WRITTEN QUESTION No. 268/98 by Yiannis ROUBATIS to the Commission. Tragic consequences of the sanctions policy for the population of Iraq
Date: 1998-02-13
Institutions: European Parliament, ROUBATIS
Subjects: Iraq, aid to disaster victims, civil defence, financial aid, health care, humanitarian aid, public health, sanction (EU), social assistance, undernourishment

17. 7. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 223/151

(98/C 223/198)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0268/98

by Yiannis Roubatis (PSE) to the Commission

(13 February 1998)

Subject: Tragic consequences of the sanctions policy for the population of Iraq

The sanctions policy imposed on the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq has had tragic consequences for the
population of the country, and particularly children who suffer from malnutrition and a lack of drugs.

Given that it is questionable how much the sanctions policy has produced the desired results and the plight of the
population is unbearable for any civilized state:

Will the Commission say:

1.  What is its position on this matter?

2.  Does  it  intend  to  take  any  measures  to  relieve  the  plight  of  the  population  and  particularly  the  children

suffering from malnutrition and a lack of drugs?

Answer given by Mr Mar(cid:14)·n on behalf of the Commission

(9 March 1998)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to his Written Question E-4056/97 (1).

The Commission adds that a proposal to increase Iraqi oil sales from 1.900 MECU to 4.500 MECU over a six
months  period  was  submitted  on  2  February  1998  by  the  United  Nations  (UN)  Secretary  General  to  the  UN
Security Council for consideration.

Under its 10 MECU humanitarian aid plan for Iraq for the first semester of 1998 the Commission is funding a
programme  of  supplementary  feeding  for  malnourished  children  and  their  families,  supplies  of  medicines  to
paediatric  and  maternity  hospitals  and  providing  better  sanitary  conditions  for  primary  health  centres  and
primary schools and assistance in the treatment of drinking water.

(1)  OJ C 187, 16.6.1998, p. 117.

(98/C 223/199)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0273/98

by Lissy Gro¤ner (PSE) to the Council

(6 February 1998)

Subject: Implementation  of  the  Council  Resolution  of  20  December  1995  on  intergrating  gender  issues  in

development cooperation

At the meeting on 19 January 1998 between the President-in-Office of the Council of Development Ministers,
United  Kingdom  Secretary  of  State  for  International  Development  Clare  Short,  and  the  EP  Committee  on
Development and Cooperation, Ms Short stressed, in reply to questions by MEPs, that implementation of the
Council Resolution of 20 December 1995 on intergrating gender issues in development cooperation is one of the
priorities of her presidency.

What specific measures will the Council take to implement the above-mentioned Council Resolution during the
British Presidency?

Answer

(11 May 1998)

Gender inequality is known to be one of the major obstacles to the achievement of sustainable development. As
some 70 percent of the world(cid:146)s poorest people are women, the objective of effective poverty reduction requires
policies that recognise women(cid:146)s multiple roles, and macro-economic policies and development strategies that
respond to the needs and efforts of women in poverty should be encouraged.