Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

[**Avis juridique important**](../../../editorial/legal_notice.htm)

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# 92000E3285

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-3285/00 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) and Gianfranco Fini (UEN) to the Council. Combating paedophilia.** 
  
*Official Journal 136 E , 08/05/2001 P. 0220 - 0220*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3285/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) and Gianfranco Fini (UEN) to the Council

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Combating paedophilia

The increasingly serious and alarming problem of paedophilia is exacerbated by the Internet, which is not yet subject to any rules to ensure it is used properly.

It has emerged that yet another pornographic website, namely www.unioneuropea.com, is using an official name.

What action does the Council intend to take to prevent the fraudulent use of official EU website names?

How can minors be protected if criminal organisations use official EU names to publish pornography, including child pornography?

Does the Council agree that it would be appropriate for the EU institutions' e-mail to incorporate a message stressing the EU's commitment to preventing the promotion of paedophilia via the Internet?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3285/00 and P-3312/00

(20/21 December 2000)

As already stated in replies to previous questions on the subject(1), combating the sexual exploitation of children, and in particular child pornography on the Internet, is a matter of great importance to the Council, as confirmed by its adoption of a Decision on 29 May 2000 to combat child pornography on the Internet(2).

That Decision is the result of an initiative by Austria, and aims to combat the production, processing, distribution and possession of child pornography material and promote the effective investigation and prosecution of offences in this area.

The Honourable Member will note that when adopting that Decision, the Council made the following statement:

The Council welcomes the opinion of the European Parliament, published as Legislative Resolution on the initiative of the Republic of Austria with a view to adopting a Council Decision to combat child pornography on the Internet. In addition to the amendments which have been incorporated by the Council in the Decision, the opinion raises a number of important issues relating to substantive criminal law and criminal procedure. The Council, mindful of the urgency to take immediate measures against child pornography on the Internet, declares its willingness to examine such questions in the light of the Joint Action 97/154/JHA of 24 February 1997 and on the basis of proposals which are expected in the future.

(1) See in particular the reply to Oral Question No H-0654/00 on illicit use of the internet, put to the Council by Brian Crowley.

(2) OJ L 138, 9.6.2000, p. 1.

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