WRITTEN QUESTION E-1949/00 by Ulla Sandbæk (EDD) to the Commission. Biomedical ethics and bioethics.
Date: 2000-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU research policy, bio-ethics

C 72 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(4 July 2000)

The accession negotiations embrace all areas of Community legislation and policy, that is the (cid:145)acquis(cid:146),
which each applicant will have to adopt and implement fully by the time of accession to the Union.
Property restitution is not covered by the (cid:145)acquis(cid:146) and the matter is not currently being dealt with in the
accession negotiations.

The Commission is following the developments with regard to restitution of property in the context of its
bilateral relations with Slovenia. This issue has recently been raised at the last meeting of the Community-
Slovenia Association Council held in Luxembourg on 14 June 2000 where the Commission recommended
to Slovenia to speed up the process of property restitution and to clarify the legal situation in this respect.

(2001/C 72 E/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1949/00

by Ulla Sandb(cid:230)k (EDD) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Biomedical ethics and bioethics

the aims of

and Council Decision No 182/1999/EC (1) of
One of
22 December 1998 concerning the fifth framework programme for research is (cid:145)the study of problems
relating to biomedical ethics and bioethics in the context of respect for fundamental human values.(cid:146)

the European Parliament

I have the impression, however, that this area has gradually been downgraded in terms of priority. While
the fourth framework programme for research had an allocation of € 30 million, the fifth framework
programme has only € 10 million. Of this sum only € 2,5 million had been distributed at the time of the
last disbursement, which means that only very few projects can benefit.

Firstly, how and to what extent was the GAEIB(cid:146)s opinion No 10 taken as the basis for the current priorities
in this area and, secondly, how does the Commission envisage biomedical ethics and bioethics being
retained as a research sector?

(1) OJ L 26, 1.2.1999, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2000)

The Honourable Member correctly points out that under the fifth framework programme for research the
level of financial support so far attributed to the study of problems relating to (cid:145)biomedical ethics and
bioethics in the context of fundamental human values(cid:146) has been at a lower level than in the previous
framework programme.

This is mainly due to the limited funding available for the whole area of generic activities in the
programme (cid:145)Quality of life and management of living resources(cid:146) (QoL) of which research on biomedical
ethics and bioethics is just one part.

As outlined in the Commission(cid:146)s communication of January 2000 on the European research area (1), the
Commission attaches great importance to the development of a shared vision on ethical issues in Europe,
especially in the context of life sciences. Research on bio-ethics will play an indispensable role in this
context.

Opinion No 10 of the Group of advisors for the ethical implications of biotechnology had indeed drawn
the attention of the Commission to the necessity of research.

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/157

The Commission is examining means of redistributing priorities within the generic activities of the QoL
programme, perhaps by means of additional calls for proposals for research on biomedical ethics and
bioethics, in line with the realization of the concept of a European research area.

(1) COM(2000) 6 final.

(2001/C 72 E/198)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1955/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Compensation for mussel farmers in Northern Greece

(16 June 2000)

Shell-fish producers in the Thessalonki and Piria regions have incurred heavy losses of income owing to
problems in these sea areas. Furthermore, unless the dead shell-fish (mussels) are gathered up by the fish
farms, serious environmental problems will arise due to the decomposition of the mussels on the sea-bed.

Has Greece submitted an application for the compensation of mussel farmers who have suffered

1.
losses?

Given the danger of environmental damage to the sea areas of Thessaloniki and Piria area, is there

2.
any prospect of funding for the work needed to clear the sea of the dead shell-fish?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 2000)

1.
Greece has notified the Commission of a projected state aid scheme aimed at enabling the Greek
Government to grant assistance to mussel farmers and mussel fishermen in the Gulf of Thermaikos on
account of the contamination of mussel production.

This notification was registered on 26 May 2000 and is currently being examined by the Commission.

On the basis of a decision to be taken at national

level, measures aimed at restructuring and
2.
improving the contaminated areas could benefit from assistance under Council Regulation(EC) No 2792/
1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community
structural assistance in the fisheries sector (1) within the context of the structural operational programme
for fisheries.

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.

(2001/C 72 E/199)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1956/00

by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Professional affiliations and backgrounds of the members of the expert panel on Atomic Energy

Questions

Will the Commission list the present members of the expert panel on Atomic Energy Questions along with
their professional affiliations and backgrounds and state what consideration has been given to appointing
qualified members of Non-Governmental Organisations to the AEQ panel and to encouraging Member
States to make such recommendations?