WRITTEN QUESTION E-0184/01 by Florence Kuntz (UEN) to the Council. Consequences of the use of munitions containing depleted uranium.
Date: 2001-02-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, Western Balkans, cancer, exchange of information, military personnel, nuclear weapon

C 261 E/56

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

Commission in an annual bathing water report. The latest report was published in May 2000 and related
to the results of the 1999 bathing season. The report is also available on the Internet. The section of the
report relating to bathing waters in the United Kingdom can be found at: www.europa.eu.int/water/water-
bathing/report/uk.html.

5.
The latest figures available are for the 1999 bathing season. These show that the United Kingdom has
identified and assessed 541 bathing areas in coastal zones and 11 bathing areas in freshwater zones in
England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, plus six in Gibraltar. The national authorities of each
Member State and not the Commission carry out the assessment of bathing water quality.

6.
The overview table from the Commission Bathing Water Report published in May 2000 shows that
for the 1999 bathing season there were a total of 11,435 coastal zones and 4,376 freshwater zones
identified as bathing areas and assessed by the national authorities under the Bathing Water Directive.

7.
This is the first time that the Commission has proposed to fine a Member State for failure to comply
with an earlier judgement of the Court of Justice in the case of a failure to comply with bathing water
standards.

8.
The Blue Flag Campaign is a project initiated by the Foundation for Environmental Education in
Europe (FEEE), based in Copenhagen (Denmark). One of a range of criteria used by this campaign is water
quality, based on the guideline values of the Bathing Water Directive. The guideline values are stricter than
the mandatory values (or imperative values) set by the Directive. There is no connection between the
assessment by FEEE and the Commission, and the issue of beaches complying with the Blue Flag is the sole
responsibility of the FEEE. Any questions on the Blue Flag Campaign should therefore be addressed to the
FEEE, Scandiagade 13, DK-2450 Kłbenhavn (Denmark).

The monitoring of

the health and safety of beaches in order to check compliance with the
9.
requirements of the Bathing Water Directive is the responsibility of each Member State. The costs of
monitoring are also met by the Member States. These results are then submitted annually to the
Commission and form the basis of the annual bathing water reports.

The annual bathing water reports are published by the Commission each year and are now available

10.
on the Internet at: www.europa.eu.int/water/water-bathing/report.html.

(1) OJ L 31, 5.2.1976.

(2001/C 261 E/058)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0184/01

by Florence Kuntz (UEN) to the Council

(5 February 2001)

Subject: Consequences of the use of munitions containing depleted uranium

The national federation representing French servicemen and women, concerned for their well-being and
that of their European comrades in arms, has called for a clinical case definition of the (cid:145)Gulf War(cid:146) and
(cid:145)Balkans(cid:146) syndromes.

In view of the various statements made by the medical authorities in the various countries of the European
Union, would the Council state its views and its position as soon as possible on the possible or known
effects on public health of the use of munitions containing depleted uranium, i.e. the (cid:145)Balkans syndrome(cid:146)
affecting some French servicemen and members of the armed forces of other European Union countries
who have served in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia?

Could the Council state, as speedily as possible, the exact number of European servicemen and Yugoslav
civilians affected by the use of such munitions, and the areas of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
concerned?

18.9.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/57

If a direct link is established between the use of this type of munitions and the (cid:145)Balkans(cid:146) and (cid:145)Gulf War(cid:146)
syndromes, could the Council state what priority public health measures it intends to propose to the
Member States as a matter of urgency?

Reply

(31 May 2001)

During its discussions on the occasion of its 22 January 2001 meeting, the Council acknowledged the
great concern of public opinion and expressed its commitment to seek full clarity on the issue of depleted
uranium. There was general agreement that in the first instance it was for NATO, as the institution
organising crisis management in the Balkans, to assemble the information from participants on the use of
depleted uranium, on the locations of troops and on medical data. The Council also called for full
transparency and open exchange of information between the authorities of the Member States, as well as
with other organisations investigating this matter.

The Council also noted that several bodies (UNER, WHO, NATO,
the committee set up by the
Commission) were examining this issue. Conclusions of the report from the Expert Group of article 31
of Euratom Treaty, were issued on 6th March 2001. Other reports are expected to be published shortly.
The Council has agreed to re-examine this issue in the light of those reports in order to assess whether any
specific initiative or measures at EU level are warranted.

(2001/C 261 E/059)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0186/01

by Lousewies van der Laan (ELDR) to the Council

(5 February 2001)

Subject: Exchange of information concerning health hazards to military personnel

It is well known that concern is felt throughout Europe about the possible hazard posed by the toxicity of
the depleted uranium in munitions used by NATO soldiers.

The University of Witten-Herdecke in Germany has studied the health of radar technicians in the German
army who worked with the Hawk and Patriot missile defence systems. Of the 99 former radar technicians
examined, 69 have contracted cancer. 24 of them have now died. This was reported by the German
television station ZDF on 13 January 2001.

1.

Is the Council aware of the latter report?

Does the Council agree that concern about the health of employees in Europe(cid:146)s armies could damage

2.
the common security policy?

If so, does the Council agree that information about the health of European military personnel is
3.
covered by Article 16 of the Treaty and that all information concerning this and other matters should be
shared by the Member States as soon as it becomes available?

4.
Is the available information concerning the possible damaging effects of the Hawk and Patriot missile
defence systems currently being shared by the Member States whose military personnel work with these
systems? How is this information exchange coordinated?

5. Will the Council keep the European Parliament informed about the above and any related matters,
pursuant to Article 21 of the Treaty?