WRITTEN QUESTION E-0259/00 by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Commission. EU radon gas levels.
Date: 2000-02-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: building safety, geographical distribution, health control, radioactive materials, radioactive pollution, radiobiology, rare gas

C 330 E/112

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.11.2000

to identify economic areas which provide the best environment for successful launch and growth of start-
up and spin-off companies. This pilot action will also promote the validation and transfer of novel
strategies demonstrating best practices from the regions of the Community for the creation of innovative
companies. As far as the question refers to (cid:145)Social Chapter legislation(cid:146), the Commission would refer the
Honourable Member to Article 137(2) (ex Article 118) of the EC Treaty.

To this end, the Intergovernmental Conference adopted Declaration no 26, which states that: (cid:145)The High
Contracting Parties note that in the discussions on Article 118(2) (now 137(2)) of the Treaty establishing
the European Community it was agreed that the Community does not intend, in laying down minimum
requirements for the protection of the safety and health of employees, to discriminate in a manner
unjustified by the circumstances against employees in small and medium-sized undertakings.(cid:146)

(1) European Communities (1998). (cid:145)Report of the Business Environment Simplification Task Force(cid:146) Office for Official

Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. ISBN 92-828-3418-2.

(2) Council Conclusions on the Action Plan to Promote Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness 29.4.1999.
(3) Commission Recommendation 97/344/EC of 22 April 1997, on improving and simplifying the business environ-

ment for business start-ups, OJ L 145, 5.6.1997.

(4) Report from the Commission to the Council and the Parliament on Concerted Action with the Member States in the

field of Enterprise Policy. COM(1999) 569 final.

(5) COM(95) 688 final.
(6) COM(96) 589 final.

(2000/C 330 E/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0259/00

by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 February 2000)

Subject: EU radon gas levels

Can the Commission state whether it has figures for the levels of radon gas present in public buildings and
dwellings throughout the European Union and can it state whether or not these levels of gas create a
possible hazard to public health in the Union?

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

(23 March 2000)

The Commission has carried out a survey of levels of natural radioactivity in Member States which was
published in the form of an Atlas (Radiation Protection, 1993, Natural sources of ionizing radiation in
Europe, EUR 14 470). It continues to collect information from national surveys.

With regard to the possible hazard to public health, the Commission published in 1990 Commission
Recommendation 90/143/Euratom of 21 February 1990 on the protection of the public against indoor
exposure to radon (1). In this Recommendation a reference level for remedial action of 400 becquerel per
cubic meter is proposed for existing buildings.

The percentage of dwellings exceeding this level
significant in some Member States (Finland, Sweden) and in certain regions.

is in general very small, but the problem is more

(1) OJ L 80, 27.3.1990.