WRITTEN QUESTION E-0472/01 by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Italian appointments to the Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition.
Date: 2001-02-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal nutrition, appointment of staff, consumer protection, rules of procedure, scientific committee (EU), self-employed person

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/59

Far from describing the conflict in Colombia as armed and militarist, the European Parliament stated in its
resolutions of 18 January 2001 that the European Union should pursue its own, non-military strategy;
that, in addition to their military dimension, the prevailing situation and conflict in Colombia have a social
and political dimension; and that, given the economic exclusion in Colombia, the EU should finance
primarily those projects geared towards assisting and modernising the civil sector.

How would the Commission define the Community(cid:146)s cooperation strategy? To what extent do certain
aspects of Plan Colombia conflict with that strategy? On what areas does the Commission intend to focus
its economic assistance, and what specific projects will
it be supporting in the fields of education,
agriculture, fisheries, health, legal reform and respect for human rights?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(31 May 2001)

As stated in the Communication entitled (cid:145)Mulitannual Support Programme for Colombia(cid:146) adopted in
October 2000, the Commission is well aware of the concerns that the military component of (cid:145)Plan
Colombia(cid:146) has created both in Colombia and in Europe. This same document states that the Commission
does not intend to take part in any initiative with a military dimension in Colombia.

The Commission is considering funding projects in two main areas:

(cid:129) € 105 million of programmable aid over the period 2000-2006, to be spent on the following sectors:
social and economic development and combating poverty (€ 40 million); alternative development
(€ 30 million); support for the reform of the judiciary sector (€ 25 million); support and promotion of
Human Rights (€ 10 million).

(cid:129) Additionally, the Commission intends to support a series of projects in the fields of emergency aid, to
be carried out via European Community(cid:146)s Humanitarian Office (ECHO)
(especially to assist the
internally displaced people), non-governmental organisation (NGO)-co-financing, protection of the
environment and tropical forests.

The identification of specific projects falling into these categories is underway, with the support of
independent experts.

(2001/C 318 E/061)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0472/01

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(21 February 2001)

Subject: Italian appointments to the Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition

One of the experts appointed to the new Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition (1), created by
Commission Decision 97/579/EC (2), is Professor Gianfranco Piva (Universit(cid:224) cattolica del Sacro Cuore,
Piacenza, Italy).

According to an article about BSE that appeared on page 3 of the daily newspaper (cid:145)La Repubblica(cid:146) on
25 January, Professor Piva acts as a consultant for (cid:145)Morando(cid:146), a Turin-based company that produces animal
feed, and a opinion drawn up by him was annexed to a report of 9 June 1998 signed by the director of
the veterinary services department of the Italian Health Ministry, Dr Romano Marabelli, which called for
the Italian Higher Institute for Health to give permission for a threshold of 0,15 % to be set for the
presence in feed of meal containing animal protein, in line with (cid:145)similar guidelines shortly to be issued(cid:146) by
the EU.

The invitation for expressions of interest in the post of member of a Scientific Committee, published by
the Commission (3), specifies that candidates must submit a declaration of any interests that might be
considered prejudicial to their independence.

C 318 E/60

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

Can the Commission confirm, whether, assuming the information published by (cid:145)La Repubblica(cid:146) is
1.
correct, Professor Piva and the other scientific experts appointed by the Commission on 27 November
2000 to the scientific committees created by Decision 97/579/EC have all submitted such a declaration?

Has the Commission checked whether any of

2.
the interests declared are incompatible with
membership of the scientific committee and the principle of the independent protection of the health of
consumers?

(1) OJ C 338, 29.11.2000, p. 16.
(2) OJ L 237, 28.8.1997, p. 18, and OJ L 179, 18.7.2000, p. 13.
(3) OJ C 142, 20.5.2000, p. 46.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 2001)

The members of the scientific committees are requested annually to inform the Commission in

1.
writing of any interests which could be regarded as prejudicial to their independence.

In addition, at each meeting of the scientific committees or their working groups members shall,
in
accordance with the rules of procedure, declare any particular interests which could be prejudicial to their
independence in the light of the topics on the agenda for that meeting. This declaration shall be made in
writing or verbally and is included in the relevant meeting minutes which are published on the internet.

In the case of the expression of interest made by Professor Piva, he declared that there were no

2.
interests which could be considered as prejudicial to his independence.

Following the article in (cid:145)La Repubblica(cid:146), Professor Piva has informed the Commission that he has no direct
relations with the firm Morando but that there is a consultancy contract for assistance in the revision of
analyses of feedingstuffs between Istituto di Scienze degli Alimenti e della Nutrizione, of which Professor
Piva is a director, and the company Morando. The Commission, on the basis of the information received,
does not consider that such a relationship is incompatible with Professor Piva(cid:146)s membership of the
Scientific Committee on Animal Nutrition or his participation as an expert in other scientific committees(cid:146)
working groups. The Commission will continue to ensure that the internal rules of procedure of the
Committees applicable to scientific experts are enforced, as described above.

(2001/C 318 E/062)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0486/01

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 February 2001)

Subject: Mobile phone masts

Is the Commission aware of any existing European legislation governing the position of short-wave radio
and mobile telephone masts in relation to public buildings?

Is there any such legislation in the pipeline? Has the Commission ever carried out research into the
possible health hazards associated with such masts?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(30 May 2001)

The Community regulatory framework on radio products and telecommunications in a competitive
environment makes Member States responsible for ensuring that radiation emitted by GSM base station
antennas do not expose the public to levels which might be hazardous. In particular Article 3(1)(a) of
Directive 1999/5/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and