WRITTEN QUESTION E-3613/01

Submission: To the Council and the Commission

9 January 2002

Subject: Illegal trafficking and exploitation of children in Albania

According to data from the Albanian Ministry of Public Order, from 1992 to 2000, 4,000 children fell victim to organized crime in Albania. The child victims were illegally transported mainly to Western countries, with the aim of their exploitation in prostitution, begging, and in some cases for organ trafficking.

Will the Council take coordinated action with the maximum possible contribution from Europol and in close cooperation with the Albanian, Italian, and Greek authorities to put an end to the networks of illegal trafficking and exploitation of children? Additionally, when does it plan to make decisions regarding the legislative framework to combat the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, which was voted on by the European Parliament on June 12, 2001?