WRITTEN QUESTION P-2441/99 by Marco Pannella (TDI) to the Council. Chemical, biological and radiological attacks on the Kurds in Iraq.
Date: 1999-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Iraq, Kurdistan question, biological weapon, chemical weapon, common foreign and security policy, humanitarian aid, national minority, pollution of waterways, public health

C 219 E/164

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(6 January 2000)

The definitive closure of one of Sydkraft(cid:146)s nuclear reactors at Barseb(cid:228)ck on 30 November 1999 could have
led to distortion of competition on the market concerned. However, following an agreement between the
owner and the Swedish Government on compensation, the Commission understands that the owner of the
plant will no longer pursue any legal challenges to the Swedish Government(cid:146)s decision from the moment
the agreement enters into force when approved by Parliament in the spring of 2000.

The Commission is currently examining the consequences which the closure of the nuclear reactor may
have under Community environmental legislation.

As regards the procedural aspects related to the request for a preliminary ruling of the Court of justice,
contacts have already been made by the Commission with the Swedish authorities.

(2000/C 219 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2441/99

by Marco Pannella (TDI) to the Council

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Chemical, biological and radiological attacks on the Kurds in Iraq

During the campaign against the Kurds in 1988, which has been defined as genocidal and in which tens of
thousands of people were killed or disappeared, the Iraqi regime bombed more than 200 villages in
northern Iraq.
its kind ever carried out against civilian
populations (cid:129) enormous quantities of chemical and probably biological and radiological weapons were
used. These contaminated the environment, including aquifers, in northern Iraq, whose rivers pass through
the whole country and flow into the Persian Gulf.

In this operation (cid:129) the largest assault of

In view of the reports concerning the high incidence of cancers and congenital malformations in children
in Iraq, what steps has the High Representative for the CFSP taken or does he intend to take to ensure that
the appropriate international organisations at long last study the condition of the water reserves to
determine whether chemical, biological or radiological agents or derivatives from them are continuing to
poison the population?

In the same context, what steps has the High Representative for the CFSP taken or does he intend to take
to ensure that, after a delay of eleven years, the appropriate international organisations begin to concern
themselves with the medical treatment of the survivors and to investigate what substances Saddam
Hussein(cid:146)s regime used and whether they continue to present risks to the population?

Likewise in this light, can the High Representative for the CFSP indicate what steps he has taken or intends
to take to study and assess the effects of chemical weapons and other weapons of mass destruction on
agriculture in northern Iraq, including on livestock farming, forests and fisheries, as well as the impact on
fauna and flora?

The Halabja Post Graduate Medical Institute (HMI), which was set up in the Kurdish region of Iraq
in August 1999 to develop treatments and promote programmes of research on survivors of chemical
attacks, faces numerous material and technical problems which could prevent it from attaining the
objectives it has set itself.

Can the High Representative for the CFSP indicate whether he intends to send a delegation of experts to
visit the HMI centre and see with their own eyes the specific medical requirements of the survivors of
chemical, biological and radiological attacks and to assess the needs of the HMI in general?

1.8.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/165

Reply

(31 January 2000)

An Evaluation Report on the Humanitarian Situation in Northern Iraq of June 1999, commissioned and
financed by the European Commission, gives an overview of the humanitarian situation in Kurdish
controlled areas of northern Iraq. It is clear from the report that there are numerous necessary and urgent
basic humanitarian needs that must be attended to, such as mine clearance, malnutrition and rehabilitation
of water plants. To these necessary activities must be added study and assessment of the effects of chemical
and other weapons of mass destruction on the overall living conditions in northern Iraq. The implementa-
tion of the oil-for-food programme needs to be speeded up and streamlined which requires the full
cooperation of the Iraqi government. An effective implementation of humanitarian assistance would also
be facilitated by an improvement of the political situation in northern Iraq. The recent normalisation
measures agreed between the two main Kurdish Parties are important in this context. The Council, assisted
by the Secretary General/High Representative for the CFSP, will continue to closely monitor the situation
in Iraq,
including the northern provinces, and contribute to ensuring an adequate response from the
European Union when circumstances so permit to the needs of the Iraqi people.

(2000/C 219 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2444/99

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 1999)

Subject: Early retirement scheme

Has the Commission made a decision as to when farmers will be paid compensation following the 5,055 %
reduction in the Early Retirement Pension Scheme arising from the introduction of the Euro in January
1999 to participants who joined the scheme prior to 1998?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 December 1999)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question No E-2170/99 by
Mr McCartin (1).

(1)

See page 110.

(2000/C 219 E/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2448/99

by Ilkka Suominen (PPE-DE) to the Council

(13 December 1999)

Subject: Future of the EU(cid:146)s Youth programme and of the Council of Youth Ministers

Putting the EU(cid:146)s youth programme into practice has been one of the Finnish Presidency(cid:146)s major objectives.
However, it now appears that the implementation of the youth programme, which was intended to be
launched at the beginning of next year, may be postponed owing to intervention by some Member States
in the programme(cid:146)s budget.

In his report, the Secretary-General of the Council proposes the holding of Council meetings on an
irregular basis and the abolition of the Council of Youth Ministers. This formation of the Council has
brought about significant programmes which have noticeably improved the freedom of movement of
young people in Europe, and this in turn has actively helped ensure that (cid:145)closeness to the citizen(cid:146) has
found a place on the European Union(cid:146)s agenda.