WRITTEN QUESTION E-1255/01 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council. European Union attitude to the promotion of breast-feeding.
Date: 2001-04-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: baby food, health policy, mother's milk

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/69

human rights and fundamental freedoms. What is the Council(cid:146)s view of the statements made by the
President of Namibia, Mr Sam Nujoma, and his decision to detain and deport from the country all gays
and lesbians on the grounds that Namibia(cid:146)s constitution does not allow homosexuality?

This is in breach of the values and fundamental principles of the European Union, Article 13 of the Treaty
of Amsterdam, legislation on development cooperation and the United Nations Universal Declaration on
Human Rights. Is the Council planning any action to denounce this flagrantly discriminatory measure?

Will the Council inform the Namibian Government that this decision violates fundamental human rights
and contradicts the principles and basic values of the European Union?

Reply

(27 September 2001)

The Council has made a dØmarche to the Namibian authorities concerning the human rights situation in the
country. This dØmarche was followed up by the publication of a declaration by the Presidency on behalf of
the EU on human rights in Namibia. This text clearly states the EU(cid:146)s position on the threats and verbal
attacks against minorities in Namibia which the EU finds unacceptable. The EU furthermore encourages
the Government of Namibia to maintain its respect of human rights and to uphold the rule of law.

(2001/C 364 E/076)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1255/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(27 April 2001)

Subject: European Union attitude to the promotion of breast-feeding

Directive 91/321/EEC (1) of 14 May 1991 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating
to infant formulae and follow-on formulae constitutes a version of the International Code of Marketing of
Breast-Milk Substitutes drawn up by the World Health Organisation and Unicef and adopted by the World
Health Assembly in 1981.

In its Resolution 49.15, adopted in 1996, the WHO urges the adoption of accompanying measures to
prohibit the promotion of breast-milk substitutes for children under the age of six months so that mothers
are encouraged to continue breastfeeding. Under normal circumstances, a new resolution would have been
adopted last year, but the debate about the maintenance or scrapping of the six-month limit was held over
to next May(cid:146)s Assembly.

Will the Council argue at the forthcoming World Health Assembly for accompanying measures to prohibit
the promotion of breast-milk substitutes for children under the age of six months, as called for in
Resolution 49.15? If not, why will it not implement Resolution 49.15 of the World Health Organisation,
given the significance of breast-feeding for health?

(1) OJ L 175, 4.7.1991, p. 35.

Reply

(27 September 2001)

The Resolution referred to by the Honourable Member of Parliament has been adopted by consensus at the
5th World Health Assembly this May. The Assembly welcomed the EU stance on this matter.

C 364 E/70

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

The WHO resolution explicitly urges Member States to ensure global compliance with the International
Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk substitutes and subsequent WHA Resolutions, with regard to labelling as
well as all forms of advertising and commercial promotion.

The responsibility for implementing such a Resolution, as is the case with all WHO Resolutions, lies with
the Member States of WHO.

(2001/C 364 E/077)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1266/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 April 2001)

Subject: Special regional planning studies

Further to my Written Question No E-3458/00 (1) concerning the special regional planning studies for the
Cyclades and the Commission(cid:146)s answer, I would raise the same matter in relation to the island of Paros.

the Central Council

the Cyclades claims that

In a complaint to the Ministry for the Environment, Regional Planning and Public Works, the Architects(cid:146)
Association of
for Planning, Development and the
Environment discussed the adoption of the special regional planning study for the island of Paros in
early March without taking account of the proposals for environmental protection contained in the
original study funded under the Community(cid:146)s Envireg initiative and measure 4.2 of the (cid:145)Environment(cid:146)
operational programme. The (cid:145)Ayios Nikolaos(cid:146) Society for the Conservation of Paros has also submitted
a detailed official complaint to the Commission(cid:146)s Directorate-General for the Environment and Regional
Development, accusing the Greek authorities of infringing Community rules on the funding of the special
regional planning study for Paros, as well as Community Directives 85/337/EEC (2), 79/409/EEC (3) and 92/
43/EEC (4). Furthermore, the recorded minutes of a recent official meeting of the Paros Municipal Council
reveal that the study awaiting approval by the Central Council for Planning, Development and the
Environment designates only half of the coastline at Molos as protected instead of its entire length, as
proposed by the study originally funded by the Commission.

The Commission:

1. What action will it take in response to such serious alleged infringements of Community law and the
options chosen by the Greek authorities, which are at odds with the purpose of the funding,
i.e. environmental protection?

2. Will it allow the plan to build a (cid:129) mainly commercial (cid:129) port at Molos on the island of Paros to go
ahead despite the proposals to declare it a total conservation area and the absence of a feasibility study
for such a project?

(1) OJ C 163 E, 6.6.2001, p. 129.
(2) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.
(3) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2001)

With regard to the implementation of the regional planning studies part-financed principally under the
Regional Environment Initiative (Envireg), the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its
answer to his Question E-3458/00 (1).