WRITTEN QUESTION E-3232/00 by Stefano Zappalà (PPE-DE), Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE), Guido Viceconte (PPE-DE), Generoso Andria (PPE-DE), Amalia Sartori (PPE-DE), Giorgio Lisi (PPE-DE) and Mario Mantovani (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Female circumcision in the European Union.
Date: 2000-10-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, sexual mutilation

22.5.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/107

(2001/C 151 E/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3229/00

by Olivier Duhamel (PSE) to the Commission

(17 October 2000)

Subject: Sanctions in Austria

Paragraph 115 of the report by Mr Martti Ahtisaari, Mr Jochen Frontin and Mr Marcelino Oreja on the
situation in Austria emphasises that the measures implemented by the 14 EU Member States have
strengthened awareness of the importance of shared European values. In addition, there is no doubt that
in the case of Austria the measures taken by the 14 Member States have encouraged the Austrian
Government to step up its efforts. Moreover, they have also prompted civil society to defend these values.

On 16 September, the press reported a statement made by the President of the Commission in which he
seemed to regret the measures implemented between January and December 2000, and considered that in
future cases of a similar nature such decisions should be avoided. Through these remarks, is Mr Prodi
seeking to question the assessment of the EU(cid:146)s actions drawn up by the Three Wise Men?

Is Mr Prodi implying that the measures taken against the Austrian Government following the inclusion of
an extreme right-wing party in the ruling coalition should not only have been rescinded once their main
objectives had been reached, but should never have been taken in the first place?

If so, what grounds does the Commission President have for disputing the Wise Men(cid:146)s assessment?

If not, how does he justify his swingeing condemnation of the commitments to democracy made by the 14
Member States?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(5 December 2000)

The Commission, which took good note of the conclusions of Three Wise Men(cid:146)s report, welcomes the
outcome of this procedure, re-establishing, as it has, the traditional ties of friendship between the Member
States. The Commission would stress the importance of action by the Member States in helping to
promote shared values, including in the context of the specific problems and developments in Austria. It
would also reiterate its commitment
for fundamental rights and democratic principles,
to respect
particularly within the Member States of the Union.

The Honourable Member(cid:146)s attention is, nonetheless, drawn to the context in which the situation arose,
namely outside the scope of the Treaties, which lay down the conditions and procedures for the Union to
take action regarding compliance with fundamental rights and democratic principles. These conditions and
procedures were not called on in the situation under discussion.

(2001/C 151 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3232/00

by Stefano Zappal(cid:224) (PPE-DE), Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE),
Guido Viceconte (PPE-DE), Generoso Andria (PPE-DE), Amalia Sartori (PPE-DE),
Giorgio Lisi (PPE-DE) and Mario Mantovani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 October 2000)

Subject: Female circumcision in the European Union

Given that female circumcision:

(cid:129) is performed on children between the ages of 4 and 12 in around 20 African countries, ten south-east

Asian countries and also in Europe;

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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22.5.2001

(cid:129) consists of the removal of the clitoris, the labia minora and part of the labia majora, and in the
suturing of the vulva, with the attendant risk of mental trauma, tetanus, septicaemia, haemorrhaging,
sterility and even death (one case in every six);

(cid:129) has been performed on 140 million women worldwide, including 40 000 in Italy, where a further

20 000 are at risk;

(cid:129) is performed under cover in unhygienic conditions and in breach of laws on the subject (Sweden,

Norway, Germany and Belgium).

Will the Commission say:

1. how widespread this phenomenon is in the European Union and what national laws there are on this

matter?

2. whether it believes a proposal for Community legislation should be drawn up to combat this form of
torture, including even the withdrawal of economic aid for countries which authorise this practice (a
provision already adopted in the United States in 1996) and with provision for deinfibulation to be
performed on request under proper medical conditions and for appropriate public information,
awareness and education campaigns to be undertaken in non-Community countries?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(5 December 2000)

The Commission and the international community have recognised female genital mutilation (FGM)
1.
as a profound violation of the human rights of women. Every year an estimated 2 million young girls
undergo this procedure. Most live in Africa and Asia, but an increasing number can be found amongst
immigrant and refugee families in Western Europe and North America. The secretive nature of the practice
means that figures on the incidence of female circumcision in the Community are impossible to come by.
The British Medical Association estimated the number to be 3 000 every year in the United Kingdom.

