Strasbourg, 05/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday MEPs adopted, in simplified procedure, the reports of Jean-Marie Cavada (ALDE, France) on two additional protocols to the UN Convention against Organised Cross-border Criminality. The so-called “Palermo” Convention aims to help signatory countries cooperate more effectively in this domain by harmonising definitions of infringements in the different national legal systems. Parliamentarians have consequently followed the Opinion of the civil liberties committee, chaired by Mr Cavada, which was given in mid June (EUROPE 9212). The two protocols on which they were requested to give their verdict includes strict measures for combating the illegal trafficking of immigrants and people trafficking, particularly that of women and children, by protecting them against slavery, sexual exploitation and illegal work. MEPs were pleased that the Convention was ratified by 121 States but regretted that seven EU States had still not ratified it: Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy and Luxembourg.