WRITTEN QUESTION E-0494/00 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Problem of security and jurisdiction.
C 26 E/50 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 26. 1. 2001 (2001/C 26 E/063) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0490/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) and Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission Subject: Sex trafficking in Kosovo (24 February 2000) Is the Commission aware of press coverage referring to sex trafficking involving women from impover- ished parts of Eastern Europe, taking place in Kosovo? Would the Commission indicate what action they would support intended to end this trade, and the suffering that it causes? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (17 March 2000) The Commission is aware of, and concerned about, the reports that trafficking in women for the purpose of sexual exploitation is taking place into, through and from Kosovo. It seems to be the case that Kosovo is not only a place of origin, but also a place of transit and destination. As regards the situation in Kosovo, the Commission is taking an active part in the work under the stability pact for South Eastern Europe. Within working table III on justice and home affairs, and the Councilís multidisciplinary working group on organised crime, work is under way to combat organised crime in Kosovo and the neighbouring region. Trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation forms an important part of this work. As regards the trafficking in human beings going through and from Kosovo to the Member States and candidate countries, the Commission will continue to support actions and projects under the STOP and the forward legislative proposals to approximate DAPHNE programmes. The Commission will also put Member States criminal laws on trafficking, including the issue of temporary permits of stay for victims of trafficking who are prepared to give evidence. In addition, the Commission actively participates in international co-operation against trafficking in a wider context. This includes the Group of eight most industrialised countries (G8), the Organisation for security and cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe and the United Nations (UN) (e. g. draft Convention on transnational organised crime and the three additional protocols, one of which concerns trafficking). (2001/C 26 E/064) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0494/00 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission (24 February 2000) Subject: Problem of security and jurisdiction In its reply to Question No E-2160/99 (1), the Commission states that the objective put forward by the European Council in Tampere to provide citizens with a high level of safety áshall be done by, inter alia, developing common action among Member States in the field of police cooperationí and that ácommon action in the field of police cooperation shall include cooperation and joint initiatives in, among others, the use of equipmentí. The Commission nevertheless adds that any action developed in this context shall not affect the responsibilities incumbent upon Member States with regard to the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal security. The Commission concludes that the measures proposed by the questioner áseem to fall under the said responsibilities of Member Statesí. the exercise of Can the Commission specify whether such measures áseem to fallí or do actually fall under the 1. responsibilities of Member States? In the latter case, how can the different measures in each country regulating the use of certain self- 2. defence devices, such as sprays, be reconciled? 26. 1. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 26 E/51 How can it be claimed that a single market exists when certain self-defence devices used and sold in 3. France, for example, are not allowed to cross the border into Italy, where they are banned? 4. What impression can citizens have of the EU if they use a device which is legal in France, but are considered criminals when they use that same device in Italy? 5. What proposals does the Commission intend to make to overcome these inconsistencies and to speed up the creation of a common area of freedom, security and justice? (1) OJ C 225 E, 8. 8. 2000, p. 61. Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission (3 May 2000) The Commission does not currently have the intention to take up an initiative to harmonise Member Statesí legislations on the use of self-defence devices such as sprays or low-voltage electrical fences, the use of which is allowed in some Member States. The Commission considers that it is for each Member State to regulate the use of such devices in its own territory, in so far as the maintenance of public order or the safeguard of public security is at stake. the provisions on police and judicial According to Article 33 of cooperation in criminal matters of Title VI shall not affect the exercise of the responsibilities incumbent upon Member States with regard to the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal security. the Treaty on European Union, The Commission takes the position that the application of Article 33 in this context does not affect the implementation of the EU Treaty on the basis of the Vienna action plan and the political guidelines and concrete objectives agreed by the Tampere European Council, which will provide European citizens with a high level of safety within an area of freedom, security and justice. (2001/C 26 E/065) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0504/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission (28 February 2000) Subject: Reassignment of Commission staff What procedures does the Commission have available, and how often are they implemented, for the reassignment of staff from one directorate-general which may need fewer staff to another directorate- general which may need more staff? How effective have these measures been in terms of the number of posts transferred each year between directorates-general as a percentage of total numbers in post? Can the Commission give any other information about its reassignment of staff? Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission (13 April 2000) Since 1997, human resources have been allocated each year as part of the budgetary procedure with a view to linking the levels of staff and administrative appropriations more closely to the volume of operating appropriations to be managed and thus synchronising better the various procedures for planning and allocating resources. It should be emphasised that this exercise in not the only occasion on which the Commission transfers human resources. Sometimes large-scale transfers are made in conjunction with decisions taken under the budgetary procedure. As part of its continued effort to adjust structures to requirements, the Commission uses its administrative independence to make transfers and other move- ments. On a different but still significant scale, individual Commission departments also endeavour to adjust their internal structures to the tasks required of them