WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2496/97 by Alan GILLIS to the Commission. Sects
22. 1. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 21/149 (98/C 21/275) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2427/97 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (7 July 1997) Subject: Channel tunnel security Is the Commission aware of the incident on 11 June 1997 when four Moldovan stowaways were discovered in a storage compartment on a Eurostar train at Ashford International station in my constituency? Does the Commission share my extreme concern at this lapse of security, which proves yet again that security is lax on the French side? Will the Commission now demand an immediate review of all aspects of Channel tunnel security, with the aim of preventing a disaster before one takes place? Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (28 July 1997) The Commission is as concerned as the Honourable Member over the security issues, and over the trafficking in human beings that is ongoing in Europe. It has serious consequences for the people involved, and all forces should be joined in combating this smuggling of human beings. It is an important part of European co-operation to counteract smuggling in human beings. In this respect the Commission would like to underline the importance of the joint action adopted by the Council in February this year. This action commits the Member States to classify trafficking in human being as a criminal offence. (98/C 21/276) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2496/97 by Alan Gillis (PPE) to the Commission (11 July 1997) Subject: Sects Given the frightening increase in the activities of various cults and sects in our society and the mind control they impose on their members would the Commission consider launching an investigation into such organizations › their practices, recruitment methods and treatment of their members › and where necessary take steps to ban such organizations from operating in the EU Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (1 August 1997) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answers to Written Question E-3443/96 by Mr Ferber (1) and to Oral Question H-524/97 by Mr J. Fitzsimons (2). (1) OJ C 186, 18. 6. 1997. (2) Debates of the Parliament (July 1997)