WRITTEN QUESTION E-0964/02 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council. Framework decision on the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography.
Date: 2002-04-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European judicial area, approximation of laws, child pornography, child protection, criminal law, drafting of EU law

C 309 E/64

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

1.

Has this investigation now begun?

Can the Commission confirm that the investigation concerns officials who not only worked for
(anti-corruption)

2.
UCLAF, but were taken over by OLAF, where they were responsible for internal
investigations until well into 2001?

Can the Commission confirm that the officials in question were also responsible for investigating the

3.
Perrylux case?

4. Will the Commission ensure that investigations are carried out into the accusations by an interested
party to the effect that the aforementioned officials did not assess and follow up in the prescribed fashion
information and documents handed over by him on 10 December 1998 and 22 February 1999?

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2002)

The Commission wishes to inform the Honourable Member that the investigation referred to by the
Honourable Member has been opened by the Director General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning
investigations conducted by OLAF (1) and Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999 of the Parliament and of
the Council of 25 May 1999 (1) provide in Article 12, paragraph 3 that the Director of OLAF shall report
regularly to the Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors on the findings of
investigations carried out by the Office, whilst respecting the confidentiality of those investigations, the
legitimate rights of the persons involved and, where appropriate, national provisions applicable to judicial
proceedings.

Pursuant to the above legislation, the Commission wishes to inform the Honourable Member that OLAF is
unable to provide information regarding points 2, 3 and 4 of this written question.

The Director General of OLAF has decided to set up a dedicated team of investigators directed by a senior
magistrate from one of the Member States, to assess whether in the course of the most important cases
that were started under the Unit for the Coordination of Fraud Prevention (UCLAF), any more investigative
steps are required. The allegations made by the Honourable Member will be part of this review. The team
will also liase with all national and Community authorities involved in those cases. It is expected that this
team will start working in July 2002, as soon as the senior magistrate has been recruited.

(1) OJ L 136, 31.5.1999.

(2002/C 309 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0964/02

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(10 April 2002)

Subject: Framework decision on the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography

On 12 June 2001 the European Parliament complied with the timetable set by the Presidency of the
Council and adopted Report A5-0206/2001 on Combating the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Child
Pornography which I drew up on behalf of the Committee on Citizens’ Freedoms and Rights, Justice and
Home Affairs. This report
takes into account new technological developments and provides a full
definition and description of punishable acts and minimum penalties so as to harmonise the criminal law
of Member States in this area. However, despite all its assurances and announcements, the Council has still
not finally adopted this proposal.

Given the widespread nature of the phenomenon in the EU and the inability of national governments
effectively address this extremely grave issue, which is an unacceptable violation of human rights and
human dignity, will the Council say why the adoption of this particular framework decision is being
delayed?

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/65

Reply

(3 October 2002)

It has not yet been possible to adopt the Council framework decision on the sexual exploitation of children
and child pornography because the Council has at the present time not managed to reach agreement.

(2002/C 309 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0969/02

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(10 April 2002)

Subject: Disability rights

Preparations are currently under way for a new proposal for an EU regulation on cooperation aid to Asia
and Latin America. Will the European Commission give specific reference to the rights of disabled people
in this proposal?

(2002/C 309 E/076)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0970/02

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(10 April 2002)

Subject: Disability rights

The Commission recently produced a communication: Europe and Asia: A Strategic Framework for
Enhanced Partnerships (1). Among the objectives of this framework are: addressing the root causes of
poverty and the spreading of democracy, good governance and the rule of law.

Whilst the World Bank estimates that disabled people account for 20 % of the world’s poorest, there is no
mention of disability in this document. How does the Commission plan to ensure that disabled people’s
rights are addressed in implementation of this framework?

(1) COM(2001) 469 final.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0969/02 and E-0970/02
given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2002)

This proposal for a new regulation on co-operation with Asian and Latin American countries does not
intend to provide political or strategic orientations. Rather it provides the rules and procedures necessary
to programme and decide effectively on co-operation between the Community and partner countries.

The objectives of co-operation are therefore defined in a very broad way, to make it possible to intervene
in all areas of co-operation, which are envisaged in the agreements between the Community and the
beneficiary countries and under the policy and co-operation guidelines which are adopted in the
appropriate fora.

Accordingly, the proposal which the Commission is preparing does not include specific reference to the
rights of disabled people, though these are contained in the human right and fundamental freedom article
on which the proposal is based. Yet, as human rights are progressively mainstreamed into development
co-operation,
like the rights of disabled, will feature more
regularly and comprehensively in Community-supported actions.

it is anticipated that cross-cutting issues,