WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1487/97 by Tony CUNNINGHAM to the Council. Assessment of the joint action to combat trafficking in human beings
C 82/8 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 3. 98 (98/C 82/09) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1487/97 by Tony Cunningham (PSE) to the Council (30 April 1997) Subject: Assessment of the joint action to combat trafficking in human beings What action does the Council propose to take in the short term to pursue the aims proposed in the joint action to combat trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of children, which came into force on 24 February 1997? In the period prior to the official assessment of the results of the joint action at the end of 1999, how does the Council propose to monitor its effectiveness? Answer (16 October 1997) The Council attaches great importance to the questions raised by the Honourable Member of the European Parliament, and is actively pursuing the matter in relevant working groups of the Council, such as the Europol Working Group, the Mutual Assistance Working Group and the Drugs and Organized Crime Working Group. These discussions aim at a better coordination of the efforts of the Member States and the international organisations working in this area, such as ICPO/Interpol, the Council of Europe, and to an increasing extent EDU/Europol. The discussions so far have emphasized the need to promote and facilitate the exchange of information between Member States, to give analytical support to international investigations, to develop the centres of excellence concept currently being created within EDU/Europol, and to include the subject in the annual situation report on organized crime in the EU. The Dutch Presidency of the Council organized from 24 to 26 April 1997 a Ministerial Conference on trafficking in women in the Hague. The declaration adopted at the Conference has been made public. The Council intends to commence the assessment of the implementation of the Joint Action in 1998. (98/C 82/10) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1490/97 by Angela Sierra Gonza·lez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (30 April 1997) Subject: Protecting Cetacea in Tenerife and La Gomera (Canary Islands) The sea channel separating the islands of Tenerife and La Gomera contains a site of outstanding natural and scientific interest frequently visited by many species of Cetacea such as the pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and the bottle-nosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Both species are covered by Council Directive 92/43/EEC (1) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, specifically Annexes IV and II, and the stable population of more than 250 animals makes the area an important observation site for these species. More than 500 000 people now visit the habitat of these mammals and tourists are taken to the site by dozens of authorized and unauthorized boats, generating an annual income of around PTA 2 billion. This activity is placing excessive pressure on the cetacean population, and the environmental departments of the Canary Islands Government have acknowledged that the animals are suffering from being constantly chased and cornered throughout the year, which is leading to stress, nervousness, the dispersal of individual animals and families and even accidents with visiting boats. The regulations issued by the Canary Islands Government in response to this situation are not preventing incidents such as those described above. Is the Commission aware of this situation?