WRITTEN QUESTION E-1576/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Impact of particulate matter PM 10 and PM 2,5 on mortality.
Date: 2000-05-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, EU environmental policy, Greece, air quality, mortality

C 89 E/54

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

2.

Is this appointment a temporary one linked to President Prodi(cid:146)s term of office, or a permanent one?

3.
If the standard procedure was not followed, and if the appointment is permanent, would the
Commission agree that this example of (cid:145)back-door entry(cid:146) conflicts with its stated intentions of reform,
openness and promotion on merit?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2000)

In the case of Mr Ricardo Levi, the Commission decided to re-assign him to the job of Director of the
Forward Studies unit with his temporary agent post.

As this was not a transfer to a vacant post, the procedures set out in Articles 4 and 29 of the Staff
Regulations were not applicable.

It is normal practice for the Institutions to exercise a wide degree of discretion in organising their
departments internally to meet the tasks they have to fulfil as well as in assigning the staff available to
them.

The appointment in question is confined to Mr Prodi(cid:146)s term of office and the appointment is therefore not
permanent.

(2001/C 89 E/052)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1576/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(23 May 2000)

Subject: Impact of particulate matter PM 10 and PM 2,5 on mortality

Studies carried out by the World Health Organisation have emphasised the linear relationship between the
increase in mortality following an increase in the atmosphere of the quantities of particulate matter PM 10
and PM 2,5 (smaller than 10 µm and 2,5 µm respectively).

Are measurements of PM 10 and PM 2,5 being taken in the Member States? If so, what are the

1.
findings for Greece?

Are studies being funded for each Member State analysing, in numerical terms, the increase in acute

2.
and chronic mortality following an increase in the quantities of PM 10 and PM 2,5 in the atmosphere?

If such activities are not receiving funding, does the Commission intend to contribute towards their

3.
implementation?

4. Will the Commission take measures to address the problem?

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

(7 July 2000)

Council Directive 80/779/EC of 15 July 1980 on air quality limit values and guide values for sulphur
1.
dioxide and suspended particulates (1) at present requires Member States to measure particulate matter (PM)
by either the black smoke method or the total suspended particles (TSP) method. The Directive will be
superseded by Council Directive 1999/30/EC of 22 April 1999 relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide,
nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air (2), which, amongst
other things, will require Member States to measure PM 10 and PM 2,5 from 31 July 2001.

20.3.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/55

In the field of research, Community support has been given to a number of projects investigating the
2.
link between air pollution (including particulate matter) and mortality, under the third research and
techological development (RTD) framework programme (1990-1994) and the fourth RTD framework
programme (1994-1998), as part of the (cid:145)Environment and climate(cid:146) research programme. In particular, the
APHEA-2 project under the fourth framework programme is examining the relationship between air
pollution and daily mortality and other health effects in 32 European areas, including Athens. This project,
the largest in this field in Europe, is co-ordinated by the University of Athens.

The fifth RTD framework programme in the quality of life programme, key action 4 (cid:145)Environment and
health(cid:146) is supporting two projects aimed at improving knowledge of the links between air pollution and
health, especially the impact of particulate matter, to a total amount of around € 3 million. The first of
these projects, Helios, is looking at the impact of ozone on the permeability of the lung membrane to
pollutants, including particulate matter, and its relation to both chronic and acute health effects. The
second project, Hepmeap, is a multicentre project looking at the impact of automobile engine exhaust,
including particulate matter, and ambient air pollution on health.

In addition, the pollution-related diseases action programme is currently funding a project of the Institut de
Veille Sanitaire on the creation of an European information system on the effects of air pollution on health
in Europe.

It is expected that several other research projects in this field will be funded during 2000 as a result of the
year 2000 calls for applications.

Directive 1999/30/EC sets limit values for PM 10, to be met by 31 December 2005. Member States will be
required to develop action programmes for the worst areas, showing how they will meet the limit values.
These action programmes should aim also to reduce concentrations of PM 2,5. The Commission will report
on implementation by the end of 2003 and will examine at that time whether to propose confirmation of
further indicative limit values for PM 10 to be met in 2010 and whether to propose limit values for PM 2,5
or some other measure of particulate matter. Recent legislation on vehicle emissions takes into account the
need to meet limit values for PM 10.

(1) OJ L 229, 30.8.1980.
(2) OJ L 163, 29.6.1999.

(2001/C 89 E/053)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1588/00

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Council

(24 May 2000)

Subject: Western Sahara

Does the Council agree that the legal situation of the Western Sahara bears a number of resemblances to
the situation of East Timor prior to its recent independence?

Will the Council point out to Morocco that its continued occupation of the Western Sahara damages the
reputation of that country and entails a huge economic cost?

Will the Council press for early implementation of the envisaged referendum and counter any attempts to
delay it?

Reply

(23 October 2000)

Any durable solution for Western Sahara must be acceptable to and endorsed by all parties involved.
Convinced that such a solution can only be brought about in the framework of the United Nations, the