WRITTEN QUESTION E-1697/00 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Future of drugs observatory EMCDDA.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, EU statistics, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Eurostat, cooperation policy, dissemination of information, information

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/73

In relation to Mr. van Buitenen(cid:146)s book, assistance under Article 24 has, to date, been requested only once.
It was granted after consideration of the fact that a pseudonym used in the book was identical to the name
of an official. In this case, Mr van Buitenen officially presented his apologies to the official concerned.

(2001/C 81 E/088)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1696/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Classification of strawberries and the Swedish climate

(29 May 2000)

Has the Commission adjusted the classification of strawberries to take account of the Swedish climate?
Swedish strawberries are smaller but sweeter than the strawberries grown further south in Europe because
of the climate. Since Sweden(cid:146)s entry into the EU, part of the country(cid:146)s strawberry crop has had to be set
aside and turned into purØe as they do not, in terms of size, fall within the four classes into which
strawberries have been divided. Has the Commission taken account of
this Scandinavian aspect of
strawberry production in the relevant legislation?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2000)

One of the purposes of marketing standards is to withdraw from the market products which consumers
would find of unsatisfactory quality. One of the instruments used is the establishment of minimum sizes,
which permits the withdrawal of fruit which is insufficiently developed or mature. The minimum size for
strawberries, based on recognised international standards, was set at 22 millimetres (mm).

It appears that fruit of two varieties (Primella and Gariguette) could be of satisfactory quality even though
smaller than 22 mm. Accordingly, the Commission has decided to reduce the minimum size for these two
varieties to 18 mm.

The Commission has no information on other varieties of strawberries, cultivated in Sweden or elsewhere
in the Community, whose fruit reaches a satisfactory level of development or maturity despite being
smaller than 22 mm.

(2001/C 81 E/089)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1697/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Future of drugs observatory EMCDDA

The drugs observatory EMCDDA in Lisbon has now been operating since 1993. It still does not produce
any comparable statistics for the drugs situation and drug-abuse trends in the Member States. Should the
EMCDDA project not be considered a failure and the observatory abandoned since the Member States are
best equipped to deal with these issues at national level?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(26 July 2000)

The European monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction (EMCDDA) became operational
in the
beginning of 1995. According to the founding Regulation the main task of the Centre is to (cid:145)provide the
Community and its Member States with objective, reliable and comparable information at European level

C 81 E/74

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

concerning drugs and drug addiction and their consequences(cid:146). To this end, the Centre has, in cooperation
with the national focal points and experts in Member States, defined five key epidemiological indicators
that describe the prevalence and health consequences of drug use in Community. The work on these
indicators is expected to be completed by the end of 2000. On drug-related deaths and on data obtained
through health and health-related surveys the EMCDDA is co-operating with Eurostat.

The Community drugs strategy 2000-2004 endorsed by the Helsinki European Council states that the
strategy has to be based on a regular assessment of the nature and magnitude of the drugs phenomenon
and its consequences. The strategy reinstates the importance of the role of the EMCDDA in implementing
this task and stresses the importance of developing an even closer relationship between the Centre and the
Member States. It is of utmost importance to ensure the highest quality of information flows to and from
the EMCDDA.

As the Honourable Member knows, collecting information on illicit drugs is not an easy task at any level.
Accurate and reliable information is however a prerequisite for effective action at all levels. The results of
an independent evaluation of
the Centre has clearly made an important
contribution in filling gaps in information and knowledge which existed at the time of its foundation.

the EMCDDA show that

The Community drugs strategy 2000-2004 stresses the importance of a balanced and multidisciplinary
approach towards drugs and the Community has repeatedly acknowledged the importance of working
together to face the common challenges posed by drugs. The Commission believes that comparable
information at Community level forms a solid base not only for planning and implementing drug-related
actions but also for the evaluation of these actions. In this context, the EMCDDA will continue to play a
vital role. With respect to comparable statistics, the EMCDDA will continue co-operation with Eurostat in
the framework of the Community statistical programme.

(2001/C 81 E/090)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1701/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Descriptions of eggs

There has been discussion in Sweden of whether Gr(cid:246)na Konsum is entitled to sell eggs described as
(cid:145)battery eggs(cid:146), (cid:145)free-range eggs(cid:146) and (cid:145)organic eggs(cid:146). Konsum oversees its suppliers very strictly and carries
out a separate salmonella control. The Swedish Food Administration (SFA), however, claims that the EU
has ruled that no descriptions may be used other than its own,
(cid:145)deep litter eggs,
maximum seven hens per square metre(cid:146),
(cid:145)deep litter eggs, more than seven hens per square metre(cid:146) and
(cid:145)semi-intensive eggs(cid:146). The SFA claims that Konsum cannot use its own descriptions of eggs but must
comply with the relevant EU regulation. Does the Commission share the SFA(cid:146)s point of view?

(cid:145)battery eggs(cid:146),

i.e.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 2000)

Yes, Article 18(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1274/91 (1) on common egg marketing standards, as amended
by Regulation (EEC) No 1221/92 (2) provides that no other terms except those set out in that Article may
be used in order to indicate types of farming on eggs and egg packs if the relevant conditions laid down in
Annex II of that Regulation are fulfilled.