WRITTEN QUESTION P-2364/99 by Hans Kronberger (NI) to the Commission. Bohunice nuclear power station.
Date: 1999-12-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, Slovakia, accession to the European Union, nuclear power station, nuclear safety

18.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 203 E/167

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question n E-2042/99 by
Mr SacrØdeus (1).

(1)

See page 121.

(2000/C 203 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2358/99

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Care provision and supervision in psychiatric hospitals

At the Santa Maria della Piet(cid:224) psychiatric hospital in Rome, two in-patients have recently suffered serious
injury (leading, in the case of one of them, to permanent disablement) following a fight which broke out in
the absence of adequate supervision by specialist hospital staff.

In December 1998 the judge in charge of the investigation rejected the complaint lodged by the families of
the injured patients against the authorities responsible for safety and supervision on the wards of the
hospital in question and called for the case to be dismissed.

In the light of the above fact:

(cid:129) does the Commission not think that the lack of care (to which the serious physical consequences of
the fight must inevitably be attributed) constitutes a violation of the patient(cid:146)s dignity and of his
inalienable rights as an individual and also indicates a lack of attention to the most basic needs of sick
people who (especially since they are patients on wards specialising in criminal psychiatry) are in need
of greater care and supervision?

(cid:129) do the circumstances described above not indicate that the families of the patients concerned should
consider applying to the Court of Justice of the European Union in order to have the matter
investigated further?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(1 February 2000)

The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the question asked, which is a matter solely for the
national authorities concerned.

(2000/C 203 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2364/99

by Hans Kronberger (NI) to the Commission

(1 December 1999)

Subject: Bohunice nuclear power station

According to reports in the Austrian media, a study commissioned by the Austrian government from the
University institute for risk assessment into safety at the Bohunice power station in Slovakia reveals that
Slovakia has apparently misinformed not only Austria but also the European Commission. The study also
indicates that the planned upgrading measures, on the basis of which Slovakia justified its postponement
of the closure date from 2006 to 2008, have not been fully implemented. Among other things, defects
representing a threat to public safety have been located in the reactor core areas of both units.

C 203 E/168

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2000

1.

2.

Has the Austrian government notified the Commission of this study?

If so, when was the Commission informed and to what extent?

If not, what does the Commission(cid:146)s intend to do about

3.
forthcoming accession negotiations with Slovakia?

this state of affairs,

in view of

the

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1999)

The Austrian Government has recently transmitted a copy of the study to the Commission.

A first analysis does not support the view that the Commission has been misinformed by the Slovak
authorities. It is particularly known to the Commission that the reconstruction programme at Bohunice V1
will only be completed in 2000.

The Commission will further examine the study and will thoroughly discuss any previously unavailable
information with the appropriate Slovak authorities.

Prior and during the accession negotiations, the Commission will continue to closely follow the develop-
ments regarding nuclear safety in the Slovak Republic, in particular the fulfilment of the commitment for
the early closure of Bohunice V1 in 2006/2008.

(2000/C 203 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2368/99

by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 December 1999)

Subject: Legionella bacterium

1.
Is the Commission aware of the renewed outbreaks of pneumonia and Pontiac fever caused by the
legionella bacterium, better known as legionnaire(cid:146)s disease (for example during the West Friesland Flora
event in Bovenkarspel
in late February and at a trade fair in Kapellen, Belgium, from 29 October to
7 November)?

2.
Does the Commission have any information to suggest that these outbreaks could have been
prevented, or at least significantly reduced, if there had been obligatory inspections of the water at places
which may be related to the outbreak, for example whirlpools, air-conditioning and hot water systems?

Does the Commission think that such inspections should be made compulsory for trade fairs and

3.
similar events involving large numbers of people?

Does the Commission intend to initiate cross-border cooperation in the field of

4.
exchange in respect of legionnaire(cid:146)s disease and any similar bacterial diseases?

information

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1999)

1.
The Commission was made aware of the recent outbreaks of legionnaires(cid:146) disease in the Netherlands
and in Belgium by the Member States(cid:146) authorities through the early warning and response system set up
under Parliament and Council Decision No 2119/98/EC of 24 September 1998 setting up a network for
the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the Community (1).

2.
Prevention measures necessary to minimise risks need to extend beyond the inspection of the water
which usually, for practical reasons, cannot be performed often enough to be an efficient preventive tool