91998E3769

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3769/98

by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Treatment of British passport holders by French border police

In response to my Written Question P-2892/98(1) the Commission focused upon the right of Member States to check the identity of citizens crossing borders. However, the central point of my question concerned the manner in which citizens are treated when these checks are carried out. In the case described, was it prudent of the French authorities not to have women officers on duty at an international port to deal with situations involving women?

Does the Commission therefore agree that the French authority's mismanagement of an otherwise easily resolvable situation, i.e. its failure to provide a woman officer, exacerbated the problem unnecessarily and resulted in the woman's expulsion from France? Does not the Commission agree that this is unacceptable and that, in order to safeguard the dignity of women in such situations, in line with the Union's general policies on non-discrimination, women officers should be on duty at all times at major points of entry into the Union and transit between Member States?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(11 March 1999)

The Commission shares the honourable Member's opinion on the importance of respecting the dignity of women, including during identity checks when crossing borders.

However, with the exception of the case mentioned in Written Question 2892/98, the Commission is not aware of any problems relating to the rights and dignity of women that may arise when citizens are checked at Community borders.

The Commission therefore believes that there is no reason to take specific measures concerning this matter.

(1) OJ C 118, 29.4.1999, p. 161.