92002E2754

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2754/02

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 October 2002)

Subject: Illegal immigration

Eleven months ago Greece and Turkey announced that they had reached an agreement on the co-ordination of measures and the return of illegal immigrants arriving in Greece from the Turkish coast. As part of this agreement the Greek Government purchased twelve entirely new patrol boats to improve patrollling of the Aegean. According to publications in the Greek press none of these vessels has become operational and they remain unused in storage, having been deemed unseaworthy. It should be pointed out that the maritime area of Lesbos (which covers a significant section of the Northern Aegean and from where thousands of illegal immigrants enter the EU every year) is patrolled by only two patrol boats, while a third vessel held by the Lesbos Port Authority is plagued by technical problems, which means that it is essentially not being used.

Will the Commission say what is the total amount of Community funds given to Greece over the last three years to upgrade its patrolling capability in the Aegean? Does it know what use the Greek authorities have made of these funds? Are Community funds being given to the prefectures of the Aegean islands to return illegal immigrants to Turkey and from there back to their countries of origin? Have the Greek authorities given it the full text of the Greek-Turkish agreement on the return of illegal immigrants? What is the total number of illegal immigrants returned by Greece to Turkey and from there to their countries of origin over the last eleven months? Is the Commission aware of the precise situation as regards the purchase of the twelve new vessels which are remaining unused? Does it have any information from the Greek authorities about whether they intend to purchase any other vessels?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2002)

The purchase of 10 patrol boats and related equipment for Greece was partly funded by the Interreg II programme, which contributed with EUR 9 340 000. According to information given by the Greek Ministry of National Economy all boats are in full operation and none have been taken out of service. On the contrary, the operating hours of each boat are reportedly very high. This is apparently also the case for the boats located in Lesbos.

The prefectures of the Aegean islands have not received Community funds available for migration management purposes in order to return illegal residents to Turkey.

The Greek authorities have not transmitted to the Commission the text of their readmission agreement with Turkey. This agreement is not yet in force since ratification by both parliaments is pending.

The Commission has no data available on the returns from Greece to Turkey for the last 11 months.