WRITTEN QUESTION E-3845/00 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Council. European Rapid Reaction Force.
Date: 2000-12-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European defence policy, NATO, cooperation policy, rapid reaction force

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/9

(2001/C 261 E/009)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3820/00

by Generoso Andria (PPE-DE), Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE),
Stefano Zappal(cid:224) (PPE-DE), Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE), Luigi Cesaro (PPE-DE),
Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) and Guido Viceconte (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Flooding in Cervinara

(7 December 2000)

There are tragedies that have been completely forgotten, but which were actually as dramatic as those in
Soverato and Piedmont. No one now remembers Cervinara, with its five deaths, houses swept away and
human negligence. After that tragedy, Rosa Russo Iervolino, the Home Affairs Minister at the time, issued
a decree designed to tackle the floods and hydrological problems experienced in Avellino, Benevento,
Caserta and Salerno on 14, 15 and 16 December 1999.

Article 5 of the decree stipulated that, after the Campania region and the civil protection department had
conducted enquires into the events, a plan for emergency infrastructure measures to reduce risks should be
drawn up within 30 days. About a year after this strict deadline, there is not the slightest sign of any
measures!

Could Enzo Bianco, Home Affairs Minister, therefore be questioned as to why he has not approved and
funded (to the tune of 100 billion lira) the plan duly submitted some time ago by the Campania region?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(25 January 2001)

The Commission deeply regrets the loss of human lives and the damage caused by the recent flooding and
landslides in Italy.

The Honourable Member(cid:146)s question is not, however, within the competence of the Commission. It is a
matter to be dealt with exclusively by the Italian authorities.

(2001/C 261 E/010)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3845/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Council

(7 December 2000)

Subject: European Rapid Reaction Force

Is it correct that an undertaking was given by certain EU Member States that the new European Rapid
Reaction Force would be linked to NATO in the form of written commitments, but that this undertaking
has now been degraded to a mechanism for (cid:145)examining the question(cid:146)?

Reply

(30 May 2001)

1. With reference to EU/NATO arrangements, the French Presidency was invited at the Feira European
Council on 19 and 20 June 2000 to report to the European Council
in particular on the
implementation of the Feira decisions on the development of the arrangements ensuring consultation and
cooperation with NATO in military crisis management on the basis of the work undertaken in the EU-
NATO ad hoc working groups.

in Nice,

C 261 E/10

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

According to the French Presidency(cid:146)s report on the Common European Security and Defence Policy,
2.
endorsed at the European Council in Nice, on the basis of the decisions taken by the Feira European
Council and in close consultation with NATO, the European Union has, during the French Presidency,
continued preparations for establishing a permanent and effective relationship between the two organisa-
tions. The documents annexed to the Presidency(cid:146)s report on the permanent arrangements for EU/NATO
consultation and cooperation and the implementation of paragraph 10 of the Washington communiquØ
constitute the EU(cid:146)s contribution to work on future arrangements between the two organisations.

The final communiquØ of the ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Council, held at NATO
3.
headquarters on 14 and 15 December 2000, stated that the members of NATO had noted and welcomed
the proposals made by the European Council at Nice for permanent arrangements to ensure full
transparency, consultation and cooperation between NATO and the EU.

4.
On 22 January 2001 the Council welcomed the positive reaction of the ministerial meeting of the
North Atlantic Council of 14 and 15 December 2000 to the EU proposals on the permanent arrangements
for EU-NATO consultation and cooperation which were contained in the Presidency report on the
in Nice. Further to the
European Security and Defence Policy endorsed by the European Council
communiquØ of the ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Council regarding the frequency of meetings,
the Council confirmed that meetings between the North Atlantic Council and the Political and Security
Committee would be held not less than three times, and EU/NATO ministerials not less than once, per EU
Presidency. Either organisation could request additional meetings as necessary. The Council noted with
satisfaction the identity of views between the EU and NATO.

5.
The Presidency informed the Secretary-General of NATO of the Council(cid:146)s conlusions of 22 January
2001 on EU-NATO relations. On that basis it concluded that the EU and NATO were in agreement on the
permanent arrangements for consultation and cooperation.

(2001/C 261 E/011)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3903/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Damage to children(cid:146)s brains caused by neurotoxins used in farming as crop protection products

Is the Commission aware that crop protection products used in the cultivation of fruit and vegetables
1.
are strengthened after they are combined following human consumption and that because of the effect
they have on the human nervous system they can harm the development of the brain?

2.
Can the Commission confirm that the current rules within the European Union for determining
maximum values for the amount of neurotoxins in food are based on the impact of each poison
individually, but that insufficient account is taken of the consequences of combining different types of
toxins?

3.
Can the Commission also confirm that, in contrast to the more stringent American standards, the
rules currently in force in the European Union on neurotoxins take no account of the great vulnerability of
children?