WRITTEN QUESTION E-2289/00 by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Health promotion funding.
Date: 2000-07-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, EU programme, public health

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/175

According to Article 8 of Decision 1692/96/EC, when projects, identified as projects of common interest
in the trans-European transport network, are developed and carried out, environmental protection must be
taken into account by the Member States through execution of environmental impact assessments which
are to be implemented pursuant to Directive 85/337/EEC, amended by Directive 97/11/EC (4) and through
the application of Directive 92/43/EEC (5). In case certain organizations or people are doubtful about the
proper implementation of the relevant stipulations of these directives they are invited to report the
possible misapplication to the Commission. However, on the basis of the information given by the
Honourable Member, due to a lack of grounds of complaint on the application of Community law, no
breach of it can be identified at present.

(1) Decision No 1692/96/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community Guidelines

for the development of a trans-European transport network (OJ L 228, 9.9.1996).

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 of 18 September 1995 laying down general rules for the granting of
Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks, amended by Regulation No 1655/1999 of the
Parliament and of the Council of 19 July 1999 (OJ L 197, 29.7.1999).

(3) COM(92) 494 final.
(4) Council Directive No 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private
projects on the environment, amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 (OJ L 73, 14.3.1997).
(5) Council Directive No 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and

flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992).

(2001/C 89 E/196)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2289/00

by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: Health promotion funding

Is the Commission aware that, whereas bids for the health promotion action programme were submitted
in response to the September 1999 invitation on the announced basis of a funding split of 90 % EU grant
and 10 % applicant
funding, applicant organisations have now been told that, without warning or
consultation, the funding split has been changed to 70 % and 30 % respectively; is the Commission further
aware of the negative impact this will have on small but efficient organisations who have provided quality
work for the Commission in the past; and will the Commission reconsider this, particularly for smaller
organisations deemed to be (cid:145)in partnership(cid:146) as applies in other directorates?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

At no time has the Commission announced that the normal basis for funding under health programmes
was 90 % Community grant and 10 % applicant funding.

In 1999, as an indication to applicants, the call for proposals mentioned that the average funding for 1998
projects was about 60 %. No other indication was given as to a minimum or maximum amount in
percentage for the Community funding.

It is true that in 1999, a few projects were financed up to 90 % of eligible direct costs. In the application
form,
it was always clearly stipulated that this was an absolute and exceptional maximum that the
Commission would allow, the actual grant being decided by the Commission, on a case to case basis. The
programme committee was fully informed of this.

However in 1999 it was decided that the funding would normally be limited to a maximum of 70 % of
eligible costs. Otherwise, the viability of the beneficiary and of the proposed action may be doubtful and
the Commission grant loses its incentive and complementary nature.

C 89 E/176

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

This kind of approach has been confirmed by the Parliament, when it adopted the budget 2000 requesting
specifically that all grants should include at least a co-financing part of 20 % coming from the beneficiary
(comment to budget line A-302).

(2001/C 89 E/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2290/00

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: DOTS anti-tuberculosis drugs programme

Is the Commission aware of the DOTS anti-tuberculosis drugs programme, which has been highly praised
by the World Bank and the WHO?

What support is the EU presently giving to the DOTS drugs programme?

What EU support is planned for the DOTS programme in the future?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 2000)

The Commission is aware and fully supportive of World Health Organisation (WHO) activities on
tuberculosis (TB), such as the (cid:145)Stop TB(cid:146) initiative, based on the directly observed therapy short course
(DOTS) strategy.

Many initiatives undertaken by the Community are important for TB control in Europe and in the rest of
the world, such as the Community network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of commu-
nicable diseases (1), that brings into permanent communication the institutes and public health authorities
dealing with infectious diseases. The Community action programme on acquired immune deficiency
syndrome (AIDS) and other communicable diseases (2), provides financial assistance to projects such as
Euro-TB (surveillance of tuberculosis in 51 countries of the WHO European Region). Assistance pro-
grammes in favour of Central Eastern European Countries and New Independent States provide funding for
projects in the area of disease prevention and control and health care system reform. The Commission
plans to implement a Tacis project in Ukraine under the action programme 2000 to assist in combating
TB by implementing the WHO recommended DOTS strategy, and by producing TB drugs that are
compliant with good manufacturing practices.

In the field of development policy the Community has recently reiterated its commitment to combat the
three major health scourges in Africa, human immunodeficiecy virus (HIV)/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
In the context of
the
Commission finances a project in Zambia aimed at the decentralization of TB treatment by using the
DOTS strategy (€ 1 million).

the international cooperation with developing countries (INCO) programme,

Through humanitarian aid during the last years the Commission has supported TB control projects in
Russia based on the DOTS strategy with a financial contribution of about € 3 million. Furthermore, the
Commission has funded other projects related to TB control in Russia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine for a
total of about € 8 million.

In Community research policy under the fifth framework programme,
(cid:145)Research for development(cid:146) is a
priority area in international cooperation, and (cid:145)Infectious diseases(cid:146) is a key action that supports major
projects on TB vaccine and drug development, as well as on epidemiology and diagnosis.