WRITTEN QUESTION E-3048/03 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Coordinating the fight against paedophilia.
Date: 2003-10-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Internet, child pornography, child protection, database, international cooperation, judicial cooperation, paedophilia

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/211

(2004/C 78 E/0216)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3044/03

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 October 2003)

Subject: T Pods

Is the Commission aware of T Pods and does it plan to make T Pods mandatory?

T Pods are self-contained submersible computer and hydrophone units that recognise and log echo-
location clicks from porpoises and dolphins and are manufactured in the UK.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 2003)

Under the ‘Habitats’ Directive (1), the Member States must undertake surveillance of the conservation status
of species of wild fauna of Community interest and take the requisite measures.

The Commission is paying very close attention to the research and data recording equipment used at sea
(T Pods) mentioned by the Honourable Member, and all other technologies which help improve knowledge
of the natural marine environment.

However, the Commission does not believe it is necessary to interfere in the choice of methods or
technologies used for obtaining the data required for the surveillance activities of the Member States.

Consequently, the Commission does not plan to make the use of T Pods mandatory.

(1) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna,

OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2004/C 78 E/0217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3048/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(17 October 2003)

Subject: Coordinating the fight against paedophilia

During the international conference organised by the cybercrime police of the Canton of Ticino in
Switzerland the international movement ‘Innocence in Danger’ (based in Paris) announced that following
years of intensive work on the part of dozens of non-governmental organisations for the protection of
children all over the world, 272 000 paedophile websites containing extremely shocking material have
been reported to the police all over the world during the last few years. This means that 272 000 cases
should be brought worldwide against ‘persons unknown’ who have disseminated pornographic paedophile
material. The results of this research thus reveal the global scale of the phenomenon and its users and
throws new light on on-line paedophilia. The volume of images produced is cause for concern and
involves millions of children all over the world. At the conference Don Fortunato Di Noto, vice-chairman
of the movement and also chairman of the Italian association Meter Online, suggested that action should
be focused on identifying the children. But because of some kind of bureaucratic institutional
inertia
‘action is not coordinated at European or trans-national level’.

C 78 E/212

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

1.

Is this claim true as far as the Union countries are concerned?

In the Commission’s view, where does responsibility for the lack of organisation and coordination lie

2.
(cid:1) with national cybercrime police forces or with Europol’s lack of initiative in the sector?

3. What measures will the Commission promote to remedy this extremely unfortunate situation?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 2003)

The Commission fully shares the concerns expressed by the Honourable Member about the growing
problem of child pornography distributed through the Internet. There is a need for continuous efforts to
combat harmful and illegal content on the Internet based on international co-operation amongst
governments, particularly law enforcement and judicial authorities, but also between governments and
the Internet industry, dedicated hotlines and non-governmental organisations to effectively tackle this
horrifying phenomenon.

Primary responsibility for dealing with illegal content (including child pornography) is with the appropriate
law enforcement and judicial authorities of the Member States, which co-operate internationally in the
fight against child pornography on the Internet through the existing channels of communications, such as
Europol and Interpol.

The Union has been a forerunner in the fight against illegal and harmful content since 1996, with an
approach agreed unanimously by the Parliament and the Council. The Safer Internet Action Plan adopted
by the Council and the Parliament in 1999 (1) is a major element in the Commission’s activity in this field.
It provides funding for a European network of hotlines allowing users to report illegal content, including
child pornography.

instruments and practical
The Union’s strategy to combat child pornography also consists of
measures against computer crime and child pornography. These include the Commission proposal for a
Council Framework Decision (2) on approximation of laws and sanctions in the field of sexual exploitation
reference to child pornography on the Internet (3), and the Council
of children, with particular
Recommendation of 27 September 1998 (4) on the protection of minors and human dignity and the
Council Decision of May 2000 to combat child pornography on the Internet (5).

legal

the beginning of 2003,

the Commission received the final version of

At
the ‘International Child
Exploitation Database’ feasibility study, co-funded under the STOP II Programme and run by a project
group composed of experts from several Member States. The project group recommended the setting-up of
a networked international child sexual exploitation image database, building on the fledgling system at
Interpol.

The Commission is not responsible for the actual setting up of such an international database as this is left
to the will of the Member States and other involved countries, but finances under the AGIS programme an
implementation study for the establishment of this database. To this extent it concluded on 3 October
2003 an agreement with the National Crime Squad from the United Kingdom, aiming at preparing the
establishment of a sophisticated networked international database of child-pornography on-line images.
The database will be an effective tool for law enforcement in identifying victims and offenders of child
sexual exploitation on-line around the world. It will reduce the international duplication of effort and
increase international co-operation in achieving these goals.

The Commission believes that the proposed database will have a major impact on the effective policing of
this horrendous crime by improving the exchange of information, reducing duplication and significantly
raising the analytical capacity.

(1) OJ L 33, 6.2.1999.
(2) COM(2000) 854 final.
(3) The Council reached a common approach on this Commission proposal on 14 October 2002. Two Member States

have still parliamentary reservations on the proposal.

(4) OJ L 270, 7.10.1998.
(5) OJ L 138, 9.6.2000.