WRITTEN QUESTION No. 615/98 by Angela BILLINGHAM to the Commission. Study on the risks of cancer caused by textiles and leather goods
Date: 1998-02-25
Institutions: BILLINGHAM, European Parliament
Subjects: approximation of laws, cancer, dyestuffs industry, footwear industry, health risk, leather, market approval, textile product

C 304/140

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 10. 98

(98/C 304/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0614/98

by Mar(cid:14)·a Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Council

(16 March 1998)

Subject: Violence against women

The  European  Parliament  recently  adopted  a  resolution  on  the  need  to  establish  a  European  Union  wide
campaign for zero tolerance of violence against women (1), urging the Governments of the Member States to take
violence against women more seriously and include it on their political agenda.

Bearing  in  mind  that  in  Spain  alone  during  1997,  61  women  were  killed  in  incidents  involving  this  kind  of
violence,  a  figure  higher  than  that  for  victims  of  ETA  terrorist  vioence,  what  measures  and  actions  will  the
Council take during the current year to combat violence against women on a European scale?

(1)  OJ C 304, 6.10.1997, p. 25.

Answer

(28 May 1998)

Violence  against  women  is  a  subject  that  Member  States  of  the  European  Union  take  very  seriously  indeed.
For example,  at  the  last  Labour  and  Social  Affairs  Council  meeting  on  15 December  1997,  violence  against
women was  one of  the three topics discussed as  part  of a  debate on the  follow-up  to the UN Conference on
Women held in Beijing in 1995. The Council reviewed the measures taken by Member States and underlined the
important work done through the STOP and the DAPHNE Programmes to combat violence against women and
children, whatever form it might take.

In March 1998, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women focused on violence against women; the
European Union was represented at this Conference and adopted a statement condemning all forms of violence
against women.

The Presidency is currently considering, together with the Commission, the possibility of initiatives on violence
against women being taken by the European Union in 1999.

(98/C 304/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0615/98

by Angela Billingham (PSE) to the Commission

(25 February 1998)

Subject: Study on the risks of cancer caused by textiles and leather goods

Does the Commission consider that the findings of the study on the risks of cancer caused by textiles and leather
goods  which  are  coloured  by  Azo-dyes,  covered  by  the  invitation  to  tender  No  III/96/61  of  July  1996,  will
necessitate any action by footwear traders in the European Union?

Does the Commission consider the health risks are proportionate to a need for legislation and if not, will it take
action to remove national Azo prohibitions that conflict with the Single Market?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(25 March 1998)

The study on the risks of cancer caused by textiles and leather goods coloured with certain azo dyes is part of a
programme  that  was  launched  by  the  Commission  to  analyse  the  need  for  harmonised  restrictions  on  the
marketing and use of carcinogenic azo dyes and the economic and other consequences of such restrictions.