WRITTEN QUESTION E-1249/00 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission. Turkish green passports.
C 46 E/156 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 2. 2001 Estimates put the total number of these passports at the excessively high figure of 1,5 million (see the Turkish newspaper Milliyetí, 14 March 2000). The most worrying aspect of the Turkish ágreen passportí industry is the fact that many of these passports are held by individuals with direct links to the Turkish mafia, organised crime, drug trafficking, espionage and the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction. Contrary to the assurances it has given on various occasions, Turkey has not stopped issuing ágreen passportsí or set about recalling them to the Turkish issuing authority. What action does the Council intend to take to control and restrict the entry into the EU of individuals from Turkey with ágreen passportsí in order to prevent the ábackdoorí entry of individuals who have links with international smuggling and organised crime? Reply (10 July 2000) The Council would inform the Honourable Member that, except in the cases covered by Article 17(2) of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement, the movement of bearers of diplomatic, official and service passports is, in the current state of development of Community law, within the competence of the Member States. (2001/C 46 E/180) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1249/00 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission (14 April 2000) Subject: Turkish ágreen passportsí In spite of representations from various European governments to date, Turkey is continuing to issue ágreen passportsí to Turkish nationals who are travelling abroad, especially to Europe. These passports enable Turkish citizens to avoid obtaining a visa for countries which they are about to visit and are usually issued to high-ranking Turkish state officials and members of their families. Estimates put the total number of these passports at the excessively high figure of 1,5 million (see the Turkish newspaper Milliyetí, 14 March 2000). The most worrying aspect of the Turkish ágreen passportí industry is the fact that many of these passports are held by individuals with direct links to the Turkish mafia, organised crime, drug trafficking, espionage and the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction. Contrary to the assurances it has given on various occasions, Turkey has not stopped issuing ágreen passportsí or set about recalling them to the Turkish issuing authority. What action does the Commission intend to take to tackle the issue of Turkish ágreen passportsí, with the additional aim of preventing the ábackdoorí entry of individuals who have links with international smuggling and organised crime? Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission (8 June 2000) The Commission is aware that the Turkish authorities issue green passports to people such as senior officials and their families. The special passports are recognised by several Member States, which exempt holders from the visa requirement for entry in to their countries, whereas the holders of ordinary Turkish passports need a visa to cross the external borders of the Member States. This practice is in conformity with the law as it stands, since Article 4 of Council Regulation No 574/1999 of 12 March 1999 determining the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders of the Member States (1) states that áa Member State may exempt nationals of third countries subject to visa requirements from such requirements. This shall apply in particular to holders of diplomatic passports, official duty passports and other official passportsí. 13. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 46 E/157 It is not for the Commission to give an opinion on the character of holders of Turkish ágreen passportsí, and it has no information on alleged unlawful acts by such persons on the territory of the Member States. (1) OJ L 72, 18. 3. 1999. (2001/C 46 E/181) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1252/00 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Tar content of tobacco in Greece (14 April 2000) The maximum tar content of cigarettes for sale within the European Union is being harmonised at a level of 10 milligrams. However, the Commission has granted Greece a long-term derogation, whereby it may continue to allow tobacco products to be sold within the country with a maximum tar content significantly higher than the EU limit. Why has the Commission granted Greece a derogation from the rules on tar content which does not accord with the Unionís public-health objectives? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (26 May 2000) Under Council Directive 90/239/EEC of 17 May 1990 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the maximum tar yield of cigarettes (1), the Commission has granted Greece a derogation enabling it to postpone its obligation to achieve a tar yield of 12 milligrams (mg) per cigarette until 31 December 2006. This derogation has been granted as a result of this Member Stateís socio-economic difficulties. Under the recasting of Council Directives 89/622/EEC of 13 November 1989 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the labelling of tobacco products (2), 90/239/EEC and 92/41/EEC of 15 May 1992 amending Directive 89/622/EEC (3), which has been proposed by the Commission (4) and is currently being discussed by Parliament and the Council, the Commission proposes to maintain Greeceís derogation for the same reasons, i. e. the socio-economic difficulties faced by this Member State. it must be pointed out that although the implementation derogation is maintained until However, 31 December 2006 (or six years from the date of adoption), the maximum tar content per cigarette has been reduced to 10 milligrams (mg). This is already contained in the recitals of the Tar Directive (90/239/EEC) and refers to the fact that tobacco produced in Greece has a high tar content. This Member State is therefore more affected by the Directiveís provisions than any other tobacco producing country. It also takes a long time to change tobacco varieties. Lastly, the number of workers employed in tobacco production in Greece is very high, thus a large number of families depend on this industry. (1) OJ L 137, 30. 5. 1990. (2) OJ L 359, 8. 12. 1989. (3) OJ L 158, 11. 6. 1992. (4) COM(1999) 594 final