WRITTEN QUESTION E-2936/00 by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Council. Cyprus.
Date: 2000-09-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cyprus, Türkiye, harbour installation, international sanctions, right of asylum, vessel

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/21

what measures does the Commission intend to take to tackle the problem of the electronic sale of
medicinal products? This is particularly important with a view to protecting the health of European
citizens and safeguarding the system of marketing authorisations, which guarantees that in Europe only
medicines which meet certain criteria of safety, quality and efficacy may be marketed.

(1) OJ L 144, 4.6.1997, p. 19.
(2) OJ L 202, 30.7.1997, p. 60.
(3) OJ L 113, 30.4.1992, p. 13.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(23 November 2000)

The Commission is aware of a possible threat to the health of European citizens resulting from the sale of
medicinal products over the internet by companies established outside Europe.

Within Europe, a high level of protection is achieved by a number of specific Community directives and
national practices governing the authorisation, the advertising and the distribution and sale of pharmaceu-
ticals. The recently adopted Directive 2000/31/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2000 on
in the internal
certain legal aspects of information society services,
market (Directive on electronic commerce) (1) provides for transparency requirements and efficient control
in the Member State where the online service provider is established, and administrative co-operation
among Member States.

in particular electronic commerce,

the internet

the global nature of

increases the possibility of

However,
the advertising and sale of
pharmaceuticals to European consumers by operators from third countries bypassing the protection
provided by these Community directives. A considerable amount of work has been taken forward at the
international level (cid:129) led in particular by the World Health Organisation with the participation of the
Commission and the american Food and drugs administration (FDA) (cid:129) to ensure that patients are aware of
the risks in using unregulated internet sites. In addition, the Commission has launched work with the
Member States(cid:146) authorities to address this problem. In this context, the Commission recommends inter alia
the promotion of codes of conduct and the possible use of awareness campaigns for consumers.

therefore, whilst

In summary,
there is no restriction in Community legislation which prevents the
establishment of electronic pharmacies, such developments in Europe must (cid:129) if they are permitted by
Member States (cid:129) meet the terms of European legislation in this area. These provisions require that patients
have access to approved information only; that prescription-only medicines are delivered to patients who
can provide a prescription that reflects a meaningful contact with a qualified medical professional; and that
a qualified pharmacist is responsible for oversight of the dispensing process (when and as foreseen by
national
legislation). Such provisions would be the minimum requirements to which an electronic
pharmacy operating in the Community would be subject.

(1) OJ L 178, 17.7.2000.

(2001/C 163 E/020)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2936/00

by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Council

(20 September 2000)

Subject: Cyprus

Can the Council indicate what action it intends to take against Turkey in order to secure the lifting of the
illegal embargo by that country against any merchant ships that have visited ports in Cyprus, and can it
explain to Parliament why no action has been taken hitherto?

C 163 E/22

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

Reply

(26 February 2001)

The Council

is perfectly aware of the specific issue raised by the Honourable Member, which,
1.
moreover, concerns not only the relations governed by agreement between the EU and Turkey, but also
other international obligations on the part of Turkey. As early as 1998 the Presidency of the Union raised
this problem with the Turkish side in the margins of a meeting at the OECD. Likewise, the matter is
regularly on the agenda for the proceedings of the Joint Committee of the Customs Union bringing
together the EU and Turkey, and, in particular, was discussed at the Committee(cid:146)s meeting on 8 December
2000.

2.
In addition, at a meeting of the Council(cid:146)s competent preparatory bodies, the Commission, which,
within its sphere of competence, also has to address the matter, announced that it had raised this problem
with the Turkish side last October during the first round of negotiations with Turkey on services and
public procurement. It also raises the matter regularly in its periodic reports on the progress made by
Turkey towards accession, and notably in its last report dated 13 November 2000.

3.
The Council would remind the Honourable Member that in its address before the UN General
Assembly on 12 September 2000, the Presidency, speaking on behalf of the Union, considered that the
status quo in Cyprus was unacceptable and stated that it supported the UN Secretary-General(cid:146)s efforts to
reach a negotiated, overall, just and lasting settlement in line with the Security Council(cid:146)s resolutions.

(2001/C 163 E/021)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2954/00

by Emmanouil Mastorakis (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Presentation of report on economic and social cohesion

(20 September 2000)

Under the terms of Article 159 of the Treaty, the Commission is at least a year late in submitting its
second report on the progress made in achieving economic and social cohesion in the regions of the
European Union.

In view of the fact that the data and proposals in the report will obviously form the basis for setting a new
strategy for economic and social cohesion, when will the Commission be ready to present the report?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(8 November 2000)

The EC Treaty, as the Honourable Member points out, requires the Commission to report on economic
and social cohesion every three years. The first report was adopted in November 1996 (1), so the second
one was due at the end of 1999. However, it was decided to postpone the preparation and publication of
the second report until the beginning of 2001, for the following reasons.

The Sixth Periodic Report on the social and economic situation and development of the regions of the
European Union (2) was published early in 1999. Since no more recent figures were available by the end of
1999 as a basis for drawing up the cohesion report, this would have meant that the Commission would
have adopted two reports containing largely the same statistical data.

implementation of

The first phase of
i.e.
determining the areas eligible under Objectives 1 and 2, adoption of the Community support frameworks
and single programming documents for Objective 1, and ex ante evaluations, will provide the Commission
with more relevant information than was available a year earlier.

the new rules for the 2000-2006 programming period,