WRITTEN QUESTION E-0161/01 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Preventable infant deaths in the world.
Date: 2001-01-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: aid policy, child, developing countries, development aid, external debt, humanitarian aid, poverty, right to education

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/137

(2001/C 235 E/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0160/01

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Council

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Vacant posts in the professional armies of the Member States

The creation of professional armies is a contemporary aspect of the restructuring of armies in EU Member
States which marks a new departure, with conscription becoming a thing of the past.

However, in some units of the armed forces in the Member States, the number of posts on offer outstrips
the demand from professional soldiers who have opted to pursue a career in the armed forces.

Does the Council see the need to promote access for Community citizens under the CFSP to certain posts
in the armed forces in any EU Member State, regardless of their nationality, by encouraging mobility in the
Member States(cid:146) armed forces?

Reply

(14 May 2001)

Recruitment policy in the armed forces of the Member States remains subject to national sovereign
measures, as indeed do decisions on the participation of national troops in any EU-led crisis management
operation.

The Council has no vocation to debate measures to promote mobility regardless of nationality between the
national armed forces of the different Member States. These remain a national responsibility. Article 39(4)
TEC provides that provisions on the free movement for workers shall not apply to employment in the
public service; this includes the armed forces.

(2001/C 235 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0161/01

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 January 2001)

Subject: Preventable infant deaths in the world

According to the report by Unicef for 2001, in 1999 eleven million children under the age of five around
the world died from causes that could have been prevented. Furthermore, the growth of 177 million
children is impaired because their mothers were malnourished during pregnancy.

The report also highlights the fact that some 100 million children have no access to schooling. In poor
countries one child in five does not receive primary education, and approximately 20 million children have
been forced to flee their homes because of war.

Given that our sense of responsibility and empathy towards other human beings prevents us from
remaining impassive to such a desperate state of affairs, does the Commission see the need to put forward
specific suggestions whereby the Member States would reconvert the debt owed to them by poor countries
into investment, with a view to ensuring that debt payments do not prevent the latter from providing basic
social services?

C 235 E/138

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2001)

The Commission recognizes the problems and development challenges highlighted in the United Nations
International children(cid:146)s emergency fund (Unicef) annual report. The Commission supports the efforts of
developing countries to improve their health and education outcomes and food security. The Commission
does this through direct investment in the social sectors and through support for international initiatives to
relieve the debt burden of the poorest countries. Former debt repayments are now used within national
budgets to fund poverty reduction efforts. This has led to increased expenditure on the social sectors
including health, education and food security.

All Member States have pledged sums to the enhanced highly indebted poor countries HIPC framework.
Disbursement now needs to be accelerated to fund poverty reduction strategies in these countries. The
Community has committed € 1 billion and disbursed € 354 million representing about a third of the total
contributions to date. The Commission would welcome further efforts by all donor countries and in
particular these G7 countries, whose contributions to the HIPC trust fund is not commenserate to the size
of their economies.

The Community provides substantive and increasing assistance for programs in the health and education
sectors in developing countries. Assistance supports the improved management and performance of health
systems including the delivery of interventions to improve maternal and child health and to increase access
to primary education, particularly for girls.

(2001/C 235 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0166/01

by Karin Riis-Jłrgensen (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 January 2001)

Subject: State aid to Dutch greenhouse gardeners

According to the Danish Ministry for Food and the Netherlands(cid:146) Ministry for Agriculture, Dutch green-
house gardeners have received DKK 574 million in aid. The Netherlands(cid:146) Ministry for Agriculture has
justified the aid on the grounds of it being a contribution to an energy-saving programme.

Can this Dutch aid scheme for greenhouse gardeners be construed in any way other than as state aid pure
and simple?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(2 March 2001)

The Commission is not in a position to indicate whether the DKK 574 million allegedly granted to the
Dutch glasshouse producers for an energy savings programme constitutes State aid in the sense of Articles
87-89 (ex Articles 92-94) of the EC Treaty. Further information would be required about the alleged grant
and the conditions attached to it.

The Commission has inquired with the Dutch authorities about aid measures which would have been
taken to compensate the Dutch agriculture sector, and in particular the glasshouse sector, for the increased
energy prices. By letter of 19 January 2001 the Dutch authorities have confirmed that no such measures
have been taken yet. Certain measures are contemplated to reduce the energy dependency and exhaust of
carbondioxide (CO2). The concrete measures are not yet known. The Dutch authorities have assured the
Commission that any such measures would be notified in accordance with Article 88(3) (ex Article 93) of
the EC Treaty.