WRITTEN QUESTION E-1437/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) and Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Council. Illegal issue of visas and passports and entry of third country nationals into Greece and the EU.
Date: 2001-05-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU migration policy, Greece, Schengen Agreement, admission of aliens, illegal migration

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/111

The Commission does not therefore envisage introducing changes in the existing legislative system to
reduce the time limits set out in the directives.

in the proposal

the Commission underlines that

In this respect
the existing
legislation (3), adopted by the Commission on 10 May 2000, the applicable time limits are essentially the
same. The only modification is a reduction of time limits where electronic means are used for dispatch of
notices or where the contracting entities offer direct access to the specifications (and to other contract
documents) free of charge via the Internet. The new provisions introduce the general rule that for specific
phases of a tender procedure the time-limits may be shortened where notices are sent by electronic means.
This mechanism takes into account the advantage deriving from rapid publication in the case of electronic
transmission.

for modification of

(1) OJ L 199, 9.8.1993.
(2) OJ L 101, 1.4.1998.
(3) OJ C 29 E, 30.1.2001.

(2001/C 364 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1437/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) and Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Council

(21 May 2001)

Subject: Illegal issue of visas and passports and entry of third country nationals into Greece and the EU

According to Greek press reports and allegations by the largest Greek opposition party, thousands of
people from the countries of the former Soviet Union have illegally obtained visas and Greek passports
and entered Greece. A committee of inquiry into the elections in Greece found that thousands of persons
have been illegally naturalised although they were not entitled to Greek nationality. It should also be
pointed out that despite Greece(cid:146)s full participation in the Schengen acquis, a large number of violations
have occurred (5 000 illegal naturalisations have been established at the Moscow consulate), and wanted
Russian criminals illegally supplied with Greek passports have been arrested in Spain; there have also been
allegations from Tiflis in Georgia where 150 Georgians a day apply for passport visas to enter Greece,
visas which they obtain from circles operating in the vicinity of the Greek consulate in Tiflis. In Russia and
in Georgia popular TV channels (for instance, Iveria and Rustavi 2 in Tiflis) carry advertisements providing
information on how to obtain a visa and a Greek passport.

What is the Council(cid:146)s position on these violations of Community rules by illegal naturalisations and the
illegal issue of visas and passports and the entry into Greece, and thus the EU, (by unorthodox means) (cid:129)
and residence there (cid:129) of thousands of persons on the basis of the Schengen acquis? How many visas,
passports and naturalisations have been granted by the Greek authorities over the last few years, and what
information is available concerning the illegal
issue of visas and passports? What measures does the
intend to take to eradicate practices which undermine the wholly desirable policy of legal
Council
immigration to the EU by evading controls, practices such as those of Greek Government and Diplomatic
Corps officials who have abused their position and (cid:129) despite the allegations brought against them (cid:129)
facilitated the illegal entry into the EU of thousands of citizens of the former USSR? Given that there has
been a violation of the Schengen Agreement, have penalties been imposed on them by the Greek
authorities responsible and, if so, what penalties?

Reply

(27 September 2001)

The Council attaches importance to the fight against document fraud. That is why experts have long
1.
been meeting in the Council working parties to exchange information and examine initiatives and
proposals on the matter. However, under Community law as it currently stands, questions relating to
naturalisation fall within the competence of the Member States, and not the Council(cid:146)s. The Council is not
empowered to take a position on a matter which does not fall within the spheres of competence granted
to it by the Treaties.

C 364 E/112

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

2.

The Council does not have the statistical data requested by the Honourable Member.

3. and 4.
The Council would inform the Honourable Member that, with the entry into force of the
Treaty of Amsterdam, questions regarding immigration, visas and asylum fall within Community
competence pursuant to Title IV of the TEC. It is therefore the task of the Commission, as the guardian
of the Treaties, to check whether Member States fulfil their obligations in these matters.

(2001/C 364 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1442/01

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 May 2001)

Subject: Plant for the production of refuse-derived fuel in Gallicano (Lucca), Italy

A plant for the production of refuse-derived fuel in Gallicano (Lucca) was co-financed by the Structural
Funds (Objective 5b), despite the fact that the environmental impact of such plants is very significant,
particularly in the area in question which is of great natural and cultural importance. It is clear that setting
up such plants, in an area where recycling and separate collection of waste is very low, does not fit within
the Community policy on waste management.

In general, does the Commission assess only the compliance of projects with Community legislation or
also with the relevant priorities as set out in Community policies?

How does the Commission make sure that Article 6 of
environmental protection integrated into other EU policies on a real and regular basis?

the Treaty is properly implemented and

Is the Commission aware that if co-financing is granted whenever there is formal compliance with the
relevant environmental legislation, but despite this, the environmental impact of a project is significant,
this seriously aggravates environmental degradation?

Does the Commission agree that eligible projects must be selected not only for compliance with existing
legislation but also on the basis of specific policy guidelines and a number of other crucial aspects, not
least whether it is appropriate to set up certain kinds of industrial plants in particular areas?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(30 July 2001)

In the Structural Funds programming process, the national and regional authorities submit a regional
development or conversion plan to the Commission. The plan puts forward the development priorities for
the areas and sectors concerned according to the various Objectives. The Commission assesses the plan
and negotiates with the competent authorities a programming document in the form of a multi-annual
operational programme (OP) or Single Programming Document (SPD).

In assessing the plan and in the negotiation of programmes, the Commission verifies, inter alia, that the
development strategy and the outline of priorities and measures comply with Community environmental
legislation and policy, including the integration of the environmental protection requirements into the
sectoral priorities in a sustainable development perspective. Concerning the waste measures in particular,
projects receiving Structural Fund assistance must be consistent with the regional and local waste
management plans established in conformity with Community directives and policy on waste.

In keeping with article 6 (ex Article 3c) of the EC Treaty,
in the 2000-2006 programming period the
integration of the environmental dimension within the Structural Funds has been further enhanced by the
inclusion of an environmental ex-ante evaluation, which provides a basis for preparing the plans and
programmes of which it shall form part.