WRITTEN QUESTION E-2627/00 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Adoption and assisted procreation for homosexual couples.
Date: 2000-08-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: LGBTIQ persons, adoption of a child, anti-discriminatory measure, artificial reproduction, marriage

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/57

(2001/C 136 E/063)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2627/00

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: Adoption and assisted procreation for homosexual couples

Given that all citizens have the right to express their ideas in public and must not suffer discrimination on
the grounds of sex, race, disability, age, political beliefs, or sexual orientation, and that the Union is
founded on the principles of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms,
and the rule of law,

Can the Commission say:

1. what is the Union(cid:146)s view on adoption of children by and assisted procreation for homosexual couples;

2. whether the intention is to equate homosexual couples with the traditional family in the strict sense?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2000)

The Commission is not aware that the Union has expressed a position on the issues referred to by the
Honourable Member.

(2001/C 136 E/064)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2630/00

by Jorge Moreira Da Silva (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: Toys contained in foodstuffs

The ninth recital of Directive 88/378 (1) on the safety of toys states that all toys placed on the market must
comply with essential requirements in terms of health and safety.

The Directive covers, in particular, risks associated with (cid:145)toys and their parts and the packaging in which
they are contained for retail sale(cid:146), which (cid:145)must not present risk of strangulation or suffocation(cid:146).

The Directive recognises that allowance should also be made for any foreseeable use by children, who
naturally (cid:145)do not generally show the same degree of care as the average adult user(cid:146). The increase in risk as
a result of the age factor should, therefore, be taken into account in any risk assessment of toys. This is
particularly the case with toys sold in conjunction with foodstuffs, where smaller children may be exposed
to the additional risk of confusion between foodstuff and toy.

Accidents involving children have already occurred in a number of Member States, particularly where toys
are contained in foodstuffs, as is the case with chocolate eggs. In the United Kingdom, three fatal accidents
have already occurred and research carried out in Greece and Germany indicates that a large number of
non-fatal accidents occur every year, although they do not require hospital admission.

All the products which cause such accidents and which display the CE symbol are marked as (cid:145)not suitable
for children under 36 months(cid:146). All the accidents which have occurred have, however, involved children
over that age.

1.
In view of the above facts, does the Commission consider that the compulsory warning concerning
the unsuitability of toys for children below a certain age is sufficient to ensure that the Directive(cid:146)s health
and safety objectives are achieved?