The Daphne project on FGM in Europe carried out a study in 1998. It shows that the number of migrants
coming from FGM risk countries is highest in the United Kingdom (303 454 (cid:129) year not given), France
(180 997 in 1997), Italy (133 847 in 1996), Germany (77 795 in 1997) and the Netherlands (56 534 in
1996). Almost half of health care providers have been confronted with FGM complications, and most
(92 %) would never perform a FGM procedure (International Centre for Reproductive Health).

Specific laws prohibiting all or some forms of FGM exist in only a few States (Sweden, the United
Kingdom and Norway). In the rest of the Community general laws prohibit serious bodily injuries. Many
countries in Africa have also outlawed the practice. Sweden was one of the first countries to specifically
condemn FGM when it banned health professionals from performing the operation in 1982. The United
Kingdom condemned the practice in 1985 by the Prohibition of female circumcision Act. The act is
supplemented by the Children act 1989 which provides for the investigation of suspected violations and
empowers the courts to prohibit parents from moving their children from the country to have the
operation done elsewhere. In Norway the law on prohibiting genital mutilation entered into force in 1998.

The Commission is convinced that simply denouncing female genital mutilation and condemning
2.
those who perpetrate it would not bring about change. FGM will only disappear if people,
including
women, are convinced that they could give up the practice without giving up meaningful aspects of their
legislation; education of health and social workers and the
culture. Multifaceted strategies are needed:
dissemination of information emphasising the dangerous health consequences.

In 1999 the Commission approved support (€ 470 000) for a pilot activity in Southern Ethiopia by a local
organisation, with the specific purpose of decreasing FGM by 25 % in 2002.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/109

Within the new framework strategy on gender equality (2001-2005) (1), the Commission will do its utmost
to ensure that the issue of genital mutilation in the Member States retains its rightful place on the agenda
and that it receives the serious attention that it deserves from the Community. In this context, the
Commission will strengthen its information on human rights of women, both within the Community and
in development co-operation and will support networking in order to collect data on gender related
violations of human rights.

(1) COM(2000) 335 final.

(2001/C 151 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3241/00

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Health risks from adulterated butter

On 6 July 2000 the Commission issued a press release from its Anti-Fraud Office OLAF concerning a case
of fraud involving adulterated butter.

The above press release reports that, over a period of several years, members of a Camorra clan operating
in the Naples area had been producing adulterated butter on a large scale and marketing it with the help of
Italian, French and Belgian firms.

The adulterated butter was composed of almost one third chemical additives, vegetable fat, beef tallow and
other substances normally intended for use in cosmetics. In all, around 16 000 tonnes of adulterated butter
were produced between 1997 and 1999.

Some of the adulterated butter was exported to third countries, with export refunds being paid from the
Community budget. Some was used in baking, again receiving aid from the Community budget.

The above press release does not contain any information on possible health risks.

Can the Commission confirm that information from the Italian revenue police conducting the

1.
investigations indicated that there was a health risk?

2. When was the competent Directorate-General at the Commission notified, and what information
does it have on the extent of the danger posed by the substances used and the nature of the risk to health?

3. When and how were the competent health authorities in the Member States informed?

Does the Commission now have a list of firms which processed the adulterated butter in the form of

4.
biscuits, cake, ice-cream or other foodstuffs? If not, why not? If so, can it supply a copy of this list?

5. Where were the products concerned sold, and what action did the Commission take to ensure that
remaining stocks were taken off the shelves?

6. What conclusions does the Commission draw from the fact that fraud on such a large scale,
involving leading firms, was clearly detected mainly by chance in the course of anti-mafia investigations
rather than through checks carried out by the authorities responsible for health protection?