WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2486/98 by Johann KRONBERGER to the Commission. Health risks posed by mobile telephones
Date: 1998-07-30
Institutions: European Parliament, KRONBERGER
Subjects: electromagnetic interference, environmental impact, environmental standard, health risk, public health, research policy, telecommunications

29.4.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 118/87

In response to the more specific points made in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question, in particular, the
repercussions of this problem in Austria, the Commission is sending her directly, and also to Parliament(cid:146)s
Secretariat, the list of commitments made in the social sphere for Austrian organisations. However, it
would point out that appropriations are not pre-allocated by Member State and that, thus, it is not possible
to put a figure on the (cid:145)total funding for Austria(cid:146).

(1999/C 118/108)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2486/98

by Johann Kronberger (NI) to the Commission

(30 July 1998)

Subject: Health risks posed by mobile telephones

The Commission has once again stated that it is aware of concerns about the risks to health caused by non-
ionising electromagnetic radiation.

1. What measures has this statement prompted since it was made?

Is research in progress to clarify precisely those unforeseeable risks, so that appropriate steps can be

2.
taken to protect the public, or are such results already available?

3.
Does the Commission intend, by allowing unregulated (cid:145)mushroom growth(cid:146) of transmission masts (in
Austria a network providing four times (!) the coverage needed is currently springing up), to ensure the
emergence of a status quo against which it will be difficult to act?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 1998)

The most recent initiative in this context is the proposal for a Council recommendation on the

1.
limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (O Hz › 300 GHz) (1).

2.
This proposal takes stock of the scientific evidence for acute, thermal effects of electromagnetic
fields and invites Member States to enhance the knowledge about health effects of electromagnetic fields,
in particular as regards non-thermal effects, such as potential cancer induction or promotion. Pertinent
research on this topic will also be supported under the Community(cid:146)s fifth framework programme for
RT&D, and the Commission has already a review of the existing research and proposals for new research
in hand. When preparing its proposal for the Council recommendation, the Commission requested an
opinion of its scientific steering committee which agreed that there is sufficient scientific evidence to
propose exposure limits for acute thermal effects, whilst further investigations might eventually provide
an appropriate basis for the assessment of non-thermal effects.

The Commission proposal for a Council directive on the assessment of the effects of certain plans
3.
and programme on the environment (2) would cover the telecommunication sector, in other words, plans
and programmes in relation to the siting of transmission masts. However, for the time being the matter
mentioned by the Honourable Member is a matter of national competence since the proposal for this
directive is under negotiation by the Parliament and the Council.

(1) COM(98) 268 final.
(2) OJ C 129, 25.4.1997.