Brussels, 28/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 23 March, the Prime Ministers of Spain, José Luis Zapatero, and Portugal, José Socrates, signed the European Parliament petition calling for “urgent coordinated European action” to prevent mass trafficking of women and girls into Germany to be forced to work as prostitutes during this summer's World Cup. The petition, which has already been signed by over 19,000 people, including many high level political figures, “reflects the revulsion felt by most people towards the trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation,” said the President of the Party of European Socialists (PES) Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. “I hope it injects some real urgency into the fight to put an end to trafficking during the World Cup and beyond,” added Mr Rasmussen, calling for “coordinated action from police across Europe”.