WRITTEN QUESTION E-0327/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Health implications of mobile telephony transmission units.
Date: 2000-02-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, Spain, competence of the Member States, environmental impact, health risk, mobile phone

24.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 303 E/175

preventing transmission from mother to child, developing the system of high-quality sustainable patient
care and studying the economic mechanisms of public healthcare influencing the capacity to develop
adequate vaccines and raise awareness among private and public bodies of
the need to develop
microbiocide products accessible to all.

The Commission has just signed a financing agreement with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)
States for EUR 20 million taken from the resources of the 8th European Development Fund (EDF)
earmarked for (cid:145)All ACP States(cid:146). It envisages applied research, education and training projects aiming to
develop institutional capacities and implement prevention strategies, especially at regional level.

(1) COM(98) 407 final.

(2000/C 303 E/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0327/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Health implications of mobile telephony transmission units

(11 February 2000)

In certain parts of Spain the mobile telephone companies operating in the country are installing
transmission units in an anarchic fashion and with total disregard for the environment and for aesthetic,
landscape, safety and public health considerations. Their activities are not covered by any specific rules
governing the terms and conditions relating to the installation of the infrastructure associated with such
units (although there are rules relating to the automatic mobile telephony service and the government
requirement for infrastructure to be shared for public interest, safety or environmental reasons). The
decision to allow such units to be installed is often entirely at the discretion of the local government
official responsible for such matters in the area concerned, although no study may have been carried out
into the impact on the environment or on public health and, in many cases, an installation licence may
not have been issued.

At Community level (see the Commission(cid:146)s replies to Written Questions Nos 274/95 (1) 3142/95 (2) 737/
96 (3) and 2304/96 (4) relating to mobile telephony transmission units and the harmful effects which
emissions of non-ionising radiation given off by such units may have on human health) the Commission
undertook to have a study on the matter carried out by experts. The harmful effects which such units may
have on human health have already been examined by the World Health Organisation. Is the Commission
intending to introduce Community rules governing the siting of GSM mobile telephone transmission
stations? Can the Commission demand that Spain carry out studies and draw up rules concerning the
effects which the installation of mobile telephone networks may have on the environment and on public
health?

(1) OJ C 179, 13.7.1995, p. 11.
(2) OJ C 137, 8.5.1996, p. 3.
(3) OJ C 217, 26.7.1996, p. 13.
(4) OJ C 60, 26.2.1997, p. 140.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2000)

On 12 July 1999, acting on a proposal from the Commission, the Council adopted Recommendation
fields
1999/519/EC on the
(O Hz to 300 GHz) (1). This text contributes to ensuring a high level of health protection for all European
citizens as far as possible. The text of the Recommendation does not refer to any specific appliances. It
covers all sources of non-ionising radiation, including mobile telephony systems.

the general public

to electromagnetic

limitation of

exposure of

The Council and the Parliament have also adopted a Directive on radio equipment and telecommunications
terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity (the R&TTE Directive (2)). This lays
down the requirements that radio transmitters need to meet in order to be placed on the market and be
operated, i.e. the requirement that products should be safe and not endanger health when used for their
intended purpose. It envisages that Member States may restrict operation for health reasons, e.g. by

C 303 E/176

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

24.10.2000

imposing certain minimum distances between the transmitter and the public. This Directive does not lay
down any requirements on local environmental
installations of base stations for mobile
telephones which remain a responsibility of Member States.

impact of

To facilitate operation of the low voltage Directive 73/23/EE (3) 3 (LVD) and the R&TTE Directive, the
Commission mandates the European standardisation bodies (the European committee for standardisation
(CEN), the European committee for electrotechnical standardisation (Cenelec) and the European telecom-
munications standard institute (ETSI)) to draw up European harmonised standards covering safety aspects
of electromagnetic fields (0 hertz (Hz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz) generated by products, in accordance with
basic restrictions and reference levels of Recommendation 1999/519/EC regarding human health protec-
tion. Those standards will have to be transposed into national standards and conflicting national standards
will have to be withdrawn.

It will then be possible to perform measurements of environmental fields which, should they show that the
lead to technical adaptation
population is exposed to values higher than those recommended, will
measures to avoid any adverse impact on public health and the environment due to exposure to any
source of non-ionising radiation.

(1) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.
(2) Directive 1999/5/EC of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the

mutual recognition of their conformity (OJ L 91, 7.4.1999).

(3) Council Directive 73/23/EEC of 19 February 1973 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to

electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (OJ L 77, 26.3.1973) as amended.

(2000/C 303 E/198)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0328/00

by Georges Berthu (UEN) to the Commission

(11 February 2000)

Subject: Courtesy titles conferred by non-member countries on European officials

In its reply to Written Question P-0224/99 (1) concerning the title of (cid:145)Ambassador(cid:146) assumed by certain
Commission heads of delegation, the Commission states that (cid:145)it is customary (in view of the delegations(cid:146)
diplomatic privileges and immunities) for the accrediting State to accord the head of delegation the rank,
and courtesy title, of ambassador(cid:146).

Does the Commission consider it normal that foreign countries should be the ones to confer titles on
European officials, rather than the EU Member States? What action is it planning in order to ensure that
European officials, in the course of their duties, do not make official use of titles (even courtesy ones)
conferred by non-member countries?

(1) OJ C 289, 11.10.1999, p. 143.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2000)

It is in the nature of diplomatic practice that the accrediting State requests from the host State the level of
accreditation it wishes for its diplomatic agents there. It is in this sense that the accrediting state grants the
title to the official.

This rule also applies to heads of the Commission(cid:146)s delegation, representation or office who are accredited
at head of state level. Member States are informed by the Commission of its intention to appoint a head of
delegation and are informed of the rank and courtesy title which will be sought in the country of
accreditation.

Commission heads of mission receive guidance as to the occasions when it is appropriate to use the
courtesy title.