Expulsions from Lampedusa

7.2.2005

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0545/05
by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) , Martine Roure (PSE) , Baroness Sarah Ludford (ALDE) , Giusto Catania (GUE/NGL) , Kathalijne Buitenweg (Verts/ALE) , Hélène Flautre (Verts/ALE) , Giovanni Fava (PSE) , Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE) , Luciana Sbarbati (ALDE) and Nicola Zingaretti (PSE)
to the Commission

In October 2004, the Italian authorities expelled to Libya almost 1500 boat people who had arrived on the island of Lampedusa. Italy has set up a system of frequent flights leaving the island for Libya.

Does the Commission not believe that this action is a breach of the fundamental principles that bind the European Union, in particular the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Geneva Convention on Refugees, which prohibits mass expulsions, guarantees the right to access the asylum process and recognises the non refoulement (non-expulsion) principle?

What steps has the Commission taken to ensure that these expulsions from Lampedusa stop, and to demand that Italy respect its obligations under international and European law?

OJ C 299, 08/12/2006