WRITTEN QUESTION E-1958/99 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission. Bureau de Stage.
18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/95 Answer (24 January 2000) In respect to the questions raised by the Honourable Member of the European Parliament, the following should be noted: 1. 2. In its decision of 3 December 1998 (1), the Council supplemented the definition of the form of crime átraffic in human beingsí in the Annex to the Europol Convention in order for it to include the production, sale or distribution of child-pornography material. Europol is thus competent in relation to the distribution of child-pornography, irrespective of the way in which it is distributed (in paper form, through the internet, etc). Europol normal working methods involve the exchange of information by the 45 Europol Liaison Officers seconded by the Member States to Europol, supported by the activities of 17 specialist intelligence analysts. Europolís focus is mainly on analysis activities, specifically in supporting strategic analyses for the preparation of situation reports and threat assessments, as well as supporting operational projects by the Member States authorities. In addition to this, currently two member of Europol staff are full-time involved in the combating of trafficking in human beings, including child pornography. Next year an additional member of staff will be recruited for these tasks. They are supported for specific projects be Europol personnel from other units, in particular by analysts, IT- personnel and training-officers. 3. The specific task of Europol in this area of crime is to facilitate the combating and dismantling of Trafficking in Human Beings networks, focussing on sexual exploitation and child pornography, by the bilateral exchange of information via the Europol Liaison Officers, and by analysing the latest trends, modus operandi and developments. Within this context mention can also be made of a Europol initiative to organise a Europol training course on the specific subject of combating child pornography and the Internet. 4. The co-operation between Europol and the national authorities, apart from the information exchange referred to above, is in the organisation of regular meetings on the subject, attended by the Member States experts in this area of criminality. Through these meetings, an exchange of information on relevant experiences and best practices takes place, as well as information on the latest trends and modus operandi. Some of these meetings are also attended by representatives of non-governmental organisations, such as La Strada and Solwodi. 5. Furthermore, Europol experts participate in other European initiatives in this area, such as giving advise to the STOP-programme. Currently there are no data available on specific interventions by Europol law enforcement activities. It is recalled that Europolís task in accordance with the Europol Convention is to support the Member States authorities in combating organised criminality, not to pursue opera- tional activities itself. in this area; such interventions are prepared and executed throughout the national 6. Since Europol only formally took up its activities on 1 July, time for development of specific support projects has been relatively short. (1) 1999/C 26/05, OJ C 26, 30. 1. 1999, p. 21. (2000/C 203 E/121) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1958/99 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission (5 November 1999) Subject: Bureau de Stage To enable young people from the Member States and candidate countries to familiarise themselves with the work of EU institutions, the Commission ü and the other Institutions ü offer them the opportunity of completing a practical training course in their respective departments. For the organisation of these courses and to make life easier for newcomers on arrival, the Commission has set up a Bureau de Stageí. C 203 E/96 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 Hitherto it has been customary for this office to help trainees from the European Parliament too in their search for accommodation etc. In recent weeks I have had a number of queries about why this assistance has been suspended, and why trainees from Parliament in particular have been treated in a very brusque manner and are no longer provided with the list of rented accommodation. I should be glad if the Commission would inform me of the circumstances which led to this change of policy. Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (6 December 1999) The assistance in finding accommodation for trainees to which the Honourable Member is referring is provided by the Reception Office (Bureau díaccueil et díinformation) operated by the Directorate-General for Personnel and Administration. The Reception Office provides initial assistance for newly recruited staff and trainees and helps them to settle (dealing with both the initial administrative requirements and practical matters relating to everyday life in Brussels). The Reception Office is not an inter-Institutional service and, consequently, priority has been, and still is, given to providing a service for the staff of the Commission, together with their families and dependants. In the interests of providing a quality service and of maintaining good public relations on behalf of the European Institutions, the Reception Office strives to respond to all enquiries, whatever the source (whether from the Commission, the Parliament or the Council). However, greater co-operation between the Institutions will be necessary if a better service is desired. One of the main services provided by the Reception Office is assistance in settling in Brussels, and particular help is given with the search for temporary accommodation (either for those whose stay in Brussels will be for a limited period only, as in the case of the trainees (stagiaires), or for purposes of establishing an initial contact pending a later decision on longer-term accommodation). In response to the demand for such services, the Reception Office has created a database which can be used to search quickly for information on the basis of a number of criteria. This database will soon be available on Europa Plus. There has been no change of attitude on the part of the Commission, or on the part of the Reception Office, towards potential clients from other Institutions. Greater co-operation between the Institutions would, naturally, assist with providing a better service if that was considered by the Institutions to be a desirable objective. The Commission does take that view and would, therefore, draw attention to the potential benefits of making the Reception Office more of an Inter-Institutional service. (2000/C 203 E/122) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1960/99 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission (5 November 1999) Subject: PHARE I understand that in 1996 a bank crisis in Bulgaria accompanied by a stop on payments resulted in the loss of ECU 9,1 million from the PHARE programme. Has it been possible to recover any of this money since, and if so, how much? What amount is likely to be irrecoverable? Who selects the EUís banking contacts, and on what criteria? Is the Commission aware of other cases in which Community appropriations have been lost as the result of the insolvency of banks and other credit institutions, and if so what amounts were involved?