WRITTEN QUESTION E-2524/00 by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission. Migration in the Salento region.
Date: 2000-08-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Apulia, external border of the EU, illegal migration, information network, migratory movement

C 113 E/116

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

(2001/C 113 E/117)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2524/00

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(2 August 2000)

Subject: Migration in the Salento region

Some time ago Lecce Apulia applied to host a (cid:145)peace conference(cid:146) and to be the headquarters of a
monitoring centre for migration.

Furthermore, Salento has had to tackle the difficult problem of immigration for the last ten years and will
continue to do so for who knows how many more years.

Can the Commission say whether, in order at least to counterbalance the choice of Salonica as the location
for the agency for the reconstruction of Kosovo, it intends to comply with the requests of Lecce, a town
synonymous with immigration from the countries of south eastern Europe?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2000)

The Commission recognises that Puglia, due to the geographical situation, is particularly affected by some
effects of movements of people in need of international protection and by irregular migratory movements,
like other border regions of the Union.

The Commission is currently examining the technical requirements to set up an information network on
migratory flows and all aspects of immigration and asylum, based on internet technology. There is no
intention to create an observatory in a particular location.

(2001/C 113 E/118)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2528/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(25 July 2000)

Subject: cutting of programmes to assist the most deprived

According to a recent study by ADE (Aide (cid:224) la DØcision Economique (cid:129) Aid to Economic Decision-
making), the programme to assist the most deprived groups, (cid:145)the food banks(cid:146), has been of proven value in
combating poverty in Europe.

A cut in the programme would mean that recognised charities in the fifteen EU Member States could no
longer obtain the quantities of meat, dairy products and cereals they would like to have for the most
deprived.
In the light of Agenda 2000, charities have good reason to fear that such a cut may be
imminent. In order to ensure that the food banks can continue to operate long-term, the Commission
should clarify its intentions as soon as possible.

Does the Commission intend to cut the total budget for programmes of assistance to the most
1.
deprived? If so, how does the Commission intend to implement this cut? How can the Commission justify
this decision, in view of the unmistakably positive impact of the programmes of assistance in combating
poverty in Europe (cf. the ADE study)? How does the Commission reconcile its anti-poverty objectives with
the cut in the budget for the food banks?

2. Will the Commission in future apply the amendment of 1995 in order to allow the Member States to
adjust their intervention stocks to include more of the products required for the assistance programmes, in
accordance with the regulation? If not, why does the Commission refuse to apply the 1995 amendment,
bearing in mind its importance for the long-term operation of the food banks?