WRITTEN QUESTION E-2214/03 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. European security project.
Date: 2003-07-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU migration policy, Eurojust, European security, Europol, action programme, admission of aliens, fight against crime, illegal migration, integration of migrants

13.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65 E/117

For a more complete picture of the Council’s efforts in favour of Cuban dissidents, the Council refers to the
answers given to various parliamentary questions recently (questions H-243/03, H-313/03, H-396/03).
Furthermore, the Council would refer the Honourable Parliamentarian to the conclusions it adopted on the
occasion of its meeting on 21 July regarding the re-evaluation of the EU Common Position on Cuba.

(2004/C 65 E/130)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2214/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(2 July 2003)

Subject: European security project

The cultural association ‘Gruppo Atlante 2000’ has for many years been developing a European security
project based on the Equal programme and now the recent Agis programme. The project essentially entails
recording the number of asylum seekers, identifying those who genuinely fall into this category, setting up
reception centres geared to accommodation and assistance requirements and providing EU citizens with a
high level of security within an area of freedom and justice.

The constant increase in the flow of asylum seekers in Italy in recent years illustrates the need for a
uniform government strategy to improve reception facilities and at
illegal
immigration. Action is also needed to prevent asylum seekers becoming involved in organised crime and
the black economy.

the same time combat

In the light of the above, will the Commission say:

1. what contribution this association could make to the work performed by Europol and Eurojust?

2. whether similar initiatives have been taken in the EU?

3. what general security framework exists in Europe?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(22 August 2003)

Member States shall have to ensure that material reception conditions are available to third country
nationals and stateless persons who make an application for asylum at the border or in the territory of
Member States, in order to ensure a standard of living adequate for their health capable of ensuring their
subsistence, after the deadline for transposition of Council Directive 2003/9/EC of 27 January 2003 laying
down minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers (1). The deadline for transposition is
6 February 2005.

Council Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 of 18 February 2003 establishes criteria and mechanisms for
determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for asylum lodged in one of the
Member States by a third-country national (2). Accordingly, this instrument prevents applicants for asylum
from pursuing multiple procedures and may thus diminish the need to set up new reception facilities.
The implementation of this Regulation is facilitated by the operation of the Eurodac system, as established
by Council Regulation (EC) No 2725/2000 of 11 December 2000 concerning the establishment of
‘Eurodac’ for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention (3).
Under this Regulation, Member States are required to promptly take fingerprints of every applicant for
asylum and of every alien who is apprehended in connection with the irregular crossing of an external
border of a Member State, if they are at least 14 years of age.

To combat illegal
immigration, the Council adopted on 28 February 2002 an action plan on illegal
immigration (4). Proper implementation of these measures by the Member States may reduce irregular flows
and may thus, in the long term, also diminish the need of Member States to set up new reception facilities
for asylum seekers.

C 65 E/118

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

The AGIS programme is primarily a programme for police and judicial cooperation in penal matters.
However, within the framework of the fight against organised crime, and in particular the fight against
it envisages possibilities of cofinancing for the co-ordination of projects
trafficking of human beings,
between police investigations and administrative control measures.
It also envisages possibilities of
cofinancing projects in the fight against organisations, criminal networks and criminals operating in the
field of illegal immigration in Member States and neighbouring countries.

Europol has been established to support Member States’ law enforcement authorities in their fight against
serious transnational crime,
in particular organised crime. Europol does not have any competences
concerning asylum seekers. Eurojust is a body composed of members of the judiciary. Its main task is to
assist and advise the national prosecuting authorities in judicial prosecution casework and has, basically, no
political or administrative tasks. If ‘Gruppo Atlante 2000’ has particular expertise in judicial or police
matters, it could contact Eurojust or Europol directly in order to discuss issues and possible co-operation.

The second round of EQUAL will be launched in 2004 and will continue to fund Development
Partnerships which seek to improve the social and vocational integration of Asylum Seekers. Whilst the
Commission has responsibility to set the overall framework for the Initiative, the Managing Authorities in
each Member State are responsible for setting out their priorities selecting appropriate Development
Partnerships which best meet these objectives. The national contact details are all available on the EQUAL
website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/equal.

(1) OJ L 31, 6.2.2003.
(2) OJ L 50, 25.2.2003.
(3) OJ L 316, 15.12.2000.
(4) OJ C 142, 14.6.2002.

(2004/C 65 E/131)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2220/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(2 July 2003)

Subject: Use of languages in Commission press reports (cid:1) Midday Express

On Thursday, 19 June 2003, the Commission published a press report (IP/03/866) on its current inquiry
into distribution practices involving Pokemon collectible cards and stickers. The report was published in all
the official languages of the European Union.

Is the Commission aware that the immediate publication of press reports in all the official languages of the
European Union is exceptional and certainly does not exceed 10 % of the total?

Can the Commission indicate the considerations which prompted it to have that specific report translated
into all the official languages of the European Union but not others such as the reports on the approval of
new BSE tests (19 June 2003), on the Thessaloniki Summit, which was, nevertheless, referred to as a
‘milestone’ in EU relations with the western Balkans (18 June 2003), on the invitation to all citizens of the
Union to contribute to the debate on the adaptation of the ‘Television without Frontiers’ Directive (18 June
2003), on a European Code against Cancer, which recommended the adoption of healthier lifestyles
(17 June 2003), and on optimum conditions for the long-distance transport of cattle (17 June 2003)?

When it published the report about Pokemon stickers, was the Commission thinking primarily about the
media impact that it would have?

Does the Commission rate the social relevance of an inquiry into the distribution of Pokemon stickers
higher than, for example, information for European Union citizens that the adoption of certain lifestyles
will prevent cancer, and is that the reason why it published the former report in all the official languages?