WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2108/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Reopening of centre for rehabilitation of torture victims in Turkey
Date: 1998-07-10
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: Kurdistan question, Türkiye, aid to refugees, civil defence, human rights, humanitarian aid, protection of minorities, the EU's international role, torture, victim

5.2.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 31/123

were recognised in the Community in 1995. The majority of these cases are carpal tunnel syndrome, often linked
to repetitive hand and arm movements. However, owing to disparities between the Member States, these figures
only cover a minimum number of cases and should be read with caution.

According to information on the proportion of people exposed, 26 % of the active Community population report
exposure to work involving short repetitive tasks, while 46 % reported exposure to work involving repetitive
hand or arm movements. Tasks of this type would be linked, for example, to personal computers.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (Bilbao) is collecting data on this subject. The current
situation is that the Commission has requested that these data should also cover work and activities involving a
high risk of such disorders. The Agency plans to publish the results in 1999.

(1) OJ L 160 of 26 June 1990.

(1999/C 31/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2108/98

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(10 July 1998)

Subject: Reopening of centre for rehabilitation of torture victims in Turkey

The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) has announced that the Turkish authorities
have closed the centre for the rehabilitation of torture victims at Diyarbakir, which was opened on the initiative of
the IRCT.

The centre had been opened only five days previously, the official justification for closing it down being the lack
of the necessary operating permits.

As there are at least 100,000 Kurdish victims of torture in the Diyarbakir region and human rights violations are a
continual occurrence, what representations will the Commission make to the Turkish authorities to secure the
immediate reopening of the centre?

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

(14 September 1998)

The Commission is aware of the events described by the Honourable Member. The Commission representative in
Turkey and a number of ambassadors from the Member States were present when the centre for torture victims in
Turkey was opened in June. The Commission has monitored developments carefully and is pleased to note that
the director-general for foundations in Turkey authorised the reopening of the centre on 15 June.

(1999/C 31/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2111/98

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(10 July 1998)

Subject: EC milk subsidy for schools

With regard to its answer to E-1368/98 (1), can the Commission confirm that, in the refusal to bring the EC semi-
skimmed school milk subsidy into line with the whole milk subsidy by the slight amendment to the legislation
(Regulation (EC) 3392/93 (2) Article 4.1b), full consideration was given to child health and consumer choice
issues and that this refusal was not based merely on agricultural budgetary expediency, which would not,
according to EU principles, be an acceptable reason for refusal?