WRITTEN QUESTION E-1617/03

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 May 2003)

Subject: SARS

In view of the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS virus, urgent action by the Union authorities is required to devise common protection measures and strengthen cooperation between Member States.

The Italian Health Minister, Girolamo Sirchia, has called for checks in Europe to be stepped up because, without close coordination, the open frontiers between the countries of the Schengen area could prove to be a weak spot in preventing the spread of the epidemic.

It is vital to establish a European health protection strategy at borders, and above all at airports, and to introduce a health safety code that will have to be enforced by all the countries that are signatories to the Schengen agreement.

In the light of this, can the Commission indicate what action it intends to take to prevent the spread of the virus and strengthen coordination between the national authorities?

When does intend to respond to the request from the Italian Government for checks in countries of the Schengen area to be improved?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-1521/03, E-1547/03, P-1604/03, E-1613/03 and E-1617/03given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(10 June 2003)

The Commission has taken a proactive and leading role in responding to the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

As recently stated by the Council on SARS (6 May 2003), this has been undertaken through the Union Network for the Epidemiological Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases in the Community working under the Decision No 2119/98/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 setting up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the Community(1), and it has provided a very effective basis for the rapid exchange of information within the Union and for a co-ordinated response, in which the European Economic Area/European Free Trade Association (EEA/EFTA) and Candidate Countries have fully participated in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Commission is also keeping regular contact with Europe's airlines and airports associations, promoting the exchange of information and good practices on SARS. The air travel industry has been consulted on their expectations for a Community-wide co-ordination, although it must in any case follow standard WHO guidelines under the supervision of national health authorities.

The Council, at its extraordinary meeting on SARS, broadly agreed the orientation developed by the Commission with the assistance of the Network Committee.

Although the application of health protection measures falls to the authorities of the Member States the orientation for immediate and future actions will focus on the following issues:

- Rapid detection of all suspect cases of SARS through good surveillance.

- Protection of those at risk of infection from the cases through effective isolation of SARS patients in hospitals, including measures to protect carers.

- Particular attention to be paid to air travel, which has been an important factor in the spread of SARS, notably to standardised screening of passengers leaving affected areas, onboard advice to passengers and effective information at ports of entry from infected areas.

- The importance of raising awareness among professionals and public and the timely and accurate reporting and sharing of information with other countries, in particular EEA/EFTA countries, acceding and candidate countries and with the WHO. Co-operation should also be developed with other partners, such as airline companies.

The Council also took note of the Commission's intention to submit a proposal to create a European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

In the case of controls at the external borders, each Member State conducts these controls in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 2, Title II, of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement, in particular Article 5, which lists the conditions for granting entry to third country nationals. The correct application of these provisions is enough to guarantee an adequate level of safety for the Schengen countries without the need for new control measures at the external borders to deal with the current situation.

As for the possible reintroduction of controls at internal borders, it should be stressed that it is up to the Member States to decide whether to take such a decision in accordance with Article 2(2) of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement. However, given that the source of the problem here is in third countries, the Commission considers that the correct implementation at airports of the provisions on controls at the external borders should suffice.

(1) OJ L 268, 3.10.1998.