WRITTEN QUESTION E-1895/00 by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Council. Forest fires in contaminated areas of Belarus and Ukraine.
Date: 2000-06-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belarus, EU programme, Ukraine, fire, nuclear accident, nuclear safety, public health, radioactive pollution

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/49

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 2000)

The Commission has suggested to the Group of Eight most industrialised countries (G8) launching the
E-development initiative at the Okinawa Summit, just concluded. The E-development initiative seeks to
promote the dialogue with developing countries aiming at their integration into the global economy. The
Commission is ready to play its part and has in particular suggested a focus on three key areas: developing
infrastructure and improving connectivity, fostering the provision of basic social services and building
human capacity, encouraging market friendly policies and ensuring policy coherence.

Indeed the Commission is of the opinion that the information society can take root in developing
countries only by looking at a broad spectrum of interrelated issues, information and communication
technology (ICT) capacity development being one of the many aspects. It is important, however, to bear in
mind that the impact of ICT on poor people and low income countries is not immediate. Billions of poor
people do not have access to basic infrastructure like electricity and telephone lines, a precondition for
profiting from new technologies.

The Commission is already active operationally in support of the information society in developing
countries through its External relations and Development Directorates general
(DGs), as well as its
Information society DG. In particular the Commission has put in place a major ICT programme for the
Mediterranean region, the Euro-Mediterranean information society initiative (Eumedis) which encompasses
five strategic sectors (education, e-commerce, health, cultural heritage/tourism, industry/innovation) and
includes a specific effort to improve the connectivity between the networks. Eumedis has a total budget of
€ 45 million. In addition, a specific project aiming at the modernisation of telecommunications regulatory
frameworks in the same area has been launched with a budget of € 2,5 million.

A comprehensive programme for Asia, called Asia-ICT,
is under implementation (total budget € 25
million). The general objective of the programme is to utilise fully the potential of information and
communication technology for areas of particular relevance to the socio-economic development of Asian
societies and countries and to assist in the integration of the participating countries in South and South
East Asia into the global information society. It will improve the level of mutual comprehension, stimulate
linkages and support the development of applications to priority sectors eg agriculture, education, health,
transport, social fields, tourism, intelligent manufacturing and electronic commerce.

Action in this sector in Latin America is among the priorities decided by the Heads of State and
government at the Rio summit in June 1999. The Commission is preparing a communication on the
follow-up of the Rio summit.

In May 2000, the Commission signed a co-financing agreement for the African Virtual University (AVU)
together with the World Bank and other donors. The AVU delivers teaching via the internet in various
disciplines, including ICT education. The Community contribution of € 1,1 million is the only Community-
funded activity in the African, Caribbean and Pacific region that covers ICT education (see:www.avu.org).

(2001/C 113 E/044)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1895/00

by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Council

(19 June 2000)

Subject: Forest fires in contaminated areas of Belarus and Ukraine

Is it true that forest fires have broken out in Belarus and Ukraine in areas contaminated as a result of

1.
the Chernobyl disaster?

2.

Are these fires causing increased risks to public health within and outside those countries?

C 113 E/50

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

3.

4.

Are the fires, or have they already been, a reason for action by the European Union?

In what way is the EU helping to deal with contamination risks in Belarus and Ukraine?

Reply

(20 November 2000)

The Council is aware that forest fires broke out in May 2000 in forests contaminated as a result of the
Chernobyl accident.

The Council has not been informed of notable increases in radioactivity nor of any increased risk to public
health caused by these fires. The Council is aware that research projects undertaken by the Commission
have shown that the risk of radioactivity spreading as a result of forest fires is marginal.

The Council understands that the Commission is keeping the situation under permanent review in the
framework of several nuclear safety programmes for Eastern Europe and will induce action if necessary.

The Council recalls that, as result of the disaster of Chernobyl, the Community has provided assistance to
build a shelter for the reactor, to improve radioactive waste management, to assist in decontaminating the
affected region and to install a system for monitoring radiation in air and river water.

(2001/C 113 E/045)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1904/00

by Nirj Deva (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: EC PHARE programme tender li 9701.01.04.02

Understanding that bids for contracts under this programme can only be accepted for full lots and that all
the equipment must be of EC or PHARE programme country of origin, can the Commission please advise
who won the contracts under this tender, lot by lot, and what equipment (make and model) was included
in the successful bids?

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(1 December 2000)

Because of the length of the answer, which includes a number of tables, the Commission is sending it
direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(2001/C 113 E/046)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1918/00

by Paulo Casaca (PSE) to the Council

(19 June 2000)

Subject: Restrictions on the granting of visas to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals

On 26 January 2000 the Commission proposed to the Member States that Bulgaria and Romania be
withdrawn from the black list of third countries whose nationals require a visa to enter Union territory.