WRITTEN QUESTION E-2770/00 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Electromagnetic waves.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: electromagnetic interference, non-ionising radiation, radiation protection, regulation of telecommunications

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/171

Considering the large variety of sea areas and nautical conditions in Community waters, and bearing in
mind the principle of subsidiarity, the Commission has no intention at present to propose additional
measures.

As regards the measures taken by the authorities of Hong Kong, these have to be seen in light of the
conditions prevailing in those waters.

(1) OJ L 144, 15.5.1998.

(2001/C 113 E/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2768/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE), Martin Callanan (PPE-DE),
Robert Goodwill (PPE-DE), Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE)
and Timothy Kirkhope (PPE-DE) to the Council

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Immigration control within the Union

Is the Council in a position to verify whether or not the 58 Chinese citizens found dead on arrival at
Dover had indeed been discovered and interviewed by Belgian police several weeks before and then
released, whether it is satisfied that Member States are abiding by their obligations under the Dublin
Convention, and whether Belgium, in particular, is meeting its obligations on immigration control?

Reply

(16 November 2000)

It is not within the competence of the Council to verify the type of situation mentioned by the

1.
Honorable Member.

2.
Control of the Member States(cid:146) obligations under the Dublin Convention is the responsibility of the
Committee set up by Article 18 of that Convention. In accordance with paragraph 2 of that article, that
Committee can examine, at the request of one or more Member States, any question of a general nature
concerning the application of the Convention.

3. With the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty, immigration, visa and asylum issues fall within
Community competence under Title IV TEC. It therefore belongs to the Commission, as guardian of the
Treaties, to verify whether Member States comply with their obligations in respect of such issues.

(2001/C 113 E/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2770/00

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Electromagnetic waves

About one year ago the Rome city authorities adopted a decision allowing tenants of buildings owned by
companies to oppose the installation of relay masts and setting new limits governing the siting of such
masts, particularly in the vicinity of schools and hospitals

However, in the district of Torrino, Rome, residents of buildings owned by various companies (Inpdai,
Enasarco NPDAP and others) have not had the opportunity to oppose the installation of masts, because the
companies themselves have signed agreements with the various telephone companies.

C 113 E/172

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

Since 1997, 460 masts have been installed in the city of Rome alone, in addition to the 150 existing prior
to that date. The consumers(cid:146) association, Codacons, has carried out a number of studies into the dangers
posed by the electromagnetic fields generated by such masts, reaching the conclusion that long-term
exposure to these waves leads to a decrease in melatonin, weakening the immune system.

In the light of the above:

1. Are there any directives governing the uncontrolled installation of masts generating electromagnetic

fields?

2. Does the Commission not think that local residents should be involved in decisions on the installation

of such masts?

3. What are the Commission(cid:146)s general views on this matter?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2000)

The Community regulatory framework on telecommunications in a competitive environment establishes
the principle of the national regulatory authority of each Member State being responsible for supervision,
and intervention where necessary, on matters related to the installation of antennas and other facility
sharing arrangements required by mobile operators for the deployment of its network infrastructure. In
particular under Article 9(2) of Directive 97/33/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997
on interconnection in telecommunications with regard to ensuring universal service and interoperability
through application of the principles of open network provision (ONP) (1) the national regulatory authority
is empowered to set out ex ante conditions to ensure the maintenance of essential requirements including
maximum levels of electromagnetic radiation of antennas for the protection of public health. Moreover,
the Community has provided further guidance to Member States to exercise its responsibility in this regard
with the publication of Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of
exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (0Hz to 300 Ghz) (2).

Italian legislation and rules on the limits for the exposure to the general public to electromagnetic fields,
including technical conditions for the safety installation of antennas and maximum emission of electro-
magnetic fields (Italian Ministerial Decree No381 of 10 September 1998) are considered to be generally in
line with international standards and recommendations, for example, those included in Council Recom-
mendation 1999/519/EC even if they are not legally binding. The full respect of the basic restrictions and
reference levels included in the Recommendation will ensure users a high level of protection against acute
and long-term effects of non-ionising radiation emitted by such devices. Obviously, those rules have to be
enforced via local implementation and a competent control body should ensure that the protection and
quality objectives adopted by the legislator are respected in all cases, and this responsibility belongs to the
Italian authorities.

(1) OJ L 199, 26.7.1997.
(2) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.

(2001/C 113 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2773/00

by Carl Lang (TDI) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Democracy in Poland

More than ten years after the fall of the Berlin wall, opponents of the Communist dictatorship in Poland
are still suffering political persecution and discrimination, particularly with regard to their social rights.