WRITTEN QUESTION E-3200/03 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Racial appearance as a criterion for police or customs checks on individuals crossing an internal EU border.
Date: 2003-10-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Schengen Agreement, border control, internal border of the EU, police checks, racial discrimination

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/487

(2004/C 78 E/0508)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3200/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 October 2003)

Subject: Racial appearance as a criterion for police or customs checks on individuals crossing an internal

EU border

As a result of work in the tunnel between Monaco railway station and the temporary Monte Carlo Country
Club station on French territory, through traffic on the route from Genoa (in Italy) and Nice (in France) is
barred between September and December 2003 and train passengers are transported by bus. On the
evening of Thursday, 16 October 2003, between 07.15 and 07.45 p.m., I personally observed how
passengers who had taken the IC 346 ‘Riviera dei Fiori’ Basle-Genoa-Nice train were detained for half an
hour in the replacement bus on the station square in the Italian border town of Ventimiglia for checks
which might normally have taken place on a through train crossing into France. The Italian police’s
selection process was manifestly racially based, with individuals of African or Asiatic appearance being
required to show their travel documents and take their luggage from the baggage compartment, whereas
individuals predominantly Caucasian in appearance were left completely alone.

1.
Can the Commission say whether this is a customary course of events in line with the intended
procedure for random checks at or near the internal EU borders of EU Member States which are parties to
the Schengen Agreement?

2.
Does this mean that non-residents who are not nationals of an EU Member State, but whose skin
colour is white, can cross internal EU borders much more easily than residents who are nationals of a
Member State, but whose ancestors manifestly came from another part of the world?

3. With regard to this appearance-based selection practice which has apparently arisen, what is it that
the Commission would seek to change? What encouragement is being given to ensure that that change
actually takes place in the EU? Is it possible for the Commission to bring this about on the basis of the
existing Treaty, or does it require further action by the Council?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(24 November 2003)

The Commission has asked the Italian authorities for the information it requires to answer the Honourable
Member’s question.

It will send him its findings as soon as possible.

(2004/C 78 E/0509)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3204/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 October 2003)

Subject: Commercial exploitation of protected wildlife species in Greece

According to reports
(5 October 2003), environmental and scientific
organisations have revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture has authorised the capture and commercial
exploitation of rare and protected Greek wildlife species (birds, turtles, chameleons, etc.) without any
stipulations being imposed regarding their collection, capture, transport and living conditions.

in the ‘VIMA’ newspaper

1. What view does the Commission take of this and of the fact that the authorisations issued refer to
the species concerned as ‘State property’.