WRITTEN QUESTION E-1616/03

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Council

(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 Council 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?

Reply

(7 October 2003)

The Council thanks the Honourable Member for his question and refers him to the Council conclusions on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which were adopted at the extraordinary meeting of the EPSCO Council on 6 May 2003 (9328/03).

At its meeting on 2 and 3 June 2003, the EPSCO Council took note of the progress report from Commissioner Byrne on the SARS situation and then held a brief exchange of views on the current situation. The Commissioner noted in particular that, on the basis of the responses so far received to a Commission questionnaire on SARS, European countries have adopted rapid and consistent measures on early detection of cases, implementation of isolation measures and guidance to health professionals and the public on the identification of possible SARS cases.

He also referred the Council to the Commission's commitment of EUR 9 000 000 before the end of 2003 to foster research on SARS and with particular regard to diagnosis, medication and vaccination. The Presidency then stressed the importance of coordinating exchange of information at European level in view of the cross-border nature of SARS.

The Council invites the Honourable Member to refer to the Presidency's declaration on SARS made during the EP session in Strasbourg in April 2003 and the answer given to H-0269/03 put by Patricia McKenna to the Council at Question Time in May 2003.

The Council would stress that the removal of checks at internal borders goes hand in hand with the strengthening of checks at external borders through the introduction of a high level of checks applied in a harmonised manner. For as long as there were confirmed cases of the disease, checks at external borders, in particular on aircraft arriving from countries affected by the SARS epidemic, therefore constituted a first level of coordination for Member States and the adoption of specific protection measures. It may also be noted that the Schengen States have retained the possibility of reintroducing internal border controls for a limited period according to well-defined criteria and procedures(1).

(1) OJ L 239, 22.9.2000, pages 133-134.