WRITTEN QUESTION No. 55/98 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Brothels in Greece and the rest of the EU
17. 7. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 223/95 (98/C 223/120) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0055/98 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (29 January 1998) Subject: Brothels in Greece and the rest of the EU In order to run a brothel in Greece a permit is needed (this has so far been issued by the police, but a bill is currently before the Greek Parliament proposing that this permit should be issued by the municipal authorities), while prostitutes must register with the police, take out an identity booklet and undergo a medical examination and give blood samples twice a week. The above arrangements apply to Greek prostitutes, but not to the thousands of other prostitutes from third countries who have come to Greece and are working illegally in brothels. Will the Commission give a precise account of the conditions governing the running of brothels and the obligations for prostitutes in the other EU countries? Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (23 February 1998) The Commission is active against the trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation. It has in particular prepared a communication to the Council and to the Parliament in November 1996 (1) in order to promote a coherent European approach to this issue and is managing an exchange and training programme for those responsible for combating trade in human beings (STOP programme set up by joint action of 29 November 1996 adopted by the Council). However it is up to each Member State to decide on the rules concerning prostitution and the Community has thus no competence in this area. (1) COM(96) 567. (98/C 223/121) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0056/98 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (29 January 1998) Subject: Travel packages for football supporters It has been brought to my attention that, for their match against Atle·tico Madrid on 16 September 1997, Leicester City Football Club would only sell tickets as part of a travel package. Given the Commissionís answer to an earlier question of mine of this subject (P-3480/95) (1), does not the Commission feel that Leicester City Football Club is almost certainly contravening EU competition law? (1) OJ C 137, 8. 5. 1996, p. 14. Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission (10 March 1998) The Honourable Member draws the Commissionís attention to the practice of Leicester City football club in connection with its away match against Atletico Madrid in the European Cup held in Madrid on 16 September 1997. It is alleged that the club sold tickets to that game only as part of travel packages. The Honourable Member is of the opinion that the practice of the club, given an earlier reply from the Commission to his written question P-3480/95, is in contravention of the competition rules of the EC Treaty