WRITTEN QUESTION E-3613/01 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council. Trafficking and exploitation of children in Albania.
Date: 2002-01-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Albania, EU police cooperation, child pornography, judicial cooperation, paedophilia, prostitution, trafficking in human beings

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/151

(2002/C 160 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3609/01

by Giovanni Fava (PSE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: New buildings in an area subject to a total ban on building and European funds in Sicily

On 4 December 2001 the Sicilian regional executive tabled a bill seeking, inter alia, to regularise the status
of illegal buildings on the coast, of which there are estimated to be 170 000. The bill would effectively
repeal the only law protecting the coastline currently in force in Sicily, which provides for a ban on
building within 150 metres of the sea (Regional Law 78 of 12 June 1976). The bill also provides for the
building of new hotels providing a total of 4 000 beds on the strip of coastline subject to a total ban on
building.

The projects already submitted will most probably be eligible for territorial pact, Prusst (urban renewal and
sustainable spatial planning programmes) and Agenda 2000 funding.

These projects quite obviously run counter not just to the spirit of regional policies seeking to ensure the
sustainable development of less advanced areas but also to environmental protection laws and the specific
coastline rehabilitation and redevelopment measures supported by the European Union.

Is the Commission aware of the action taken by the Sicilian regional executive? Can it ensure that
Structural Fund resources are not used to fund these projects? Can it make sure that Community legislation
on environmental impact assessments is complied with? Lastly, how does it intend to protect Natura 2000
sites in which illegal building is taking place?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2002)

The Commission is not aware of the proposed law mentioned by the Honourable Member.
It will
nevertheless ensure that the implementation of the programmes it part-finances under the Structural Funds
is consistent with the objectives of those programmes and compatible with all Community policies,
including that on environmental protection.

(2002/C 160 E/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3613/01

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(9 January 2002)

Subject: Trafficking and exploitation of children in Albania

According to figures provided by the Albanian Ministry for Public Order, between 1992 and 2 000, 4 000
children fell victim to organised crime in Albania. These child victims were taken illegally, mainly to
countries in the West, to be abused by paedophiles, used as beggars and, in some cases, for the sale of
organs.

Will the Council take concerted action, with the maximum possible involvement of Europol and in close
collaboration with the Albanian, Italian and Greek authorities, to root out the gangs involved in the
trafficking and exploitation of children, and when will it take decisions concerning the framework decision
on combating the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography adopted by Parliament on
12 June 2001 (1)?

(1) Text adopted on 12.6.2001.

C 160 E/152

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.7.2002

Reply

(25/26 March 2002)

The Honourable Member is referred to the reply given to her oral question No H-0626/01 in which the
Council pointed out that it was taking action against such exploitation in the territory of the European
Union but was unable to do so outside that territory.

The proposal for a Council framework decision on combating the sexual exploitation of children and child
pornography to which the Honourable Member refers is still under examination. At the Council meeting
[Justice and Home Affairs and Civil Protection] on 6 and 7 December 2001, broad consensus was reached
on definitions and on the acts to be made criminal offences. Work is continuing on that basis and should
shortly result in a political agreement.

(2002/C 160 E/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3617/01

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Godless euro

Given that the roots of European culture are clearly Christian and that, as the Holy Father stated on the
occasion of the 1200th anniversary of the crowning of Charlemagne, there is not the slightest mention of
God, the supreme source of human dignity and fundamental rights, in the Charter of Fundamental Rights,
will the Commission explain why the designer of the euro banknotes has carefully avoided any graphic or
other reference to Christianity or even God?

Would the Commission not agree that such a reference should have been seen as indispensable, given the
current process of globalisation, which, regrettably,
is gradually wiping out our traditions and our
European historical, cultural and religious identity?

Would the Commission not agree that it should reconsider the banknotes’ design?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2002)

According to the EC Treaty Article 106, the European Central Bank (ECB) has the exclusive right to
authorise the issue of banknotes within the Community. The ECB and the national central banks may issue
such notes, and are also responsible for the designs on the notes. The Commission is therefore not in a
position to reply to this question, as the matter is out of its competence.

(2002/C 160 E/192)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3624/01

by Karin Riis-Jørgensen (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Subsidies for the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry route

(8 January 2002)

In its answer to Question H-0757/01 (1), the Commission gave an assurance that it would ensure that
selection of, and support for projects under the PACT and Marco Polo programmes would be subject to
the most stringent assessment as regards any distortion of competition such projects might cause.