WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2500/98 by Joaquín SISÓ CRUELLAS to the Commission. Anorexia and bulimia
Date: 1998-07-30
Institutions: European Parliament, SISO CRUELLAS
Subjects: Spain, advertising, disaffection of young people, nutritional disease, public health, young person

C 96/106

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.4.1999

Also, as part of talks at the World Trade Organisation, and more especially as part of the GATS agreement on
services, the Community is playing a prominent role in securing commitments to open third countries(cid:146) markets
and improve the terms governing investments and ventures by European undertakings in the sector of tourism.

As part of policies for development and cooperation with non-member countries, financial instruments such as
ECIP, EBAS and Alinvest can promote the internationalisation of European tourism undertakings outside the
Community and make it easier to export their knowhow.

The latest reports on Community measures affecting tourism (2) contain a review of the main actions that have
benefited tourism undertakings in this context.

(1) Eurostat, Balance of Payments › Quarterly Statistics 2-98, p. 70; European Union Direct Investment › Yearbook 1997, p. 73.
(2) COM(97) 332 final and SEC(97) 1419.

(1999/C 96/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2500/98

by Joaqu(cid:237)n Sis(cid:243) Cruellas (PPE) to the Commission

(30 July 1998)

Subject: Anorexia and bulimia

The Association against Anorexia and Bulimia (ACAB) recently presented itself to the public in Spain and called
on advertisers to refrain from using impossible stereotypes in their advertising and to use other models, so that
young people would no longer seek to imitate the stereotypes. The Association also appealed for an increase in
resources for treating this illness. According to the figures provided, the number of consultations linked to
anorexia and bulimia is increasing by 20 % each year in Spain, the majority of victims of this disorder being girls.

Given that the impact of these illnesses is growing constantly and is particularly affecting our young people, has
any initiative been taken in the European Union with a view to tackling these disorders?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(20 October 1998)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s concern about the increasing number of those, especially
girls, suffering from anorexia or bulimia in Spain and in the Community in general.

The Community action programme on health promotion, information, education and training (1) covers this
important public health issue, and the 1998 work programme provides for (cid:145)attention to be given to the issue of
bodyweight as a broad concept affecting the well-being of people, as well as eating disorders and other problems
related to body image(cid:146).

The Commission is at present funding two projects related to the prevention of eating disorders. One investigates
the frequency and distribution of sub-clinical eating disorders in six European countries in order to develop
preventive measures for these disorders. The second aims to improve the knowledge of this disease, to set up a
database on specialised centres and an internet site, and to organise a conference at European level to disseminate
the results.

(1) Decision 645/98/EC › OJ L 95, 16.4.1996.

(1999/C 96/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2501/98

by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission

(30 July 1998)

Subject: Construction of an artificial island near the Bay of CÆdiz

The Spanish Ministry of Defence intends to build an artificial island 700 metres from the boundary of the Bay of
CÆdiz Natural Park, which would contain a platform for logistical exercises. No information is available on the