WRITTEN QUESTION E-1238/01 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission. An effective treatment for tuberculosis.
Date: 2001-04-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: action programme, disease prevention, health policy, infectious disease

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/97

The Commission report clearly whose that there has been documents the inadequate implementation of
the Directive in several Member States.

What stage has been reached in the consideration of these Treaty violations?

When does the Commission propose to initiate proceedings against the Member States which have failed
to meet their Treaty obligations?

(1) COM(2000) 809.
(2) OJ L 148, 30.6.1995, p. 52.
(3) OJ L 340, 11.12.1991, p. 17.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2001)

Although several Member States failed to achieve transposition of Council Directive 91/628/EEC of
19 November 1991 on the protection of animals during transport and amending Directives 90/425/EEC
and 91/496/EEC, as amended by Directive 95/29/EC of 29 June 1995 by the required dates, all Member
States subsequently communicated details of their legislation transposing these texts into their national
legal systems.

At the present time therefore the principal problems in relation to this Directive concern:

(cid:129) inadequate enforcement by Member States within their territories;

(cid:129) difficulties arising from ambiguities and imprecisions in the present text;

(cid:129) obsolescence of certain provisions in the light of current developments.

The Commission is aware of the current areas of difficulty, notably as a result of the examination of
mission reports of its Food and Veterinary Office (FVO), complaints from animal welfare organisations and
information communicated by Member States.

Infringement procedures have already been opened in a number of cases where Member States have failed
to comply with Commission requests to take action to rectify deficiencies in implementation and
enforcement. The Commission is prepared to open further infringement procedures in cases where
adequate proof of those infringements exists.

Following its presentation of the report referred to by the Honourable Member, the Commission is also
working on proposals for updating and improving the text of the Directive with the aim not only of laying
down improved standards of animal welfare for transported animals but also clearer requirements in
relation to enforcement.

(2001/C 350 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1238/01

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 April 2001)

Subject: An effective treatment for tuberculosis

Could the Commission explain why the European Union in its communication for action (1) (cid:145)Accelerated
action on HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis in the context of world poverty reduction(cid:146), has failed to
mention the DOTS- Directly Observed Treatment Short Course strategy, an effective and low-cost
treatment for tuberculosis.

(1) COM(2001) 96 final.

C 350 E/98

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(28 June 2001)

The Commission welcomes the interest of the Honourable Member for the Commission(cid:146)s proposals for
accelerated action against the major communicable diseases including tuberculosis (TB) and wish to
reassure the Honourable Member that the Commission supports the recommendations of the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and the expansion of the DOTS approach.

The Commission has produced two recent Communications to guide an accelerated response. The first (1)
detailed the global impact of the three diseases, and highlighted underused interventions with potential for
greater use. The document did not address the detail of specific interventions but in the case of TB
highlighted the Stop TB initiative and its agenda for action of which DOTS is a crucial component. The
second Communication (2), the Framework for action, defined how the Commission would meet the
challenges of this ambitious agenda.

DOTS is undoubtedly a key part of any successful national strategy to address TB and needs to be nested
in a strong health system. Other priorities include the development of new diagnostics, drugs and an
effective TB vaccine and action to increase the affordability of second line drugs, needed to treat resistant
strains of tuberculosis. The Commission Programme for Action envisages action in all these areas.

(1) COM(2000) 585 final.
(2) COM(2001) 96 final.

(2001/C 350 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1240/01

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 April 2001)

Subject: Safe Harbour

Given that so few US companies have signed up to Safe Harbour, what impact will this have on the
European Commission(cid:146)s forthcoming six-month review of the agreement? How does the Commission plan
to assess the Safe Harbour agreement and its implementation and which criteria will it look at?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2001)

The fact that fewer companies have joined the Safe Harbour so far than the American Department of
Commerce originally expected has no impact on the Commission(cid:146)s undertaking to the Parliament to make
an interim report this year on how the Safe Harbour works. The Commission is collecting factual
information from a number of Community and American sources, with a view to determining whether all
the elements foreseen in the arrangement are in place and whether there is any evidence that the Safe
Harbour is either not providing the level of protection foreseen for data subjects or not providing the
security and simplifying effect that it should for those involved in making data transfers.

(2001/C 350 E/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1241/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Reducing private transport use in cities

(26 April 2001)

The European Union is in favour of reducing the use of private transport in cities. In Madrid recently, the
Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallstr(cid:246)m, and ministers from various EU Member States launched