WRITTEN QUESTION E-0135/01 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Labour mobility.
Date: 2001-01-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU statistics, European Union, Japan, United States, employment statistics, labour mobility, statistics

C 187 E/192

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

(2001/C 187 E/205)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0127/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Illegal arrest of Greek Cypriot by Turkish-Cypriot regime

(1 February 2001)

Approximately one month ago, the Turkish occupation forces abducted and arrested the Cypriot citizen,
from the territory of the sovereign British bases in Cyprus with a view to
Panikkos Tsiakourmas,
exchanging him for the Turkish-Cypriot drug-trafficker arrested a few days previously on the territory of
the Republic of Cyprus, in whose possession a substantial quantity of drugs had been found.

Given that the Turkish occupation forces are using blackmailing tactics to equate a person charged under
public criminal law with an innocent citizen suspected of no wrongdoing, will the Commission act within
its powers to secure the release of this innocent Greek Cypriot who is being held illegally by the Turkish-
Cypriot regime?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2001)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question P-0045/01 by
Mr Zacharakis (1).

(1) See p. 168.

(2001/C 187 E/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0135/01

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(31 January 2001)

Subject: Labour mobility

Will the Commission indicate any evidence it possesses concerning the extent of labour mobility in the
European Union (both within Member States between regions, and between Member States) compared
with labour mobility in the United States and Japan?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2001)

In 1999, it was estimated that just under 4 % of the population aged over 15 years in the Community were
non-nationals of the Member State they lived in. Net migration into the Community represents some 0,2 %
of the total population. The equivalent figure for the United States is 0,35 %. Net migration in Japan is
negligible (12 000 in a population of 126 million).

In 1997, around a quarter of migrants into Member States were returning nationals, a further 17 % were
from other Member States and 57 % were from third countries.

In the United States, between 1998 and 1999, about 1,4 million people (3 % of movers) moved from
abroad.

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/193

In Europe, it was estimated that in 1996, 1 in 6 people in the labour force changed job, and just over 1‰%
of the working age population moved between NUTS2 (1) regions. Inter-regional migration is much higher
in the northern Member States where it averages 2 % or more, than in the southern ones, where it is below
1 %. Young people in their 20s are by far the most mobile (aged between 15 and 24 in the Netherlands
and the United Kingdom) and mobility declines markedly with age.

The United States Census Bureau reports that in 1999, 43 million United States residents (15,9 % of the
population) moved to a new residence. This is the lowest figure since these statistics were collected. 59 %
moved within the same county, 20 % moved to a different county in the same state, 18 % of movers
moved to another state.

The Japanese statistical office reports that in 1999 the number of Japanese internal migrants was 6,1
million persons, a rate of internal migration of 4,93 %. This represented a fall of 1,4 % in comparison to
earlier years, the fourth successive annual decline since the data collection began in 1954.

(1) NUTS (Nomenclature des UnitØs Territoriales et Statistiques).

(2001/C 187 E/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0137/01

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(31 January 2001)

Subject: Legislative discussions

Will the Commission, as a participant in Council of Ministers(cid:146) meetings,
opening up such meetings to the press and the public when legislative matters are under discussion?

indicate whether it favours

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2001)

As to the substance of the question, the Honourable Member is referred to the answer to his Written
Question E-0134/01 (1). It should be pointed out that, while the Commission is invited to take part in
Council meetings (Article 5 of the Council(cid:146)s Rules of Procedure), it does not do so as a member.

(1) OJ C 174 E, 19.6.2001, p. 255.

(2001/C 187 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0138/01

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(31 January 2001)

Subject: Timeliness of economic statistics

Given the long delays before several Member States publish quarterly estimates of their national accounts
(cid:129) see the answer of 22 December to Written Question E-3426/00 (1) (cid:129) what proportion of EU and euro-
area GDP is generally taken into account when Eurostat publishes its first estimates of GDP growth in
a quarter?

(1) OJ C 151 E, 22.5.2001.