Brussels, 08/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - A crossborder operation to combat people smuggling and trafficking in the Balkans was launched on Thursday in Athens, the European Commission states. The so-called operation ILAEIRA will consist in policies and expertise of 16 Union States and organisations such as Europol, Eurojust and Fontex. Joint Community funding could amount to €100,000.
“We must make people in these countries aware that the paradise being promised could turn out to be hell”, Commissioner Franco Frattini said during the launch of the project. In his view, the action plan aims at cooperation between national police forces at every level of the treaty process: countries of origin, transit and destination of those who fall victim to the trafficking. Mr Frattini said the plan, which is repressive in nature, has two other main aims: - to provide protection for the victims of trafficking, who are often lured by attractive employment promises abroad; and to make the general public more aware of the problem. The project also aims to cover protection and assistance for the victims of trafficking. The Commissioner recalled that a European directive makes it an obligation for Member States to provide permanence residence for trafficking victims. In this context, the Greek minister of the interior pointed out that the legislation was respected, and even called for hotels to be opened for trafficking victims. Greece, which is the instigator of this operation with Cyprus, tables on participation by a larger number of States, about thirty in total, announced Greek Minister of Public Order, Vyron Polydoras. (bc)