WRITTEN QUESTION E-3909/00 by Adeline Hazan (PSE), Anneli Hulthén (PSE), Ulpu Iivari (PSE) and Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Council. Alcohol awareness.
Date: 2000-12-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, alcoholism

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/181

The eventual use of marker vaccines would be subject to the availability of suitable diagnostic tests, as the
ones developed so far do not reliably discriminate between vaccinated animals and the infected ones, and
to a case-by-case authorisation by the Commission to the Member State which intends to use these
vaccines, following the advice of the standing veterinary committee.

2. Marker vaccines are widely applied in the prevention of a number of animal diseases in the
Community and for some of these diseases legislation is in place in order that their use is ultimately
successful, i.e. not only the vaccinated animals are protected against the disease, but its agent is also
eradicated.

Efforts are being made by scientists and private companies to develop marker vaccines and/or associated
discriminatory tests for other animal diseases, including some of major economic importance, such as foot-
and-mouth disease and classical swine fever, for which the Community adopts a non-vaccination policy.
The Commission has also financially supported some of these efforts.

However, as shown by the trial on classical swine fever, it is necessary to be cautious, before arriving at the
conclusion that newly developed products can be successfully used.

3.
In principle, any animal diseases for which effective vaccines have been developed might be
prevented by means of vaccination. However, as with any other pharmaceutical product, vaccines may
also lead to undesirable consequences and their efficacy and safety may be jeopardised by improper use.
Before vaccines are used, both potential advantages and disadvantages must therefore be considered and
the most appropriate conditions for use must be ensured.

The Commission keeps a bank of 30 million doses of antigen for the formulation of vaccine against
4.
foot-and-mouth disease, in order that this vaccine may be rapidly available in the event of an emergency.
For safety reasons, the antigen is kept in three different places in the Community.

The Commission has also bought and kept in stock 500,000 doses of vaccine against bluetongue, that,
upon request, have recently been made available to two Member States where outbreaks of this disease
have occurred. The vaccine stock is currently being replaced.

Legal provisions are also in place, which would allow the Commission to establish stocks of vaccines
against other animal diseases, if necessary.

(1) COM(2000) 462 final.

(2001/C 174 E/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3909/00

by Adeline Hazan (PSE), Anneli HulthØn (PSE), Ulpu Iivari (PSE)
and Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Council

(20 December 2000)

Subject: Alcohol awareness

There is increasing evidence that more and more people start drinking younger and younger, with specific
alcoholic drinks being targeted at the very young. Much of the advertising is directed towards young
women in particular. The evidence also indicates that this is a Europe-wide problem.

What action is the Council taking to raise awareness in the Member States of the need to address this
growing social problem?

C 174 E/182

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

Reply

(12 March 2001)

The Council recently received from the Commission a draft proposal for a Council recommendation on
(cid:145)Drinking of alcohol by children and adolescents(cid:146) (1) which was presented in response to an invitation from
the Council in an earlier resolution on alcohol abuse (2). It is expected that work will progress on this
proposal as a matter of priority and that the recommendation will be adopted at the (cid:145)Health(cid:146) Council on
31 May 2001.

It should also be pointed out that an explicit objective of the current Community action programme on
health promotion, information, education and training within the framework for action in the field of
public health (1996-2000) (3) is the promotion of examination, assessment and exchange of experience and
support for actions concerning measures to prevent alcohol abuse and the health and social consequences
thereof. This action programme has been extended until 31 December 2002 or until the date of entry into
force of a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a new programme of
Community action in the field of public health, whichever is earlier. The proposal for a decision on a
new programme foresees, inter alia, the preparation and implementation of strategies and measures on life-
style related health determinants such as alcohol.

(1) 14270/00 SAN 137, 4/12/00.
(2) OJ C 184, 23.7.1986, p. 3.
(3) OJ L 95, 16.4.1996, p. 1.

(2001/C 174 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3912/00

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 December 2000)

Subject: Implementation of environmental legislation in Greece, ECJ Judgment C-387/97 and the examina-
tion of the charges brought concerning the project to build a link across the Gulf of Malia

In view of the fact that Greece has failed effectively to transpose into national law and to comply with
many regulations of secondary Community legislation on environmental protection and given also that the
judgments of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on respecting environmental legislation in Greece are
rarely implemented, resulting in a host of indictments and a very substantial loss of national financial
resources,

will the Commission say:

1. What progress has been made in implementing ECJ judgment C-387/97 of 4 July 2000 concerning
the payment by Greece to the Commission into the (cid:145)EC own resources(cid:146) account of a daily fine of
€ 20 000 owing to the illegal operation of the Kouroupitos waste tip in Crete, how have the Greek
authorities responded to the Commission(cid:146)s letter of 9 November 2000 and what is the total sum due?

2. What measures does it consider would suffice to put an end to the violation of the implementation of
the first judgment by the Court of Justice (C-45/91) and how will compliance by the Greek authorities
be established?

3.

Is it in a position to take a decision on the payment of the daily financial penalty after compliance
with the judgments handed down by the ECJ in the event of a fresh violation and what provision been
made by the Commission to ensure the full implementation of the judgments in question?

4. What stage have the proceedings against Greece reached for failing correctly to transpose or violating
Directive 85/337/EEC (1) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the
environment (as amended by Directive 97/11/EC) (2), Directive 92/43/EEC (3) on the conservation of
natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora and Directive 79/409/EEC (4) on the conservation of wild
birds?