WRITTEN QUESTION E-0061/01 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Council. Incidence of leukaemia and tumours in the European Union.
Date: 2001-01-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Kosovo, NATO, blood disease, cancer, environmental impact, firearms and munitions, health control, health risk, medical data, military personnel, uranium

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/109

(cid:129) The amount of € 15 million cited by the Honourable Member refers, the Commission believes, to the
second phase of the 2000 € 20 million reconstruction programme. This programme, approved in
Commission Decisions in November and December 2000 for amounts of € 1 million and € 14 million
respectively, included support to the areas of transport infrastructure, education, agriculture, finance
and administrative and technical assistance. Whilst first phase infrastructure package (€ 5 million
committed in May 2000) is well under implementation, the second phase is yet to get off the ground
due to the commitment of
the dossiers and
implementation responsibility to the European Agency for Reconstruction. However, with this Agency
now in place in Podgorica the Commission hope to be able to move ahead with implementation.

funds only late on in 2000 and the transfer of

(2001/C 235 E/112)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0061/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Council

(23 January 2001)

Subject: Incidence of leukaemia and tumours in the European Union

There have recently been tragic cases of leukaemia and cancer among soldiers who took part in the peace-
keeping operations in the Balkans (including soldiers from Italy, France, Belgium, Portugal, the United
Kingdom, the Czech Republic and Hungary) and there is a rising incidence of serious diseases such as
leukaemia and various types of tumour and melanoma throughout the Community. The population of
Europe is concerned and afraid that there may be links between the spread of such diseases and the use of
depleted uranium during the conflict. In view of this, does the Council intend to ascertain the risk to
human health and the environment posed by the use of depleted uranium munitions? Is the Council
willing to release the figures in its possession concerning the current number of cases of cancer and
leukaemia in Europe?

Does it intend to set up a committee of inquiry capable of:

(a)

swiftly obtaining scientifically reliable data to throw light on the possible link between the munitions
used and the cases of fatal diseases;

(b)

studying the incidence of serious diseases in the Union during the last three years;

(c) assessing the damage caused to the environment;

(d)

identifying regions whose food products must not be used;

(e) ascertaining the impact on animal farming?

(2001/C 235 E/113)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0064/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Council

(23 January 2001)

Subject: Cases of leukaemia and tumours among soldiers involved in the Kosovo war

There have recently been tragic cases of leukaemia and cancer among a large number of soldiers in the
European armed forces who took part in peacekeeping operations in the Balkans and there has been an
exponential increase in the incidence of such diseases throughout the Community. Concern and fear have
been aroused in the whole of Europe about the possible links between these illnesses and the use of
depleted uranium in the munitions used during the conflict. Furthermore, suffering was inflicted on the
population by the bombardments and the use of depleted uranium has had disastrous effects on the
civilian population, soldiers and hundreds of voluntary workers in Kosovo. In view of all this, does the
Council intend to ascertain the truth about the effects of the weapons used in the Balkans and the various
responsibilities for them? Furthermore, will it ask the Member States to carry out health checks on all the
soldiers who took part in the peacekeeping operation in the Balkans?