WRITTEN QUESTION E-2280/00 by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission. Repeal of the opium act for the transport of research medicines within EU Member States.
Date: 2000-07-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: derogation from EU law, medical research, medicinal product, narcotic, pharmaceutical legislation, therapeutics

C 136 E/16

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

The option to be taxed as a resident taxpayer has to be exercised by both spouses/partners jointly in order
to avoid that couples accumulate allowances in both Member States concerned. If they make the election,
the partner of the non-resident, who may for example be living in Belgium or Germany, will also receive
the tax part of the levy rebate. However, the partner will not be entitled to receive the social security part.

This system does not appear to be in conflict with the free movement principle, since the choice is left to
those concerned to opt for a solution which takes into account their personal situation in a non-
discriminatory way.

(1) OJ L 257, 19.10.1968.

(2001/C 136 E/016)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2280/00

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Repeal of the opium act for the transport of research medicines within EU Member States

The EGASIS research project is currently under way in Europe. This is a clinical trial of the effect of
Diapezam, a medicine administered in the acute phase after a stroke. The aim is to test whether the risk
of poor prognosis (death or serious handicap) can be reduced, measured over three months. This sort of
clinical trial requires large numbers of patients for the research to be carried out. Accordingly, it cannot be
conducted in one country alone, but a number of European countries are asked to take part. In practice,
however it is difficult to convey the research medication to the place of destination. This is because some
medicines (including Diapezam) are covered by the Opium Act which means that a special exemption has
to be obtained per country for importing these medicines. The exemption is valid for only a limited
quantity of medication and for a limited period. This makes the logistics of supplying the participating
European centres extremely difficult.

Is the Commission aware of these problems with the transport of medicines covered by the Opium

1.
Act for clinical trials?

Does the Commission agree that a general exemption from this rule for specific instances,

2.
e.g. a multinational medical research, should be made available?

Reply given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Pharmaceutical law does not exclude control measures, particularly those relating to transport or other
administrative or police measures adopted by Member States, notably for implementing applicable
international agreements for restricting or setting conditions for the transport of medicinal products
which are or could be equated with narcotic substances, or substances capable of causing dependence.

(2001/C 136 E/017)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2309/00

by Ari Vatanen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: Coordination of the Interreg and TACIS CBC programmes on the border between the EU and

Russia

The land border between the EU and Russia marks the world(cid:146)s largest gap in living standards, which
Commissioner Barnier has been able to see for himself on 29/30 June. There are problems with decision-
making in the TACIS CBC and Interreg programmes which hamper the coordination of EU-Russia border