WRITTEN QUESTION E-1032/00 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission. Protection of European companies in Kosovo.
13. 3. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 81 E/15 (2001/C 81 E/016) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1032/00 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission Subject: Protection of European companies in Kosovo (4 April 2000) Mr Pattenís answer to my question P-2439/99 (1) raises serious doubts about the credibility of the European Parliamentís exercise of parliamentary scrutiny of the Commission in that there is a huge discrepancy between his oral answer (H-0608/99) to me in plenary in Strasbourg on 16 November 1999 and his actual written answer. Whereas, the necessary investigations as the Commissioner responsible, his written answer is devoid of any reference to the findings of those investigations. in his oral answer, he pledged that he would carry out Since I am sure that it is not Mr Pattenís intention to avoid answering the substance of the question and since I think it likely that responsibility for the attempt to avoid the question lies with the departments concerned, will the Commission say: 1. what steps it will take to ensure that its departments carry out their work on this specific issue in a reliable manner, 2. whether it is aware that, in giving such an answer, its departments are covering up irregular activities of certain groups within UNMIK, compromising Mr Patten before the European Parliament, 3. whether it will investigate whether pressure has been exerted, and of what kind, on members of its departmentsí staff to avoid answering the substance of the question, 4. how it interprets the conflicting behaviour of its departments, which has resulted in Mr Patten providing a detailed answer to other questions I have asked on Kosovo (E-2827/99 and E-0490/00) and avoiding answering the question in point, and 5. returning to the subject of my question on the protection of European companies in Kosovo: (a) what action it will take to protect the interests of the particular companies concerned, and (b) whether it intends to give a precise answer to the substance of the matter as set out in my question P-2439/99? (1) OJ C 26 E, 26. 1. 2001, p. 6. Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (23 June 2000) The Honourable Memberís allegation that I or my DG have attempted to mislead the Parliament or to avoid answering a parliamentary question is wholly without justification. Addressing the specific elements of the question: ü the relevant Directorate-general has carried and will continue to carry out its work on this, as on all other issues, in a reliable manner; ü the allegation that the relevant Directorate-general is covering anything up is regrettable and unfounded. The allegation about áirregular activities of certain groups within United Nations mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)í is also unfounded, and will, if addressed to the correct entity ü UNMIK ü equally be rebutted; ü the allegation that any pressure, of whatever kind, has been exerted on any member of the relevant Directorate-general áto avoid answering the substance of the questioní is absolutely unfounded; ü the reason that Written Question P-2439/99 does not contain any reference to the results of investigations is that there is no additional information to report compared to the previous reply. The situation remains, as has been explained in response to previous questions on this subject, that C 81 E/16 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 3. 2001 the issue of the protection of the legal rights of companies in Kosovo, Union or otherwise, is not a question for the Commission but, rather, falls under the direct competence of the UNMIK which is responsible for the international civil administration of Kosovo. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999 clearly authorises the establishment of an international civil presence, the main responsibilities of which include: 11 (b) Performing basic civilian administrative functions where and as long as required (g) Supporting the reconstruction of key infrastructure and other economic reconstruction ü as has previously been explained, UNMIK has a complete file concerning the issues raised by the Honourable Member. The Commission will draw UNMIKís attention to the issues raised by the Honourable Member, but is for UNMIK to respond directly to the Honourable Member. The Honourable Member may, of course, wish to contact UNMIK directly, and the name, address, telephone and fax numbers of the relevant official are sent direct to the Honourable Member as well as to Parliamentís Secretariat general. it (2001/C 81 E/017) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1082/00 by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Council (6 April 2000) Subject: Prostitution rings run by Albanian mafia groups in EU Member States Albanian mafia groups are profiting from the Kosovo conflict and illegal immigration into Italy to run female prostitution rings in EU Member States. Young women are recruited under false pretences, kidnapped or bought at refugee camps and then sent to towns in Germany, Italy, Belgium, France and Spain. This type of exploitation and treatment of women is particularly prevalent in Paris (where estimates put the number Albanian and Kosovo Albanian women at 300), Strasbourg, Lyon and Nice. The case of Italy is also alarming, with several cities in the south, as well as Milan in the north, serving as staging posts between Tirana and other EU Member States. The Belgian police force has been uncovering instances of women being sexually exploited by Albanian mafia groups since 1997. Other countries in Europe, such as Germany, where 10 000 or so women are forced to work as prostitutes, are experiencing the same problem. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in all some 300 000 women from eastern Europe are engaged in prostitution in western Europe. Alberto Maritati, Under-Secretary of State at the Italian Ministry of the Interior, has called for international action. This problem was addressed at a symposium organised in Bari by the Council of Europe in November 1999, which condemned the existence of genuine forms of torture and slavery. According to police superintendent Christian Amiard, who heads the Central Office on the Treatment of Human Beings (OCRTEH), many women are raped and initiated into prostitution in áreal-life concentration campsí. Is the Council aware of the scale and seriousness of this form of international organised crime? What measures have been taken in this area? What initiatives does the Council intend to develop in order to combat the activities of these mafia groups and dismantle the prostitution rings they run? Could it and the High Representative for Kosovo take preventive action in Kosovo? What action could be taken within the context of cooperation with Albania? What cooperation initiatives and measures involving Europol and Eurojust could be adopted? Reply (29 September 2000) International organisations, human right reports and authorities in Member States as well as in candidate countries outline the serious problem of international organised crime in general and the trafficking in women and young girls in particular. Source and transit areas have been identified in South Eastern, Central and Eastern Europe. In the past, Albanian networks used mainly women of their own ethnical