92002E2284

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2284/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE)and Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 July 2002)

Subject: Europol data

Savas Xiros was arrested recently in Piraeus in Greece after the explosion of a bomb, and all the evidence shows that he belongs to the terrorist organisation November 17, which is, of course, on the European list of terrorist organisations. Investigations have shown that he also had contacts with terrorist organisations operating in third countries, such as the Muslim Brothers in the Sudan, which reveals the international co-operation that exists between terrorist organisations.

Does Europol have any data or information about the movements of the person in question and about other persons connected to terrorist organisations and their movements internationally? If so, how long has it had this data? Was the Echelon system used to obtain this information and monitor the terrorists? Was the information passed on to the Greek authorities in good time?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(9 October 2002)

The Commission thanks the Honourable Members for the information and hereby confirms that it has already taken measures to pass it on to Europol.

Access to the information requested by the Honourable Members, if such information were to exist, would be restricted to highly specific cases laid down in the Europol Convention. The Commission is not one of the organisations which has access to personal data in Europol's possession.