WRITTEN QUESTION P-3264/01 by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Wave of illegal immigrants entering Greece and the role of Turkey as a candidate country.
Date: 2001-11-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Union, Greece, Türkiye, administrative cooperation, cooperation policy, fight against crime, illegal migration, trafficking in human beings

20.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/137

regulations and
Council Directive 67/548/EEC of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of
administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (2),
these methods are now available for regulatory purposes. To date, however, alternative methods are not
available to cover all toxicological concerns and so some animal testing continues to be necessary.

laws,

In its recent White Paper on a Strategy for a Future Chemicals Policy (3), the Commission identified the
promotion of non-animal testing as a political objective and proposed to maximise the use of non-animal
test methods, encourage development of new non-animal test methods and to minimise test programmes.

(1) COM(2001) 709 final.
(2) OJ P 196, 16.8.1967.
(3) COM(2001) 88 final.

(2002/C 147 E/144)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3264/01

by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 November 2001)

Subject: Wave of illegal immigrants entering Greece and the role of Turkey as a candidate country

A steady stream of illegal immigrants is entering Greece from Turkey. This recently culminated in an
incident in which some 800 Kurds on their way to Italy were abandoned by Turkish smugglers off the
island of Zakynthos. As always in such circumstances, the warm hospitality shown by local inhabitants can
do little to solve the critical problems facing illegal immigrants.

Given that conditions following the attack of 11 September will exacerbate the situation, what measures
does the Commission intend to take to address this abnormal state of affairs? What steps are being taken
to monitor and evaluate Turkey’s policy for preventing illegal
immigration? Will special financial and
political aid be made available to countries already facing serious problems in receiving and taking care of
large numbers of immigrants, such as Greece?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(18 January 2002)

There is serious concern about irregular migration flows in Turkey, which have been steadily increasing.
The authorities have acknowledged the existence of 94 514 illegal immigrants in 2000, as compared to
11 362 in 1995. In the first five months of 2001, the number of apprehended illegal immigrants was
29 684, which represents a 28 % increase compared to 2001. Turkey is also a destination and transit
country for trafficking of human beings. Women and girls, mostly from Romania, Russia, Ukraine,
Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, are trafficked to or through Turkey. As stated in its Regular
Report of the Commission on Turkey for 2001 (1), Turkey does not meet the minimum standards for the
elimination of trafficking and has not yet adopted specific legislation concerning trafficking in human
beings. According to Government statistics, the authorities arrested 850 members of organised gangs of
traffickers in 2000.

The phenomenon referred to by the Honourable Member demonstrates how important it is for the Union
to develop policies on the prevention of and the fight against illegal immigration and in particular against
irregular maritime arrivals. Such policies need to be developed in partnership with the countries of origin
and transit and should also contain initiatives concerning the internal policies of the Union.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

In its dialogue with Turkey, the Union is underlining the importance of combating illegal migration and
some progress is being made. With a view to the reinforcement of external border controls, a process of
co-operation and co-ordination between the various Ministries and bodies involved has begun. A number
of actions have been taken to strengthen border management, in particular to prevent and deter illegal
border crossings.

In order to prevent and combat irregular migration, the conclusion of readmission agreements is an
important tool and Turkey is making serious efforts in this respect. In the context of the Union Action
Plan for Iraq, the Union made a proposal to Turkey to improve co-operation in transit matters. In recent
talks, the Turkish authorities expressed their willingness to increase the co-operation on the voluntary
return. On 10 September 2001 Turkey signed, a readmission agreement with Syria.
Iran, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka China, Romania and Bulgaria, all countries of origin, have been approached
about draft readmission Protocols. On 8 November 2001, a protocol on readmission has also been
concluded between Turkey and Greece. The Commission, however, considers that more needs to be done
and considers that the signing of a readmission agreement between Turkey and the Community would be
a step in the right direction.

It should be noted that irregular migration is also identified as one of the important subjects in the
framework of the Barcelona process. Partners agree that multilateral efforts are needed to address irregular
migration towards the Union. The need to develop such a policy was underlined during the Euro-
Mediterranean conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, held in Brussels on 5 and 6 November 2001.
This subject, including a number of concrete proposals on preventing and fighting illegal migration, is also
part of the draft regional programme on Justice and Home Affairs. Partners hope to adopt this program
during the next Euro-Mediterranean conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs to be held on 22 and
23 April 2002 in Spain.

At the level of the Union various initiatives, aimed at preventing and combating illegal migration, have
been launched or are being prepared. In particular, the Council reached political agreement in June 2001
on a Directive defining the facilitation of unauthorised entry, movement and stay and a accompanying
Framework Decision on the strengthening of
the facilitation of
unauthorised entry and residence, which sets a frame for the prosecution of facilitators. Moreover, the
Council also adopted a Directive supplementing the provisions of Article 26 of
the Convention
implementing the Schengen Agreement (2) in order to further define the obligations of carriers.

framework to prevent

the penal

In 2001 a number of projects have been selected for Turkey under the newly created budget line aimed at
cooperation with third countries (countries of origin and transit) in the area of migration. Projects aimed at
the strengthening of the asylum system in the country, including the training and support of the Turkish
authorities were selected and will be implemented in 2002. It is expected that these projects will also make
a contribution at reducing the numbers of people who irregularly try to reach the Member States.

The Commission, however, considers that more needs to be done at Union level. It is with this aim that
the Commission has presented a Communication on a Common Policy on Illegal
Immigration on
15 November 2000 (3). It is the intention to initiate in-depth discussions on this future policy of the Union
on preventing and fighting illegal migration. In this Communication six areas are identified for possible
action: visa policy,
infrastructure for information exchange, co-operation and co-ordination, border
management, police co-operation, aliens law and criminal law and return and readmission policy. The
main message of this communication is that, based on existing instruments and measures at national level
further progress should be achieved aiming at the creation of synergy effects of national efforts by adding
the European dimension. In particular, the Union should promote actions in, and support actions of,
countries of origin and transit, taking into account the Union policy on human rights. These actions
should comprise intensive information exchange, knowledge transfer and financial support for justified
control efforts.

(1) SEC(2001) 1756.
(2) OJ L 187, 10.7.2001.
(3) COM(2001) 672 final.