WRITTEN QUESTION P-3636/02 by Niall Andrews (UEN) to the Commission. Humanitarian aid and immigration controls.
Date: 2002-12-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: cooperation policy, development aid, migration control, migration policy, support policy, third country

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/691

(2004/C 78 E/0737)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3636/02

by Niall Andrews (UEN) to the Commission

(10 December 2002)

Subject: Humanitarian aid and immigration controls

Given the Commission’s welcome views on the issue of the link between development aid and trade, can
the Commission state its views on a suggestion put forward by the Irish Minister for Justice that
development aid be linked to the recipient’s emigration controls and Ireland’s immigration controls?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2003)

In its recent Communication on ‘integrating migration issues in the Union relations with third countries’,
the Commission has proposed a three-pronged strategy to step up cooperation with third countries in the
area of migration:

(cid:1) first, a balanced overall approach which addresses the root causes of migratory movements. The
Community’s action in this area is substantial and cannot be underestimated. Its external cooperation
and development programmes and policies aimed at promoting human rights, bolstering democracy,
combating poverty, preventing conflicts and improving the economic and social situation in general
tackle the main factors contributing to migratory pressures in third countries and therefore exert an
indirect effect on those pressures;

(cid:1) second, a partnership on migration stemming from a definition of common interests with third
countries. The objective of more effectively managing migration flows requires the Community to
continue integrating migration issues into its political dialogue with third countries and regions. That
dialogue should focus not only on illegal immigration but also on the channels for legal immigration;

(cid:1) third, specific and concrete initiatives to assist third countries in increasing their capacity in the area of
migration management. Since the European Council meeting in Tampere,
the Commission has
endeavoured to integrate specifically the topic of migration into its cooperation programmes with
third countries.

In its communication, the Commission favours a positive approach, based on support and incentives to
partner countries with whom co-operation on migration issues is to be improved. The Commission holds
the view that punitive actions against countries with limited migration management capacities are counter-
productive and should be avoided.

(2004/C 78 E/0738)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3857/02

by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission

(6 January 2003)

Subject: Slaughter of baby seal pups on the White Sea, Russia

My previous written question on this subject (P-2365/02 (1)) asked the Commission to state how many
baby seal pups were clubbed to death on the White Sea in the year 2001. It also asked the Commission to
raise the matter, which appals so many people in my constituency and elsewhere, with the Russian
authorities at the earliest opportunity.

In the reply, the Commissioner acknowledged that the treatment of baby seals in the White Sea has been
an ongoing concern in recent years. Will the Commission now make renewed efforts to ascertain and
publish the number of seal pups that were slaughtered on the White Sea in 2001, and make preparations
for obtaining similar figures in respect of 2002?