WRITTEN QUESTION E-2890/00 by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Commission. Breakdown of EIB loans to SMEs and town councils in the Canary Islands (Spain), 1994-1999.
Date: 2000-09-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Canary Islands, EIB loan, airport, credit, small and medium-sized enterprises, telecommunications, water

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/219

(2001/C 81 E/284)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2800/00

by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 September 2000)

Subject: Additives in cigarettes

According to (cid:145)Nederlands Algemeen Dagblad(cid:146) of 3 August 2000, the Danish cigarette industry has
disclosed which substances are added to cigarettes to make smokers smoke more and, possibly, foster
addiction.

Apparently there are 37 substances (some of which are being kept secret), including ammonium hydrotine
to promote nicotine absorption into the lungs, liquorice extract, which suppresses irritation of the mucous
membrane in the mouth and throat, cocoa extract, which appears to enlarge lung surface, and magnesium
oxide, which gives exhaled smoke a neutral colour.

Is the Commission aware of this study?

Can the Commission identify the other 33 substances are and say what effects they have?

Does the Commission not think that smokers and non-smokers, the latter being,
in many instances,
passive smokers, are entitled to complete candour with regard to tobacco additives and, in particular, to
know whether these additives are dangerous and especially addictive?

Can the Commission force such transparency on the cigarette industry, and, if so, how and when can it
do so?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 September 2000)

The Commission is not aware of the enquiry mentioned by the Honourable Member. Consequently,
it cannot comment on the substances concerned. Any information in the possession of the Honourable
Member will, of course, be examined if communicated to the Commission.

The Commission has, however, proposed a directive in which rules are envisaged concerning non-tobacco
ingredients in tobacco products (1), whereby manufacturers or importers would be required to declare such
ingredients and their effects on health. The declaration on effects would cover both burnt and unburnt
forms of such ingredients, and include an analysis of their addictive qualities if appropriate. A common
position was adopted by the Council on 31 July 2000 (2).

(1) COM(2000) 428 final.
(2) unpublished to date.

(2001/C 81 E/285)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2890/00

by Isidoro SÆnchez Garc(cid:237)a (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 September 2000)

Subject: Breakdown of EIB loans to SMEs and town councils in the Canary Islands (Spain), 1994-1999

Commission sources indicate that between 1994 and 1999, the EIB granted PTA 22 084 million to SMEs
and town councils in the Canaries.

Will the Commission please detail the specific projects concerned, and give an exact breakdown of the
total figure?

C 81 E/220

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(3 October 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to his Written Question E-1997/00 (1).

(1) See p. 128.

(2001/C 81 E/286)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2895/00

by JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(6 September 2000)

Subject: Reappearance of the?militias(cid:146) in East Timor and the new EU policy for Indonesia

In recent weeks tensions have risen in East Timor, and incidents have occurred claiming fresh victims.
At the origin of this lies the renewed activity of the so-called (cid:145)militias(cid:146). It has been confirmed that East
Timor has been infiltrated by trained and armed elements originating in neighbouring West Timor.
According to UN sources, there appear to be (cid:145)over 100(cid:146) such armed infiltrators; other independent sources
suggest the number may be nearer 300. Evidence on the basis of those agents who have been detected
suggests that these people are (cid:145)former members of the Indonesian armed forces(cid:146) using material and
equipment of those forces.

Media reports have publicised these circumstances and the deep concern which they are generating,
affecting life and security in the territory and jeopardising the lives and safety of both native Timorese and
the civilian and military personnel of the UN and various humanitarian organisations.

The reactivation of these (cid:145)militias(cid:146) has only been possible thanks to the collaboration and training with
which they are still being provided in West Timor by influential elements in Indonesian society which are
hostile to peace and freedom for the Timorese and continue to enjoy unlimited freedom of movement
under the Indonesian regime, which itself remains subject to numerous factors of uncertainty. For a year
now reports have been accumulating of the wide freedom of movement enjoyed by the armed (cid:145)militias(cid:146) in
the displaced people(cid:146)s camps in East Timor and of the coercion which they are imposing on many of those
who fled to those camps in the wake of last year(cid:146)s brutal wave of military and paramilitary violence. These
phenomena have met with indifference or, at best, only minimal attention at official level internationally.

Even if today(cid:146)s circumstances are very different from those of a year ago, these developments have
reopened an old and unfortunate question, namely that of de facto duplicity on the part of Indonesia. One
may even ask whether the EU(cid:146)s launching of a (cid:145)new policy(cid:146) towards Indonesia was not in fact premature,
given that the Indonesian government has not been in a position to guarantee a correct attitude on the
part of all the authorities in the country (cid:129) including the (cid:145)de facto authorities(cid:146) (cid:129) towards the nation and
people of East Timor, and has not effectively prevented or punished, throughout its territory and especially
in West Timor, all actions carried out or planned against that nation and people.

Is the Commission aware of this grave resurgence of the (cid:145)militia crisis(cid:146), and is it taking a firm stand on the
matter with the Indonesian authorities? What guarantees has it obtained from the Indonesian authorities,
and how effective does it believe these to be in the light of the facts? Is the Commission considering taking
action if necessary to suspend the arrangements for closer cooperation launched by it in the meantime
under the (cid:145)new policy(cid:146) towards Indonesia?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(21 September 2000)

The Commission is aware of the situation referred to by the Honourable Member, in particular the actions
of the paramilitary units in the border region of East Timor.