WRITTEN QUESTION E-3260/00 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Presence of tropical insects in Europe.
Date: 2000-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: climate change, disease prevention, disease vector, environmental impact, health control, health policy, insect, tropical disease

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/217

Further to the general trend mentioned above, the development of employment in the postal sector
3.
of each Member State will depend on many factors, such as the current extent of market opening, the
achievements of existing operators, mergers and acquisitions or even market growth. The Commission has
detailed data on each Member State as published by the national authorities, and these supplement the
information provided by the above-mentioned study.

(1) OJ L 15, 21.1.1998.
(2) http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/en/postal/evolframe/studies/pwc1.pdf.

(2001/C 136 E/254)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3260/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Presence of tropical insects in Europe

The Italian press has published reports of deaths caused by stings from insects previously unknown in Italy
and thought to be of tropical origin. In the case of a young woman from Cologno Monzese there was talk
of blood poisoning, caused by her being bitten by a tropical spider carrying a rare disease known as
Moschcowitz(cid:146)s disease. The resulting alarm among the population is linked to the fear that the presence of
tropical insects is caused by goods or persons entering the country illegally, i.e. without being checked by
the health authorities. On the other hand, the University of Parma is talking about climate change turning
Italy into a subtropical country. The World Health Organisation has long since raised the alarm about this,
calling on the competent authorities to take precautionary measures.

Can the Commission say whether:

1.

2.

3.

4.

it is aware of this situation;

it knows about the precautionary measures taken by the Italian health authorities;

if the claims made by academic experts are accurate, what steps it intends to take to safeguard public
health;

there are any appropriate measures (vaccinations, anti-viral treatments, etc.) to ensure immunity
against stings and bites from insects which are still unknown in Italy and Europe in general?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 2000)

The Commission is sensitive to the public concern that the increased circulation of goods and people as
well as environmental changes, in particular global climate change, could lead to a change in geographical
distribution of insects or other vectors of disease.

The specific case to which the Honourable Member refers has so far not been reported by the Italian health
authorities in the early warning system of the Community network for the epidemiological surveillance
and control of communicable diseases (1). This system foresees that Member States shall communicate to
the Community network, among other cases, information on unusual epidemic phenomena, new commu-
nicable diseases of unknown origin, as well as the appearance or resurgence of a communicable diseases or
an infectious agent which may require timely, coordinated Community action to contain it.

Many initiatives undertaken by the Community aim at protecting public health from the potential
increased risk due to climate change, such as the above mentioned Community network which brings
into permanent communication the institutes and public health authorities dealing with infectious diseases;
the proposed programme of Community action in the field of public health (2001-2006) (2) which
explicitly foresees as specific objectives and actions responding rapidly to health threats, enhancing the
capacity to tackle communicable diseases and addressing health determinants related to the environment;
and Community environmental policy which places the Community at the forefront of the international

C 136 E/218

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

community(cid:146)s efforts to combat climate change (the latest monitoring data indicate that the Community is
on track to fulfil its obligation under the United Nations (UN) Framework convention on climate change to
ensure that its greenhouse gas emissions this year are no greater than in 1990) and finally Community
research policy under which (fifth framework programme) the relationship between climate change and
health is investigated both under the (cid:145)Quality of life and management of living resources(cid:146) and the (cid:145)Energy,
environment and sustainable development(cid:146) thematic programmes.

The delivery of healthcare is a responsibility of the Member States and a matter where subsidiarity applies.

(1) Decision No 2119/98/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 (OJ L 268, 3.10.1998).
(2) COM(2000) 285 final.

(2001/C 136 E/255)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3262/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Purchasing and award of contracts by Swedish Systembolaget

At the beginning of 2000, the Commission sent a letter to the Swedish Government stating that the
Swedish Systembolaget must comply with EU rules on public procurement when purchasing alcohol.

Systembolaget, however, considers that the best wines, for example, cannot be purchased by way of a
public procurement procedure as it is a seller(cid:146)s market in that particular sector.

Has the Commission discussed the matter further with the Swedish Government and Systembolaget and
possibly changed its opinion, or does the Commission adhere to its position as set out in the above letter?

Answer by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 2000)

The letter to which the honourable Member refers in connection with Systembolaget (Swedish monopoly
for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages) concerns the application of the rules laid down in the directives
on the award of public contracts (Council Directive 93/36/EEC of 14 June 1993 coordinating procedures
for the award of public supply contracts (1), Council Directive 93/37/EEC of 14 June 1993 concerning the
coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts (1) and Council Directive 92/50/EEC of
18 June 1992 relating to the coordination of procedures for the award of public service contracts (2)) to
Systembolaget(cid:146)s purchases of alcohol and purchases of other types of supplies, as well as service and works
contracts.

With regard to purchases of alcohol, it may simply be said that in the light of the Court of Justice case law
there is no derogation in Directive 93/36/CEE (or in Community law) for purchases of alcohol. System-
bolaget is therefore supposed to apply the relevant provisions of the directive in question when purchasing
alcohol.

This matter has been discussed on a number of occasions with the Swedish authorities, in particular during
a meeting that was held in June 2000. The Commission asked the Swedish authorities for further
information regarding the status and operation of the monopoly.

This information is now being carefully examined so that the Commission can assess the compatibility of
Systembolaget(cid:146)s purchasing procedures with Community law on public contracts.

(1) OJ L 199, 9.8.1993.
(2) OJ L 209, 24.7.1992.