WRITTEN QUESTION E-1497/01 by Raimon Obiols i Germà (PSE) to the Commission. Troika visit to Algeria.
Date: 2001-05-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Morocco, Western Sahara, common foreign and security policy, international issue, settlement of disputes

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/129

Furthermore, a significant proportion of the chemicals are not for further examination until 2008-2012.
By this time, new non-animal test methods are expected to be available as a result of the planned research
programmes into the development and validation of such methods, which include,
the
Commission(cid:146)s framework programmes
technological development and demonstration
activities that have played, since 1985, an active role in funding research into the development of in-
vitro alternatives to animal experiments for toxicological and pharmacological purposes. The European
Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) will play an essential role in further developing
this approach.

inter alia,

research,

for

The Commission is far from complacent about this issue and is working on plans for the implementation
of the above elements. In preparing these plans, the Commission will consider the comments received
from all stakeholders during the consultation on the White Paper.

(1) OJ L 358, 18.12.1986.

(2001/C 364 E/143)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1497/01

by Raimon Obiols i Germ(cid:224) (PSE) to the Commission

(18 May 2001)

Subject: Troika visit to Algeria

During the visit to Algeria by the President of the Council of the EU, Mrs Anna Lindh, and the High
Representative Mr Javier Solana, one of the subjects discussed in talks with the Algerian authorities was the
situation in Western Sahara.

It is no secret that implementation of the peace process in Western Sahara, consisting in the holding of
a referendum, is encountering considerable difficulties, which have led to a virtual standstill. Aware of this
situation, the UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan stated, in his report to the Security Council in February
2001, that he had asked the Moroccan authorities for a set of proposals on opening political negotiations
between the two sides in order to break the deadlock. This will mean the opening of a new phase and
a new opportunity, in which the EU should not shirk its responsibilities or fail to exert its influence.

In this situation, is the Commission aware of its capacity to influence the two sides and help to overcome
an impasse which,
is threatening
a resumption of violence and increasing tension in the Maghreb?

in addition to causing great suffering to the population concerned,

Does the Commission consider that the EU should develop an active role to assist a peaceful settlement of
the Western Sahara question?

In the light of the latest meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Arab Maghreb Union held recently in
Algiers, and the subsequent statements by those responsible for the EU(cid:146)s Euro-Mediterranean policy aimed
at boosting the processes of sub-regionalisation and South-South cooperation, does the Commission
consider that the necessary development of an open market in the Maghreb is feasible without the prior
agreement of the two sides regarding the dispute over Western Sahara?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 July 2001)

The Commission fully support the United Nations (UN) Settlement plan for Western Sahara and the
continued efforts of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary General, Mr James A. Baker, for a durable, just and
mutually agreed resolution to the dispute.

The Commission is currently exploring possible ways of contributing positively to the process, in a manner
that would strengthen and complement the efforts by the United Nations (UN) and the Personal Envoy at
this critical juncture.

C 364 E/130

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

The Commission is ready to exert its influence on both sides in order to convince them of the importance
of direct talks on proposals that might be put forward by the Personal Envoy. The Commission is also
ready to give assistance to the implementation of the various stages of the United Nations (UN) Settlement
Plan, namely at the phases of voters identification, repatriation and rehabilitation of the territory. The
Commission had communicated this availability to Mr Baker with whom it remains in contact.

The Commission continues to provide, through its non-governmental organisations (NGO(cid:146)s) partners, food
and medico-sanitary aid for the saharawi
in Tindouf. This aid has to-date reached € 56 million. An
additional € 10 million medico-sanitary and rehabilitation pack has been approved for the current year.
This constitutes a considerable increase in relation to previous years.

The construction of the Arab Maghreb Union will be very difficult without a proper resolution of this
conflict.

(2001/C 364 E/144)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1501/01

by Anneli HulthØn (PSE) to the Commission

(11 May 2001)

Subject: Rare disorders

The programme on rare disorders was adopted in 1999 and demonstrated that there was a real political
priority to develop a policy on rare diseases at European level. Now, two years later,
it seems the
Programme for rare diseases will disappear. All actions undertaken during these two years are now put at
risk and the existence of networks and associations is threatened.

Will there be a third call for proposals on rare diseases? What is the future for rare diseases in the
framework of the new Public Health Programme and how can the Commission ensure that as part of
implementation, some action is taken on rare diseases?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 2001)

The Commission considers rare diseases and orphan pharmaceutical products as an area where a high
European added value can be achieved and where Community action is needed.

The Community strategy in this domain has been developed in three main policy areas:

(cid:129) research on rare diseases conducted with the Community framework programmes for Research and
Technological Development; the proposal for the next framework programme (2002-2006), as was
the case for the Fifth, contains an explicit reference to rare diseases.

(cid:129) pharmaceutical policy: the Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 141/2000, of 16 December
1999 on orphan medicinal products (1) is now an acquis communautaire that is producing concrete
benefits for rare diseases patients.

(cid:129) public health policy: the programme of Community action 1999-2003 on rare diseases represents an
important step in the consolidation of the Community policy for this area of public health. Last year,
the Commission proposed a new Community public health programme (2) to achieve a better focused
approach and synergies between the various actions. The Commission proposal is currently being
examined by the Parliament and the Council. This programme will replace all the eight existing public
health programmes.

The new programme has three main strands of actions:

(cid:129) Improving health information;

(cid:129) Responding rapidly to health threats;

(cid:129) Addressing health determinants.