WRITTEN QUESTION E-0486/01 by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission. Mobile phone masts.
Date: 2001-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, health risk, non-ionising radiation, radio telecommunications

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

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/61

their conformity (1) obliges
telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of
manufacturers to ensure that their products do not affect the public(cid:146)s health when installed for their
intended purpose. Article 7(2) of
this Directive furthermore allows Member States to regulate the
installation of radio transmitters so as to ensure that the health of the public is not affected.

The Community has provided guidance to Member States to exercise their responsibilities in this matter.
On 12 July 1999, the Council recommended (1999/519/EC) to Member States the limits to be applied for
exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz) (2). Full compliance with the
basic restrictions and reference levels included in the Recommendation will ensure a high level of user
protection against the acute and long-term effects of non-ionising radiation. Obviously, these rules have to
be enforced locally and Member States should ensure that the protection objectives adopted by the
legislator are respected in all cases.

Today, electromagnetic radiation is specifically included in the Fifth framework programme for research
and technological development, which finances five research projects with funding totalling € 9 million.
These projects, which focus essentially on the potential carcinogenic effects of radiofrequency fields (RF),
were begun at the start of the year 2000 and will yield their findings in around four years from now.

To support the studies under way, future calls for proposals for the key action (cid:145)Environment and Health(cid:146)
will concentrate on the other potential effects on health.

The Commission has also recently asked its Scientific Steering Committee to deliver an update of its
previous opinion published in June 1998 on health risks associated with electromagnetic fields regarding
new technological developments and conditions of exposure. This will be published in July 2001 and used,
if necessary, to draw up new Community legislative proposals in the field.

(1) OJ L 91, 7.4.1999.
(2) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.

(2001/C 318 E/063)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0488/01

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 February 2001)

Subject: Lancashire Carrefour

As part of the (cid:145)Action aimed at young people(cid:146) programme run by DG X, the Lancashire Rural Information
and Promotion Carrefour was one of five targeted to assess the provision of information on Europe to
rural schools.

1.

2.

How many Lancashire schools were approached and which age groups were covered?

How many replied?

3. What were the questions?

4. What report has the Commission compiled as an analysis of the responses from the UK?

5. Will the Commission provide me with a copy of the correspondence sent by DGX and a copy of its
conclusions

What is the budget and purpose of the Carrefour? What does the Commission intend to do to remedy the
failings identified by this questionnaire?