WRITTEN QUESTION E-0473/01 by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Council. USA antiballistic missile system and global strategic stability.
Date: 2001-02-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, United States, anti-missile defence, common foreign and security policy

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/33

Will the Council say whether the European Environmental Agency (EEA) which is funded by EU citizens
through the Community budget has undertaken a study of the environmental pollution in the former
Yugoslavia caused by the use of depleted uranium shells and the destruction of many chemical and other
factories?

Has the EEA undertaken an assessment of the health consequences for inhabitants of the regions which
were bombed and for citizens (both soldiers and civilians) of the European Union serving, residing or
studying in the affected areas? Has any research been carried out into environmental pollution in the EU
Member States having borders with Yugoslavia? If it has not looked into these matters, why not? Precisely
what work is it engaged in?

Reply

(16 July 2001)

1.
In accordance with Council Regulation No 1210/90 of 7 May 1990, as amended by Council
Regulation No 933/1999 of 29 April 1999, one task of the European Environment Agency (EEA) is to
provide the Community and the Member States with objective information necessary for framing and
implementing sound and effective environmental policies. To that end,
in particular it provides the
Commission with the necessary information to carry out successfully its task of identifying, preparing and
evaluating measures and legislation in the field of the environment. Since the role of the EEA is,
in
particular, to support and assist the Commission, the Council does not have detailed information on its
activities except when the EEA reports to the Commission, to the Council and to the European Parliament
according to provisions of the above Council Regulation.

2.
The Council is not aware of any study by the European Environment Agency of the environmental
pollution in the former Yugoslavia caused by the use of depleted uranium shells and the destruction of
many chemical and other factories.

Therefore it is recommended that the Honourable Member address questions relating to the detailed
activities of the EEA to the Commission.

3.
At their meeting on 22 and 23 January 2001, Ministers discussed the issue of depleted uranium and
agreed to re-examine it in the light of scientific evidence to be compiled by the Article 31 Committee
(Euratom Treaty), as well as by competent NATO bodies. The conclusions of the report by the Article 31
Committee (Euratom Treaty) were published on 6 March 2001. The Council is currently assessing these
reports. Furthermore, at their meeting on 9 April 2001, Ministers decided to remain committed to
following possible further investigations closely and reexamining the issue in the future, due to the
apparent health and environmental problems in the region.

(2001/C 340 E/040)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0473/01

by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(23 February 2001)

Subject: USA antiballistic missile system and global strategic stability

According to the international press, the statements made by the United States Defence Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld at the (cid:145)Wehrkunde(cid:146) conference in Munich on 2, 3 and 4 February 2000 marked a dramatic shift
in relations between the Bush administration and the European Union and have confronted the Union with
decisions that are clearly faits accomplis in the area of the National Missile Defence system, abrogating, de
facto, the ABM treaty of 1972.

Referring to President George W. Bush(cid:146)s (cid:145)moral and constitutional duty(cid:146) to defend his people, Secretary
Rumsfeld has entirely failed to honour the undertaking that was made to consult the United States(cid:146) allies
on the introduction of a high-technology defence system that is as futuristic as it is unjustifiable. The
system threatens to destabilise the existing delicate geopolitical situation by sparking off the militarisation
of space, which will lead, over the coming decades, to complete strategic dominance over the whole planet
by the United States.

C 340 E/34

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

Further strongly critical statements made by Donald Rumsfeld and other representatives from the United
States delegation on the European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI), EU reservations about the role of
Turkey and the further enlargement of NATO have raised the prospect of unacceptable vetoes being
imposed on initiatives taken by the Council and the Commission with the approval of the European
Parliament.

1.
Does the Council not consider that the issue of this dramatic shift in transatlantic relations should be
addressed as a matter of urgency with a view to adopting a common European position on the diktats
imposed by the United States at the (cid:145)Wehrkunde(cid:146) conference in Munich?

Does the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy,

2.
Javier Solana, not
consider that he should report back immediately to the European Parliament on the official and unofficial
exchanges which took place in Munich and on the ways in which Europe should react diplomatically and
politically?

Reply

(10 July 2001)

The Council does not agree that there has been a dramatic shift in transatlantic relations. There are
1.
frequent not to say continuous contacts between the European Union and the United States on the views
of the incoming Administration on European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) as on other issues. The
Council
is confident that any differences will be resolved by this process of steady diplomacy and
exchange. It welcomes the assurances given publicly and in private meetings most recently by Secretary of
State Powell during the recent Troika visit to Washington, when he expressed satisfaction with the ESDP
which would raise European capabilities. The EU also welcomes the US administration(cid:146)s assurances that it
will consult fully with its European allies on US plans to develop a missile defence system.

The High Representative, Dr Javier Solana, does address the European Parliament regularly on the
2.
Common Foreign and Security Policy, most recently on 31 January 2001 and he intends to continue to
brief the European Parliament on the development of the Union(cid:146)s foreign and security policy, but he
cannot be expected to report immediately to the European Parliament on his many informal consultations.

(2001/C 340 E/041)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0475/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(21 February 2001)

Subject: Freshwater fishing in Ireland: European subsidies for unattained objectives in the field of tourism,

fisheries and nature conservation

Does the Commission recall that, in November 1995, the European Regional Development Fund paid
1.
a first tranche of
IEP 777 000 which represented 75 % of the cost of a project under the tourism
operational programme (OP) for Ireland to be carried out by the Western Regional Fisheries Board (WRFB)
over a five-year period at a total cost approaching IEP 3 million?

2.
Does the Commission also recall that the programme referred to in point 1 above is supposed to
result in the promotion and development of the Western Lakes System involving Loughs Corrib, Mask,
Carra and Arrow and that that programme is presented as part of a strategy to attract foreign tourists to
western Ireland and increase revenue from game angling, while it should also contribute, pursuant to
Directive 92/43/EEC (1) to the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna?

Can the Commission confirm that the cost of the Western Lakes System programme increased

3.
initially from IEP 3 million to IEP 5 million and is now running at IEP 7 million?