WRITTEN QUESTION E-2203/99 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Extreme poverty and social exclusion.
Date: 1999-11-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: marginalisation, poverty, statistics

1.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/117

However, the Commission takes the view that the low cost of this shuttle (DRA 250/€ 0,75 from 5 a.m. to
midnight and DRA 500/€ 1,25 from midnight to 5 a.m.) and the journey time (10 minutes) are unlikely to
prompt passengers travelling to a Greek island or a provincial town in Greece served by Olympic Airways
to opt for an international flight with this carrier rather than another.

In any event, the Commission notes that following the liberalisation of access to intracommunity domestic
links (1 April 1997) and the liberalisation of access to links with the Greek islands (1 April 1998) Olympic
Airways is faced with certain competition on the domestic market from newly established Greek carriers
(e.g. Cronus Airlines, Air Greece). These carriers all fly from the East terminal, so passengers using the
international services of carriers operating from this terminal can take connecting flights without having to
change terminal.

(2000/C 219 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2197/99

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council

(30 November 1999)

Subject: Combating world hunger

The first report recently published by the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) paints a bleak
picture of the world situation since the target set in 1996 to halve the numbers suffering from hunger by
the year 2015 does not seem to be materialising. 204 million people in India, 164 million in China, half
the population of North Korea and Mongolia, 1/3 of the peoples of Cambodia, Laos and sub-Saharan
Africa are suffering from hunger, while two in every five children are undernourished. Bearing in mind
that the UN had decided that the developed countries should spend 0,7 % of their GDP on humanitarian
aid to the developing countries, will the Council say whether that decision is being implemented and by
which Member States of the European Union?

Reply

(31 January 2000)

The final declaration of the World Food Summit held in Rome in November 1996 fixed the long-term
objective of eliminating hunger in all countries and in particular halving the numbers suffering from
hunger by the year 2015.

Meeting this target would constitute a tremendous advance for humanity. For its part, the Council has
given high priority, in the framework of the measures to reduce poverty, to activities aimed at increasing
food security. In this context, the Council intends to study closely the results of the evaluation shortly to
begin of the working of the June 1996 Regulation on food aid and food security. It hopes to be able to
draw conclusions which will lead to an increase in the quality and efficiency of operations to ensure food
security in developing countries.

The Council has no precise information on the progress made by Member States towards achieving the
target of providing 0,7 % of their GDP as development assistance.

(2000/C 219 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2203/99

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Extreme poverty and social exclusion

(29 November 1999)

Article 137 of the Treaty of Amsterdam establishes a new legal basis for the adoption of measures to
combat social exclusion. Unfortunately, hard statistics on the scale of this social reality, which might make
it possible to reach all those affected by social exclusion and/or extreme poverty more effectively, are not
available.

C 219 E/118

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

How does the Commission intend to obtain more information on social exclusion and extreme poverty?
What measures does the Commission intend to adopt to combat these problems in the light of Article 137
of the Treaty and the undertakings given at the 1995 Copenhagen summit on social development?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 2000)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member about the importance of reliable indicators and
statistics for strengthening policies and measures against social exclusion and poverty.

Social exclusion and poverty are multidimensional problems which change over time and therefore require
comprehensive data and indicators which can be analysed over time (longitudinal analysis). Data and
indicators must also be gender sensitive. In many Member States as well as at Community level efforts are
being made to make better use of existing data as well as to improve the data. Following a meeting in
Stockholm in January 1998 of the Community high level think tank on social exclusion and poverty
statistics, a Community task force was established. Its work has resulted in a first set of guidelines,
endorsed by a meeting of directors general of national statistical offices, for improving statistics and
indicators on poverty and social exclusion in Member States as well as at Community level which are now
being implemented (1). Community cooperation can make an important contribution and action has been
increasing and will continue to intensify as a result of the new provisions in the EC Treaty (Article 137
ex-Article 118).

During 1999, the Commission has engaged in broad discussions with all concerned on a Community
strategy against social exclusion and the priorities and scope of Community action to implement such a
strategy. These discussions have confirmed (cid:145)full participation and social integration of all people in society(cid:146)
as the fundamental principle of an inclusive and cohesive society, as also emerged from the world summit
on social development in 1995 in Copenhagen.

Launching the strategy and action will be a priority of the Commission(cid:146)s work programme for 2000. It is
envisaged that the strategy and programme will include the aim of strengthening cooperation on statistics
and indicators.

An issue of (cid:145)Statistics in focus(cid:146) entitled (cid:145)Social exclusion in the Member States(cid:146) will be published shortly by
the Commission.

(1)

Statistical Programming Committee. Document No 98/31/2 - 11/98.

(2000/C 219 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2206/99

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 November 1999)

Subject: The fight against synthetic drugs: Community initiatives and application of Parliament(cid:146)s resolution

There is considerable alarm in Italy once again over traffic in and consumption of synthetic drugs, which
have flooded the market and have taken particular hold amongst young people. Each year 180 000 ecstasy
tablets are confiscated; this represents a mere 5 % of total consumption. In 1998 the European Parliament
(in its resolution on the control of new synthetic drugs (cid:129) OJ C 167, 1.6.1998) urgently raised the issue of
the traffic in and consumption of synthetic drugs and called on both Member States and the Commission
to gather information on such drugs, notably with regard to their impact and side-effects, as well as any
long-term damage they might cause, and to promote research in this field.