WRITTEN QUESTION E-1744/00 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Haemophiliacs.
Date: 2000-05-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: AIDS, EU Member State, EU statistics, blood disease, blood transfusion, infectious disease

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/107

(2001/C 72 E/132)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1741/00

by Andrew Duff (ELDR) to the Council

(5 June 2000)

Subject: The IGC

In a speech in Brussels on 10 May, the French Minister with responsibility for European Affairs promised
to work (cid:145)actively and in good faith(cid:146) with the European Parliament.

In that case, why does Mr Moscovici believe that Parliament is not to be trusted with decisions about its
own working arrangements?

What does he believe to be the essential qualities of a venue of an international parliament?

How does the Strasbourg venue assist the efficiency and effectiveness of the European Parliament?

Reply

(28 September 2000)

As the Honourable Member will appreciate, the Council can only speak on specific matters where it has
reached a collective view or decision. As far as the venue of the European Parliament is concerned, this is
laid down in paragraph (a) of the Treaty protocol on the location of the seats of the institutions. It would
be entirely inappropriate for the Council as an institution to comment on views expressed by any
individual member.

(2001/C 72 E/133)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1744/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Haemophiliacs

Would the Commission provide the following information on haemophiliacs in EU countries:

1. The number/percentage of haemophiliacs in each Member State

2. The percentage of haemophiliacs in each Member State infected with the HIV virus

3. The percentage of haemophiliacs in each Member State infected with the Hepatitis C virus

4. Which Member States pay compensation to haemophiliacs who have been given either of these

viruses through contaminated blood products.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(29 June 2000)

The Commission does not collect information on the number of haemophilia patients in each Member
State, the percentage infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), nor the percentage infected with
hepatitis C. The incidence of haemophilia in the general population, however,
is estimated to be
approximately 1 in 10 000.

It is understood that compensation or financial assistance has been provided to people with haemophilia
who are infected with HIV through blood products in nearly all the Member States.

C 72 E/108

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

In relation to hepatitis C virus (HCV) compensation, an information compiled by the European Haemo-
philia Consortium in 1999 is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(2001/C 72 E/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1745/00

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Transport

Now that the Rail Europ Card for pensioners which, hitherto, allowed them to travel at a reduced fare is
being abolished, what system does the Commission intend to set up to replace it with a view to providing
pensioners with the possibility of cheaper travel by rail in the future?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(13 July 2000)

The Commission wishes to underline that the Rail Europ Card the Honourable Member mentions was not
introduced by the Commission nor was the Commission involved in this scheme of reduced fares. The Rail
Europ Card was a special fare offered by rail operators. If these operators feel that this type of fare is no
longer commercially viable they are free to abolish it. The Commission wishes to recall in this context that
Council Directive 91/440/EEC on the development of the Community(cid:146)s railways (1) obliges Member States
to render their railway undertakings independent as regards, inter alia, fares. The Commission has no plans
to introduce any scheme that would give pensioners an entitlement to rail travel at reduced fares.

Member States may offer travel at reduced fares to senior citizens as long as the rules on public services,
where they apply, are respected. The Commission has no such powers.

(1) OJ L 237, 24.8.1991.

(2001/C 72 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1751/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Location of a high-voltage underground electrical power line in a residential area

Residents of the municipality of Rio, who have appealed to the State Council, protest that a decision has
been taken to run the main South Greece-Pelopponese high-voltage electrical power line along the Phidias
road to the area of Kastellokampos, where two underground 175 000 volt cables will be placed at a depth
of only 1 metre.

The cables will pass very close to houses in a purely residential area and this is causing serious concerns
about the health of the residents, threatened by future carcinogens. In view of this, can the Commission:

1.

2.

say whether the necessary technical studies and environmental impact assessments have been carried
out and whether all the necessary permits have been granted for the work?

intervene to bring about a review of the decision to route the line through a residential area and a
search for an alternative solution that will not pose a threat to the health of the residents, and will in
addition safeguard the balance of the environment?