WRITTEN QUESTION E-1438/01 by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) and Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Migratory flows to Greece and protecting the external borders.
Date: 2001-05-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community budget, EU migration policy, Greece, admission of aliens, border control, external border of the EU, illegal migration, removal

C 350 E/154

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

before the Court of Justice. However, even judgements of the Court of Justice only state whether there has
been an infringement. The Court of Justice can neither annul a national provision which is incompatible
with Community law, nor force a national administration to respond to the request of an individual, nor
order a Member State to pay damages to an individual adversely affected by an infringement of
Community law. Only national courts can issue orders to administrative bodies and annul a national
decision. It is also only national courts which have the power, where appropriate, to order a Member State
to make good the loss sustained by individuals as a result of the infringement of Community law
attributable to it.

As regards questions concerning environmental damage, the Honourable Member is kindly requested to
refer to the reply to her Written Question E-1038/2000 (1).

(1) OJ C 89 E, 20.3.2001.

(2001/C 350 E/166)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1438/01

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE)
and Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 May 2001)

Subject: Migratory flows to Greece and protecting the external borders

Given that Greece faces particular problems in protecting its borders which are also the external borders of
the Union, mainly owing to its special geographical features, and given also that the EU has adopted
a series of measures and policies on asylum, illegal immigration and the crossing of its external borders,

will the Commission say:

1. What implementing measures and actions has Greece taken within the EU framework to protect its

borders, to manage migratory flows effectively and to prevent illegal immigration?

2. What amount of appropriations has Greece taken up from EU budget funds in 1997, 1998, 1999 and
2000 to cover the cost of protecting borders, transferring technology and actions to prevent illegal
immigration and repatriation (expulsion)?

3. What amount of appropriations have been made available to Greece in the field of justice and internal
affairs to integrate refugees and for asylum and refugee policy on the basis of the European Refugee
Fund (1) and other EU programmes, such as Odysseus (2), and what actions are covered by these
appropriations?

4. What official information is available concerning refugee, asylum, immigration and illegal immigration

and naturalisation figures in Greece?

(1) OJ L 252, 6.10.2000, p. 12.
(2) OJ L 99, 31.3.1998, p. 2.

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 2001)

1.
In December 1999, following visits to inspect controls at land and sea borders, the Council decided
that the Schengen acquis was to be fully implemented in Greece with effect from 1 January 2000 and
planned a further observation visit during 2000.

The experts who carried out the visit found that the control procedures were generally adapted to
Schengen requirements, pointing out that improvements had been made in terms of the number of staff
and facilities. They recommended that that the Greek authorities harmonise training programmes and
continue to take measures to question and remove illegal aliens.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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2.

In the years 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 Greece has taken up the following appropriations:

(cid:129) Budget

line B3-4113 (integration)

total of € 2 757 395, budget

line B5-803 (reception)

total of

€ 2 957 799 and budget line B7-6008 (voluntary repatriation) total of € 1 660 663.

(cid:129) The relevant amounts were spent on projects for the integration, reception and voluntary repatriation
of refugees and asylum seekers. A total of 26 projects were implemented comprising, in the case of
integration, activities such as accommodation, counselling, training, career guidance, advocacy and in
the case of reception improvements to or creation of reception centres, the provision of legal,
counselling and social/psychological support services. Projects under the budget line for repatriation
legal advice and counselling, assistance with return,
included activities such as vocational training,
creation of small businesses and job placement.

(cid:129) Under the Odysseus programme € 275 000 was granted in 1998, € 248 399 in 1999 and € 106 770

in 2000.

(cid:129) A total of seven projects were implemented covering actions such as training seminars on the control
and surveillance of external borders and on combating illegal immigration, or action for the defence of
human rights of refugee/asylum seekers.

3.
In the context of the European Refugee Fund (ERF) Greece(cid:146)s 2000 and 2001 programmes were
approved in March 2001. The relevant ERF contribution amounts to € 652 057,17 and € 629 043,03
respectively and aims at supporting Greece(cid:146)s efforts relating mainly to conditions for reception and the
integration of persons whose stay in Greece is of a lasting and/or stable nature. Projects are under the
selection process under the management of the Ministry for Health and Welfare at present.

4.
According to Community statistics in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 respectively 4 376, 2 953, 1 528
and 3 083 persons applied for asylum in Greece. In the same period, the Greek authorities accorded
Geneva Convention status to a total of 654 persons.

Greece reported a total of 22 078 immigrants in 1997 and 12 630 in 1998.

A total of 930 persons acquired Greek citizenship in 1997, with 807 acquisitions being reported for 1998.

Data on immigration and acquisition of citizenship are not currently available for 1999 and 2000.

The Greek authorities consider all data provided to the Commission which could give indications about the
scale of illegal immigration, such as figures on apprehended aliens illegally present at the Greek borders, as
confidential

(2001/C 350 E/167)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1439/01

by Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert (PPE-DE),
Jean-Louis Bourlanges (PPE-DE) and Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: SOS countryside telephone service

(17 May 2001)

The consequences of the present crises in the farming sector, with outbreaks of BSE and foot-and-mouth
disease in several Member States, have put an enormous strain on the farming community.

Under budget line B3-301 (Information Outlets), SOS countryside telephone services are eligible for EU
funding. In the past this telephone service has proved helpful in helping people in the countryside coping
with the consequences of, among other matters, disease outbreaks.

From the year 2000 onwards, Commission services have refused to implement the funding provision for
these services, notwithstanding the fact that the Budgetary Authority explicitly put this activity into the
budget.

In view of the present circumstances in the farming sector, is the Commission intending to implement the
clear will of the Budgetary Authority?