalia and Sri Lanka) were adopted by the Council in October last year and
endorsed by Heads of State at the Tampere European Council.

The implementation of those Action Plans is currently under consideration by the High Level Working
Group which is called upon to address a report on such implementation to the European Council
in December 2000. It is clear that the Action Plans can not be imposed on the countries concerned, but
must be implemented in close cooperation with the authorities of those countries. The Tampere European
Council clearly recognised the need for a comprehensive approach to migration. In point 11 of the
conclusions of that Council such an approach should address (cid:145)political, human rights and development
issues in countries and regions of origin and transit. This requires combating poverty, improving living
conditions and job opportunities, preventing conflicts and consolidating democratic states and ensuring
respect for human rights, in particular rights of minorities, women and children. To that end, the Union as
well as Member States are invited to contribute, within their respective competence under the Treaties, to a
greater coherence of
the Union. Partnership with third countries
concerned will also be a key element for the success of such a policy, with a view to promoting co-
development.(cid:146)

internal and external policies of

C 81 E/36

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

With regard to combating illegality and trafficking in human beings and illegal employment, these subjects
are at the forefront of the discussions not only at EU level within CIREFI, which incidentally meets once
per semester with representatives from the EU accession candidates countries, but also in a wider context.
Furthermore, it is worth pointing out EUROPOL(cid:146)s role in combating organised illegal immigration. The
Community and the Member States are currently participating actively in negotiations within the United
Nations on the establishment of an international convention against transnational organised crime. The
draft convention contains inter alia two protocols relating to measures to combat the smuggling of
migrants by land, air and sea on the one hand and to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons,
especially women and children on the other. The convention is expected to be completed and signed by
the end of 2000.

(2001/C 81 E/041)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1401/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(5 May 2000)

Subject: EU-Russia relations

Only a few days ago, a presidential election took place in the Russian Federation, which resulted in the
election of Mr Vladimir Putin to the presidency after the first round. The following day, Mr Javier Solana,
the High Representative of the CFSP, and Mr Romano Prodi, the Commission President, congratulated
Mr Putin on his victory and (cid:145)reminded(cid:146) him of the situation in Chechnya, where thousands of people have
lost their lives in the last few months thanks to a war which, to say the least, Moscow has at no moment
tried to avoid: civilian communities and hospitals have been bombarded indiscriminately, and Russian
troops have constantly perpetrated violations of human rights.

In the light of Parliament(cid:146)s resolution of 16 March 2000 on the European Charter of Human Rights, and
of Article 177(2) of the EC Treaty, which specifies as general objectives of the Community (cid:145)developing and
consolidating democracy and the rule of law(cid:146) and (cid:145)respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms(cid:146):

What does the Council believe should be the proper ethical limits of the EU(cid:146)s external relations? What
measures does it propose to prevent conflicts of this nature where they are held (cid:129) in our view erroneously
(cid:129) to be (cid:145)internal(cid:146)? What initiatives does it propose to protect ethnic minorities living outside the EU?

Reply

(29 September 2000)

The Treaty on European Union states that one of the objectives of its common foreign and security policy
is (cid:145)to safeguard the common values (cid:133) of the Union(cid:146). These values or principles, (cid:145)which are common to the
Member States(cid:146), are listed as (cid:145)liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and
the rule of law(cid:146). Such are the foundations of any ethical dimension of the EU(cid:146)s external relations.

The European Union does not recognise any theoretical limit to the application of its essential tenets.
Whether in the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe or in its bilateral relations, including its agreements
with third countries, the EU gives the promotion of its values very high priority.

Conflict prevention is a complex and difficult business, to which the EU along with other international
actors makes a substantial contribution with varying degrees of success. The EU uses all
instruments
available to it. In the longer term, these include the promotion of its values, aid, trade, and political
influence to foster economic, social and political conditions that mitigate the causes of conflict. In the
shorter term the EU may use persuasion, influence and action in an impending or actual conflict situation,