Doc. 8316
8 February 1999

Mass arrival of displaced persons in Italy

Written Declaration No. 290

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

      Among other dramatic consequences, the former conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the recent serious crisis in Kosovo have caused masses of displaced persons and refugees to flee to Europe, in particular to Italy by crossing the Adriatic Sea.

      After suffering the tragedy of war, with its endless trail of violence, these displaced persons and refugees find themselves the victims of criminals, members of Mafia-type organisations, who make arrangements to smuggle them into Italy, unscrupulously placing their lives in danger. Whole families, women and children, including from Kosovo, are transported at great risk from Albania and Montenegro to the Italian ports as if they were human merchandise.

      Italy is making a huge effort to show solidarity towards these persons, by providing reception facilities and assistance, and is attempting to stamp out this unlawful traffic in human beings.

      Since the international community is often unaware of this commitment, the undersigned request that, in Parliamentary Assembly documents on this subject, the rapporteurs make due mention of the difficulties being encountered by Italy, the only Council of Europe member state bearing the consequences of a problem which should be tackled at European level.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : ¹

Squarcialupi, Italy, SOC

Besostri, Italy, SOC

Brancati, Italy, LDR

Cioni, Italy, SOC

Diana, Italy, EPP/CD

Dokle, Albania, SOC

Martinez, Spain, SOC

Poptodorova, Bulgaria, SOC

Pozza Tasca, Italy, LDR

Risari, Italy, EPP/CD

Robol, Italy, EPP/CD

Rodeghiero, Italy, NR

Ruffy, Switzerland, SOC

Volcic, Italy, SOC

______________________

Total = 14

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG:European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left

      NR : Not registered in a group