The horrendous worst-ever small boat and corpse tragedy on Spain's southern coast, the Andalusian frontier of the EU

4.11.2003

ORAL QUESTION H-0671/03
for Question Time at the part-session in November 2003
pursuant to Rule 43 of the Rules of Procedure
by María Izquierdo Rojo
to the Council

The tragic list of young people drowned in the sinking of a small boat carrying Moroccan refugees off the coast of Rota (Cádiz), continues to grow; so far, 35 rotting corpses have been washed up.

 

Some fifty people were on board the vessel, of whom only five were able to reach the shore after the inflatable life raft capsized. So far this year, illegal immigration by means of small boats landing on the Spanish coast in the Canaries and the Andalusian Autonomous Communities has arisen by 18%. Since January, the Civil Guard has tracked down over 16 000 immigrants, who arrived in some 800 vessels.

 

What measures does the Council intend to adopt against this horrible and deadly traffic in human beings?

 

 

Tabled: 04.11.2003

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