WRITTEN QUESTION E-1197/00 by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission. The Consultative Group on International Research.
Date: 2000-04-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, food safety, hunger, international organisation, research body, sustainable agriculture

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/27

creating the proper training tools and mechanisms (pilot projects) for setting-up training schemes. These
may help enhance aptitudes and skills and facilitate a successful reintegration of workers into working life.

(1) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993.

(2001/C 72 E/029)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1197/00

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: The Consultative Group on International Research

(12 April 2000)

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), established in 1971,
is an
informal association of fifty-eight public and private sector members that supports a network of sixteen
international agricultural research centres. CGIAR(cid:146)s mission is to contribute to food security and poverty
eradication in developing countries through research, partnership, capacity building, and policy support.
The CGIAR promotes sustainable agricultural development based on the environmentally sound manage-
ment of natural resources. The European Commission has been an important long-term provider of
financial support to the CGIAR but that funding was suspended in 1999 and the Commission is at present
engaged in a review of its future funding support for the CGIAR.

Taking into account this review:

1. Does the Commission recognise the valuable contributions that the international research centres,
supported by the Consultative Group on International Research, have made to averting famine and
improving rural livelihoods in less developed countries?

2.

3.

4.

5.

Is the Commission aware of a recent review of the CGIAR by a distinguished international panel,
under the chairmanship of the President of the Earth Council, Maurice Strong, that concluded that the
CGIAR represented the (cid:145)best investment in development assistance bar none(cid:146)?

Is the Commission aware that CGIAR is in the process of redefining its programmes to focus more
directly on the agricultural and natural resource research needs of the poorest of the poor?

Is the Commission aware that the on-the-ground presence of CGIAR scientists in developing countries
working in partnership with local scientists gives the CGIAR a unique capacity to provide research
support to national research systems and the farmers who depend upon them?

Is the Commission aware of the increased commitment of the CGIAR to work on fisheries, livestock,
forestry and agroforestry, all of which are areas with great potential benefits for poor people and their
environments?

If the Commission is aware of all these facts is the Commission willing to:

6.

7.

8.

Fully recognise the unique and invaluable role of the CGIAR in addressing EU development assistance
priorities of poverty reduction, better food security and environmental protection in developing
countries?

Inform the European Parliament when and by what means funding of CGIAR Centres will be
resumed?

Examine the possibility of increasing the level of this support and ensuring that commitments are
made on a multi-year basis?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 2000)

The Commission is a long-standing partner and donor of
the Consultative group on international
agricultural research (CGIAR) and is actively involved in the development of the system. It is therefore
naturally aware of both the CGIAR(cid:146)s contribution to agricultural research and the recent developments to
which the Honourable Member refers.

C 72 E/28

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

Due to its outstanding contribution in support of the basic development objectives (poverty alleviation,
food security and sustainable natural resources management), the Commission considers investment in the
CGIAR as highly profitable.

While the Commission recognises the important contribution of the CGIAR system in addressing key
development objectives, it nevertheless would wish the CGIAR to make progress in the formulation of the
system(cid:146)s broad vision for the period 2005-2010 and the design of structural changes and new partnerships
to adapt to a rapidly changing environment.

The Commission, meanwhile, is in the process of defining a coherent strategy in support of agricultural
research, taking into account the comparative advantages of the various players, including the CGIAR.

A financing proposal for a three year programme in support of the CGIAR is currently under appraisal.
The financial envelope for the first year (2000) amounts to € 20 million.

There is no intention, at this stage, to increase the present funding level. In fact, the Commission plans to
maintain the current focus on the CGIAR system with regard to the global level. At the same time the
Commission puts a lot of emphasis at the regional and sub-regional levels (where it will continue to assist
the national research systems and their regional bodies through regional collaborative research pro-
grammes. This second focus proves to be very effective in forging partnerships between the CGIAR and
regions.

(2001/C 72 E/030)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1199/00

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(12 April 2000)

Subject: Medicines administered to children

Statistics published by the authoritative British Medical Journal show that 67 % of children in general
paediatric wards are given at least one prescription for drugs which does not meet the criteria for which
the drug was licensed.

According to the (cid:145)Mario Negri(cid:146) pharmacological research centre, this percentage can be as high as 86 % in
Italy. In view of this, can the Commission say what steps it intends to take or might envisage to tackle this
serious problem affecting children?

Can it also say whether any research is planned to improve scientific knowledge, so as to ensure efficiency
and safety and a more rational use of drugs administered to children?

Finally, can the Commission say whether it is possible to promote and defend the right of children to be
treated with drugs in accordance with (cid:145)evidence-based medicine(cid:146)?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(29 June 2000)

The Commission is well aware of the matters the Honourable Member has raised. This is indeed a serious
problem, concerning not only children but the whole population.

It is true that in the vast majority of cases, and in most areas of therapy, the medicines administered to
children do not exist in a specially adapted pharmaceutical form and have not been the subject of clinical
studies geared towards that category of patients. Nor do marketing authorisations make specific mention
of administration to children. Yet the fact is that the criteria of efficacy and safety of medicinal products,
and their rational use, must also apply to medicines administered to children.

As for the Community research effort, two activities under the (cid:145)Quality of life and management of living
resources(cid:146) specific programme of
the
therapeutic arsenal is used to maximum effect in health care.

the Fifth Framework Programme are intended to ensure that