WRITTEN QUESTION E-1589/01 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Causes of the increased incidence of tumours.
Date: 2001-06-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU research policy, cancer, electromagnetic interference, health policy, health risk, medical research

C 364 E/154

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

As regards the assistance and protection of children affected by armed conflict in general, the Commission
has made children a priority in humanitarian assistance. Since the beginning of 2000, the European
Commission(cid:146)s Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) has spent more than € 40 million on projects targeting the
special needs of children. Typical projects include: projects for the demobilisation, rehabilitation and
reintegration of child soldiers, health and nutrition projects, psychosocial support for war-affected children,
family tracing and reunification, and emergency education. Such projects contribute to help the children
against guerrilla attacks. In Angola, a number of projects targeting the special needs of children have also
been implemented in co-operation with partners such as MØdecins sans frontiŁres (cid:129) Belgium (MSF-B),
Concern Ireland, United Nations Children(cid:146)s Fund (Unicef), Cooperation, Interchange and Culture (CIC)
Portugal, and Caritas Italy.

(2001/C 364 E/169)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1584/01

by Nirj Deva (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 June 2001)

Subject: Bathing water in France

Could the Commission please inform me about the different quality of statistics reported to it by different
countries in the (cid:145)Blue Flag(cid:146) scheme for beaches, particularly with reference to the resort of St George de
Didonne in the Poitou-Charentes region of France.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2001)

It is important to note that the Blue Flag campaign is not a Commission scheme. It is the Foundation for
Environmental Education in Europe (FEEE), based in Copenhagen, that is solely responsible for this
campaign. This Foundation has associated organisations in the Member States who assess the beaches,
which are candidates for a Blue Flag. This assessment is made for four major issues, for which both
imperative and guideline criteria are established: environmental education and information, environmental
management, water quality and safety and services. The Commission is only connected to the Blue Flag
because the water quality criteria for a Blue Flag beach are based on the guideline values of the European
Bathing Water Directive, Council Directive 76/160/EEC of 8 December 1975 concerning the quality of
bathing water (1). Any request about the attribution of Blue Flags should be addressed to FEEE (2).

Regarding the information about a particular bathing area in France, the Commission must record with
regret that for the second successive year and due to industrial action by the staff responsible for
submitting the data to central government, France has not communicated any results to the Commission.
The Commission has been assured though, that measures to monitor bathing water quality and to protect
bather(cid:146)s health were taken throughout the 2000 bathing season and that that information has been made
available to the public at the concerned bathing areas and/or the local town/city hall.

(1) OJ L 31, 5.2.1976.
(2)

FEEE, for the attention of Finn Bolding Tomson, Scandiagade 13; DK-2450 Kobenhavn, fax +45-33-790179.

(2001/C 364 E/170)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1589/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Causes of the increased incidence of tumours

(1 June 2001)

The annual Tumour Register meeting held in Alghero (in the province of Sassari) revealed an increase of
approximately 0,5 % in the incidence of tumours worldwide. This increase is cause for concern and raises

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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questions about the possible causes. It suggests the hypothesis that leukaemia and lymphomas may be
linked to various forms of pollution, possibly including electromagnetic pollution.

In the light of this, can the Commission say:

1. whether it already knows about this;

2. whether any studies and research are being carried out in Europe to ascertain the increase and the
possible links with electromagnetic pollution, in order to prevent the situation from deteriorating
further and, if so, whether it can communicate the results?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

The Honourable Member expresses concern about the slight increase of the global cancer incidence
reported on the instance of an annual meeting of a regional Tumor Registry in Alghero, Italy. These figures
most likely derive from the World health organisation (WHO)/IARC Globocan/Cancer in five Continents
database, of which the European figures are provided for by the European Network of Cancer Registries
(ENCR) with the support of the Europe against Cancer Programme.

The Commission(cid:146)s support to the ENCR, to the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and
Nutrition (EPIC), and to a multitude of research institutions funded under the Research Programmes, aims
at narrowing down the causes of cancer to finally prevent cancer, or to improve survival and the quality of
life of cancer stricken Europeans through an improvement of early diagnosis and treatment.

In addition, numerous scientific studies into the health effects of electromagnetic fields are under way as
part of the Fifth framework programme for research and technological development (Quality of Life
Programme, Key Action 4: Environment and Health), which is funding 5 projects for a total of
approximately € 9 million. These projects, essentially looking into carcinogenic risks potentially associated
with radiofrequencies, were launched at the start of 2000 and will bear fruit over the next 4 years. To
augment these studies, other calls for proposals published within the same framework will explore possible
biological health effects such as headaches or disturbed sleep patterns.

In parallel, the Commission has recently asked its Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the
Environment to deliver an update of its previous opinion published in June 1998 on health risks associated
with electromagnetic fields regarding new technological developments and conditions of exposure. This
will be published during the autumn of 2001 and used,
if necessary, to elaborate new Community
legislative proposals in the field.

The Commission will react to any new scientific evidence regarding health risks not already taken into
consideration.

(2001/C 364 E/171)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1597/01

by Klaus-Heiner Lehne (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 June 2001)

Subject: European Commission answer to Written Question E-0194/01 concerning the (cid:145)Iron Rhine(cid:146) railway

line

On 19 April 2001, the European Commission answered Written Question E-0194/01 (1) concerning the
resumption of international rail freight transport on the historic (cid:145)Iron Rhine(cid:146) route.