WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3155/97 by Esko SEPPÄNEN to the Commission. Finland and limits to the cadmium content of fertilizers
Date: 1997-10-13
Institutions: European Parliament, SEPPAENEN
Subjects: EU law, Finland, cadmium, environmental impact, fertiliser, groundwater, health risk

16. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 117/157

(98/C 117/212)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3153/97

by Klaus Lukas (NI) to the Commission

(13 October 1997)

Subject: Recall of the head of delegation in Bratislava

Why was the head of the Commission delegation in Bratislava, Mr Georgios Zavvos, recently recalled?

Can the Commission confirm Slovak reports that its head of delegation was involved in or covered up financial
irregularities in the PHARE programmes in Slovakia?

Which programmes, which beneficiaries and what appropriations were involved?

Does the Commission intend to get to the bottom of these cases and report to Parliament on them?

If so, when and how will Parliament be informed?

How long has the Commission known about the irregularities in Bratislava?

What action has it already taken and what action does it intend to take?

What disciplinary action does the Commission intend to take against those involved?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(13 November 1997)

Mr  Georgios  Zavvos  was  nominated  head  of  the  Commission(cid:146)s  delegation  in  Slovakia  in  December  1994.
He took  over  new  functions  as  political  adviser  on  enlargement  issues  in  Brussels  on  1  October  1997.  This
transfer was decided in the interest of the service.

The  Commission  is  currently  conducting  an  investigation  concerning  the  matters  to  which  the  Honourable
Member refers and therefore cannot make any definite comments at this time.

When the investigation is concluded, the Commission will ensure that the Parliament is informed.

(98/C 117/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3155/97

by Esko Seppa¤nen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 October 1997)

Subject: Finland and limits to the cadmium content of fertilizers

Finnish soil has a different acidity level from the calcaneous soils of Central Europe. For this reason cadmium
and other heavy metals have a more destructive effect on our ground water.

Is the Commission aware of this problem, and what is it doing to ensure that the limits currently applicable in
Finland to the cadmium content in fertilizers are upheld?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(7 November 1997)

The Commission is reviewing the Community legislation on fertilizers, in so far as it concerns cadmium, in the
framework of the Accession treaties of Finland, Sweden and Austria. In carrying out this review the Commission
has agreed to look very closely at the situation in these three Member States.

A special study has been launched on the regional problems posed by the use of fertilizers containing cadmium in
particular Member States, notably in Finland. The objective of the study is to determine whether there are special
conditions in these Member States such as high cadmium deposition through acid rain, high cadmium content of
soils, high availability of cadmium in soils, evidence of high content of cadmium in crops, evidence of damage to
the aquatic environment, or evidence of damage to health, especially among vulnerable groups.