WRITTEN QUESTION E-3095/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Prostitution networks.
Date: 2001-11-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, child protection, competence of the Member States, national law, organised crime, press, prostitution

C 115 E/224

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

(2002/C 115 E/239)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3095/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 November 2001)

Subject: Prostitution networks

The recent exposure of a prostitution network in Greece has revealed how they operate through
unrestricted use of advertisements in the daily press, and the vast profits made by those involved. The
Greek press reports that these criminal gangs have an annual ‘turnover’ of Drs 20 billion, while illegal
immigrants operating in Greece in cooperation with Greek criminals have set up latter-day slave-markets
of girls whom they ‘import’ into Greece for between Drs 300 000 and 1 million each, keep in sordid flats
or hotel rooms and offer for prostitution through the so-called ‘pink advertisements’ in the daily press.

What action does the Commission intend to take to stamp out these degrading ‘pink advertisements’?
What, in its view, are the effects of such crude advertisements on the minds of young people who read
them in the newspapers and magazines which come into every home? Is it legally possible to prohibit the
publication in the daily press of advertisements with content degrading to women?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2002)

The Honourable Member refers to the recent exposure of a prostitution network in Greece and the fact
that the advertising of prostitution is allowed in the Greek press. The Commission wishes to inform the
Honourable Member that it does not intend to make proposals in this field at the current time.

In the absence of cross-border implications of such national press advertising services, it is for Member
States to determine how to regulate such advertising in their national press taking due consideration of the
protection of minors. The need to regulate advertising to account for the protection of minors has been
recognised by the Commission in Directive 97/36/EC of the Parliament of the Council of 30 June 1997
amending Council Directive 89/552/EEC on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law,
regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting
activities (1). This text requires Member States to regulate advertising on TV broadcast services falling under
their jurisdiction in such a manner that it shall not cause moral or physical detriment to minors.

(1) OJ L 202, 30.7.1997.

(2002/C 115 E/240)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3096/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 November 2001)

Subject: Implementation of directives on health and safety at the workplace

To what extent are the following directives observed in Greece:

> 89/391/EEC (1) on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health

of workers at work,

> 89/654/EEC (2) concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace,