EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/50

(2004/C 84 E/0057)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3115/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(22 October 2003)

Subject: Spreading of false scientific claims regarding the effectiveness of condoms in combating AIDS by Catholic Church leaders/the Holy See/the Vatican City State

Knowing that:

— On 10 October 2003 the British daily newspaper ‘The Guardian’ published an article entitled ‘We have faith in condoms’ stating that Catholic Church leaders/alias the Holy See/alias the Vatican City State are warning against using condoms to prevent AIDS, claiming that the HIV virus can pass through the thick mesh of rubber in condoms, hence making them useless for protection;

— The article announced that the BBC's Panorama programme, due to be televised the following Sunday, would broadcast an interview with the president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Family, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, who told British journalists ‘The Aids virus is roughly 450 times smaller than a spermatozoon and can therefore easily pass through the “net” that is formed by the condom … These margins of uncertainty should represent an obligation on the part of the health ministries and all these campaigns to act in the same way as they do with regard to cigarettes, which they state to be a danger’;

— In response to these statements the World Health Organisation said ‘These incorrect statements about condoms and HIV are dangerous when we are facing a global pandemic which has already killed more than 20 million people, and currently affects at least 42 million …’

— The anti-condom campaign by the Catholic Church/alias the Holy See/alias the Vatican City State is being conducted in particular in third-world countries devastated by AIDS, where it has substantial power over the distribution of medicine and health-care supplies and where the campaign is likely to have catastrophic effects.

In view of the European Union's institutional and diplomatic relations with the Holy See,

Can the Commission say:

— whether it considers that the statements made by leaders of the Catholic Church/alias the Holy See/alias the Vatican City State regarding condoms are correct according to the scientific information it has as its disposal;

— what measures in the form of information, prevention, sanctions and diplomatic moves it intends to promote in response to these claims and in order to oppose the irresponsible campaign by the Catholic Church/alias the Holy See/alias the Vatican City State, which threatens to nullify the European and international policies to combat the spread of AIDS, the deaths caused by it and other sexually transmitted diseases in Europe and worldwide;

— whether it considers that there is an urgent need to revise Article 51 of the draft European Constitution in order to ensure that ‘recognising their identity and their specific contribution’ does not entail having to accept as ‘scientific’ statements dictated by prejudice?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(10 December 2003)

On the basis of research conducted during the last 15 years and partly funded by the Community, it can be claimed that condoms, when used properly, are an effective means of preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, with an efficacy close to 100 %. A press release on this subject has recently been published by the Commission (1).

These findings are consistent with those obtained by leading international bodies in the field of health such as the World Health Organisation and United States National Institutes of Health.

In terms of information and prevention in response to the mentioned claims, Directorate General (DG) Development and DG Research stated in the above-mentioned press release of 20 October 2003 the Commission's position and the dangers of the claims made by the Holy See officials. The Commission is concerned about the potentially negative input of these claims.

The Community has been active in the promotion of access to effective prevention methods since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In 2000, the Community developed a broader, more strategic approach towards confronting HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The consultations around the High Level Round Table held in September 2000 led to the ‘Programme for Action: Accelerated action on HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in the context of poverty reduction’ (2), which established a broad and coherent Community response for 2001-2006. The Communication's ground-breaking strategy builds on the experience of a coherent comprehensive approach, the principle of a country-led development process — ownership — and the interrelationship of health and poverty and its implications for macro-economic policy and development. It incorporates the crucial global elements of partnerships in development, trade and research.

The Commission fails to see any connection between the scope and the breadth of the draft Constitution and the personal opinion of a member of one church.

Article 51 of the draft European Constitution on the status of churches and non-confessional organisations reads as follows:

1. The Union respects and does not prejudice the status under national law of churches and religious associations or communities in the Member States.

2. The Union equally respects the status of philosophical and non-confessional organisations.

3. Recognising their identity and their specific contribution, the Union shall maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with these churches and organisations.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/03/1410|0|RAPID&lg=EN&display=

(2) COM(2001) 96 final.