91996E2261

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2261/96 by Yiannis Roubatis (PSE) to the Commission (9 August 1996)

Subject: The problem of illegal immigrants

Over the last five months the number of illegal immigrants coming from Asian countries via Turkey who have been arrested on their arrival in Greece or afterwards, has been five times higher than during the corresponding period in 1995. Although this is a serious problem which is a matter of concern in all European countries, Turkey has rejected the repeated requests by the Greek authorities for cooperation in oppressing it.

Will the Commission say:

1. Does it intend to provide Greece with financial assistance so that controls can be stepped up on its eastern borders which, being maritime borders, are difficult to control?

2. Given that the majority of illegal immigrants enter Greece from Turkey and are smuggled in by Turks under inhuman conditions, does it intend to exert pressure on the Turkish authorities to clamp down on illegal immigration and the trade in human beings in cooperation with the relevant Greek authorities?

Answer given by Ms Gradin on behalf of the Commission (7 October 1996)

1. The rules governing the crossing of external frontiers by persons who are not citizens of the Union or members of their families, the implementation of border controls and the fight against illegal immigration are all questions which the Member States consider to be of common interest, and are the subject of cooperation within the framework of Title VI of the Treaty on European Union. The Commission, which is fully associated with the work in these areas, shares the Honourable Member's concerns on the risks resulting from the flow of illegal immigrants from non-member countries and on the need to combat the trade in human beings.

In 1993, the Commission presented a proposal for a convention ((OJ C 11, 15.1.1994. )) which laid down common rules for the implementation of border controls. In its recitals, the draft proposal stipulates that 'the introduction of a system of controls at external frontiers requires that particular attention be paid to the questions of infrastructure and frontier surveillance on the part of countries which, because of their geographical position and configuration, are exposed to increased migratory pressure'. The Commission regrets that, despite the position taken by the European Council on several occasions (most recently at Florence in June 1996), the Council has been unable to reach a consensus on the matter. Consequently, controls in relation to persons who do not enjoy the right of free movement in the Community are exercised in accordance with national laws or international agreements between two or more Member States.

2. Within the framework of the Interreg Community initiative, Greece has received Community funds to be used for transfrontier cooperation aimed at strengthening its external borders. Such arrangements are currently in place with Albania and Bulgaria.