WRITTEN QUESTION P-2369/99 by Luís Queiró (UEN) to the Commission. Support for the reconstruction of East Timor.
Date: 1999-12-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, East Timor, coordination of aid, economic reconstruction, international aid

18.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 203 E/169

by itself. Thus, the prevention of outbreaks of the kind reported, should be based on a number of measures
attempting to minimise the various risk factors involved (e.g. inappropriate water quality, closed water
systems, water temperatures, insufficient decontamination systems).

These two recent outbreaks have highlighted a new area of risk for acquiring legionnaires(cid:146) disease,
3.
namely national and international
trade fairs where the public is exposed to whirlpools and other
equipment from which legionella could be spread. The Commission is therefore, together with technical
experts in Member States, assessing the need for Community health and safety rules or guidelines for the
control of legionnaires(cid:146) disease to protect the public in these kind of premises. It is too early to say
whether the conclusion of the assessment will point to inspection of water or focus entirely on other more
efficient control measures.

4.
Transnational co-operation in the field of legionella infections is already well developed. The specific
network dealing with legionnaires(cid:146) disease (European working group for legionella infections (EWGLI)) in
fact predates Decision 2119/98/EC and the Commission has supported its activities since 1986. This
surveillance scheme presently involves 31 participating countries and the scheme aims to collect informa-
tion on cases of legionnaires(cid:146) disease occurring in travellers so that sites associated with more than one
case can be detected and the authorities in the relevant country informed. Recently the reporting of non-
travel associated clusters of cases was included in this scheme mainly as a response to the outbreak in the
Netherlands earlier this year. All cases reported to EWGLI are reported back to the country of infection
and all other collaborators. These procedures have led to the rapid identification of outbreaks, and early
intervention of control and prevention measures and this system is now included as a disease specific
network in the Community network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable
diseases.

(1) OJ L 268, 3.10.1998.

(2000/C 203 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2369/99

by Lu(cid:237)s Queir(cid:243) (UEN) to the Commission

(1 December 1999)

Subject: Support for the reconstruction of East Timor

It has been announced that the Joint Assessment Mission led by the World Bank has already completed its
job of assessing the short-term needs (for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002) for the reconstruction of East
Timor.

The Commission has initially estimated the cost of the relevant reconstruction work at approximately
US $ 200 million.

the EU definitely intends to offer effective assistance and support

In view of the fact that both the Commission and the High Representative for the CFSP have stated on
several occasions that
for the
reconstruction work in East Timor and Parliament promised appropriate financial support when it debated
and adopted the 2000 budget at first reading, can the Commission say how it intends to coordinate with
the World Bank and the UNTAET the measures for the support and reconstruction of East Timor and, in
particular, what position it will adopt at the conference of donors to be held in Tokyo on 17 December
next?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1999)

As regards the Commission(cid:146)s position on support for the reconstruction of East Timor, the Honourable
Member should be aware that the Community provided immediate humanitarian assistance for the return
of refugees and food aid to East Timor.

C 203 E/170

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2000

The Commission is also committing M€ 10 to the new trust fund of the United Nations transitory
administration in East Timor (Untaet), offering basic administrative and logistical support for future
transitional administration and humanitarian assistance.

From a development perspective, a coherent rehabilitation and reconstruction strategy for the relatively
small territory of East Timor will require extensive co-ordination among all parties. The recent joint
assessment mission led by the World Bank (cid:129) in which the Commission participated actively (cid:129) will
provide a basis for developing a blueprint for concrete long-term action that will be discussed at a donors(cid:146)
meeting in Tokyo on 17 December 1999. The Commission is currently evaluating the joint mission(cid:146)s
summary report with a view to identifying areas where the Community can best contribute in order to
maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of its aid.

(2000/C 203 E/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2376/99

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Esperanto

Would the Commission give consideration to the inclusion of Esperanto as one of the EU working
languages?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(6 January 2000)

In accordance with Article 290 of the EC Treaty, (cid:145)The rules governing the languages of the institutions of
the Community shall [(cid:133)] be determined by the Council, acting unanimously.(cid:146) That Article does not
provide for any proposal on the part of the Commission.

(2000/C 203 E/220)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2389/99

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Threats to European investments in Cuba

(1 December 1999)

According to information from official sources, the Spanish undertaking Sol-MeliÆ has recently been
subjected to pressure from the US authorities over its investments in Cuba.

Is the Commission aware of
this pressure? Does it share the view that pressure of any kind on
undertakings from a Member State amounts to a clear gesture of hostility to the European Union as a
whole?

Has the Commission taken steps to examine the matter?

Should the existence of this pressure be confirmed, does the Commission intend to take any form of action
in the framework of the agreements subscribed between the EU and the US?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1999)

The Commission is aware that the American authorities have been conducting enquiries under the Helms-
Burton Act into the activities in Cuba of certain Community companies, including Sol-MeliÆ.