WRITTEN QUESTION P-1037/01 by Giorgos Katiforis (PSE) to the Commission. Use of depleted uranium munitions in Yugoslavia.
Date: 2001-03-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European official, Kosovo, health risk, medical examination, occupational health, personnel administration, radioactive pollution

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/223

(2001/C 261 E/254)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1037/01

by Giorgos Katiforis (PSE) to the Commission

(22 March 2001)

Subject: Use of depleted uranium munitions in Yugoslavia

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued instructions through its Personnel
Department specifying the protective measures that UNHCR staff should take when operating in the area
where depleted uranium munitions where used during the NATO bombardment of Yugoslavia.

These instructions include:

(a)

that no pregnant women should be sent to Kosovo,

(b)

that staff should be offered an alternative posting upon request and

(c)

that any official sent to Kosovo must have their file marked (cid:145)service in the field(cid:146) to facilitate any claim
for compensation in the event of illness resulting from contamination.

Can the Commission inform Parliament of any similar measures it has taken to protect its officials working
in the areas contaminated by depleted uranium munitions in Yugoslavia?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 2001)

The Commission naturally seeks to ensure that members of its staff are not exposed to abnormal health
risks in the course of their work.

The Commission has consequently made appropriate arrangements to safeguard staff working in parts of
the Balkan region that may be affected by the use of depleted uranium munitions.

These arrangements included identifying the staff who were in the region after the bombardments,
stepping up attention by the Medical Service, analysing the data available on possible risks, informing the
staff, assessing the need for systematic individual monitoring, and deciding not to make check-ups
compulsory but to offer them on a voluntary basis in order to reassure those who asked for them.

Regarding the specific points raised by the Honourable Member, the situation is as follows:

The Medical Service systematically sees every official or temporary member of staff who is transferred to a
region outside the Community. Discussions are held on all relevant medical matters, and appropriate
advice is provided, including advice related to an existing or possible future pregnancy.

Under the Commission(cid:146)s general policy on mobility all vacant posts are brought to the attention of
officials. Officials posted in the Balkans who wished to find a new posting could, of course, do so.

The Commission has no-fault liability (its fault does not have to be demonstrated) where the health of its
officials and temporary members of staff in general is concerned, as regards both the reimbursement of
medical expenses and the payment of invalidity pensions. In any event, details of an employee(cid:146)s career,
including the different places of employment, are systematically entered in their personal file.

C 261 E/224

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

Furthermore, the Commission asked a group of independent experts to assess the radiological risk to
health of depleted uranium. The expert group delivered its report on 6 March 2001. Its main findings were
as follows:

No evidence was found establishing a link between health problems affecting certain military personnel
who had returned from the Balkans and their possible radiation exposure to uranium; the results available
do not justify systematic individual monitoring but certain tests could be valuable for reassuring concerned
people, confirming the absence of significant incorporation of uranium.

In this context the Commission will invite staff posted to the Balkans, on the occasion of their annual
medical check-up, to undergo a full physical examination and to complete a questionnaire. On this basis it
may be decided to carry out a screening test.

(2001/C 261 E/255)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1050/01

by Carlos Lage (PSE) to the Commission

(5 April 2001)

Subject: Consolidated texts of directives

There are still no freely available consolidated texts of directives that have been amended or expanded to
incorporate technical adjustments. Even where all that is involved is unofficial, purely practical simplifica-
tions to legislative acts, the consolidated text of a directive is still ultimately the one that is used in legal
proceedings and which alone makes it possible to keep the work transparent and simple.

It is intolerable that consolidated versions have to be obtained from private firms that make money in the
process. This is a case of insufficient transparency, which should be eliminated in accordance with
Article 255 of the Amsterdam Treaty. Sufficient transparency can at all events only be said to apply
when access to documents is possible without disproportionate expense, and that is not the case when
trying to track down consolidated texts.

1. Why can the Commission not issue consolidated versions of amended directives at regular intervals?

2. Why are the current consolidated versions of directives not at least posted on the Internet and freely
accessible?

3. When will the Commission finally be in a position to change this untenable situation?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(1 June 2001)

1. and 3.
Since 1999 the Commission has considerably boosted efforts to provide consolidated versions
of the legislation that is in force, the aim being to consolidate all current acts within three years (by mid-
2003) and to ensure that existing consolidated versions are constantly updated.

Currently, more than 40 % of legislative acts are available in consolidated form, free of charge, under

2.
the heading (cid:145)Legislation in force(cid:146) on the website http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex.