WRITTEN QUESTION E-1597/01 by Klaus-Heiner Lehne (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European Commission answer to Written Question E-0194/01 concerning the Iron Rhine railway line.
Date: 2001-06-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Netherlands, application of EU law, environmental impact, impact study, nature reserve, rail network

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/155

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.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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20.12.2001

That answer prompts the following additional questions:

1. Does the European Commission share the view of the Netherlands Government that the section of the
(cid:145)Iron Rhine(cid:146) railway line located on Netherlands territory falls within the scope of Council Directive
92/43/EEC (2) and of Council Directive 79/409/EEC (3)?

2. What is the Commission(cid:146)s view of the applicability of Directives 92/43/EEC and 79/409/EEC to the

German section of the (cid:145)Iron Rhine(cid:146) railway line?

3. Does the European Commission share the view that,

if such an extensive long-distance freight
transport route is reopened, the German section of the route also requires an environmental impact
assessment in accordance with the relevant European Union law?

(1) OJ C 261 E, 18.9.2001, p. 60.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.
(3) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

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

(25 July 2001)

The section of the (cid:145)Iron Rhine(cid:146) railway line located on Netherlands territory partly falls within the scope of
Directive 79/409/EEC (1) and Directive 92/43/EEC (2), since it may affect the (cid:145)Meinweg(cid:146) and the (cid:145)Weerter en
Budelerbergen(cid:146). Those areas have been designated as special protection areas in accordance with Directive
79/409/EEC and the Netherlands has also proposed them as sites of Community importance in accordance
with Directive 92/43/EEC.

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its reply to Written Question E-496/01 by Mr de
Roo (3).

As the Commission noted in the above-mentioned reply, the reopening of the (cid:145)Iron Rhine(cid:146) is currently
under consideration, but no decision has been taken yet. In the absence of information about the concrete
characteristics of this project, the Commission is not in a position to determine whether or not in its view
Germany will be under an obligation to conduct an impact assessment under Council Directive 85/337/
EEC (4), as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC (5). For further information on the legal background in
this context, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its reply to Written Question E-496/
01.

(1) Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds.
(2) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora.
(3) OJ C 318 E, 13.11.2001, p. 67.
(4) Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private

projects on the environment (OJ L 175, 5.7.1985).

(5) Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 (OJ L 73, 14.3.1997).

(2001/C 364 E/172)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1600/01

by Toine Manders (ELDR) to the Commission

(28 May 2001)

Subject: Court of Justice open competition (cid:129) discrimination on the ground of age

In recent years, provisions governing human rights protection have been incorporated into various
sections of the treaties. Long before that, respect for human rights constituted a fundamental principle of
European Community law. Article 6 of the EU Treaty includes a general reference to the protection of
human rights, whilst Articles 12 and 13 of
the EC Treaty refer specifically to the prohibition of
discrimination.