WRITTEN QUESTION E-1623/01 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Recognition as medical treatment centres of mineshafts used for therapeutic purposes.
Date: 2001-06-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU policy, EU programme, alternative medicine, health care system, health insurance, medical centre, therapeutics

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/161

Concerning Community aid to waste treatment plants in Member States, it can be stated that no special
programme to finance or co-finance waste treatment facilities exists. However, different options to improve
the state of the environment are available within the framework of the structural and cohesion funds.
Member States are at liberty to submit proposals for such projects. In addition, funds for implementing
innovative approaches to tackle environmental problems are available under the LIFE programme. All
listed on the website (cid:129)
funding offers
www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/funding/intro_en.htm.

from the Directorate general

(DG) Environment are

(1) OJ L 365, 31.12.1994.

(2001/C 364 E/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1619/01

by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 June 2001)

Subject: Candidacy of Malaga for the seat of the EU(cid:146)s future Maritime Safety Agency

Malaga has submitted its candidacy for the seat of the EU(cid:146)s Maritime Safety Agency. Among the factors
supporting this candidacy are the location of the Sea of AlborÆn on one of the world(cid:146)s busiest maritime
routes and the fact that the Straits of Gibraltar are crossed by between 70 000 and 80 000 vessels every
year.

While other cities will also apply, Malaga(cid:146)s candidacy would ensure a Mediterranean location for the
agency which could be the salvation of an ocean that has suffered severe damage from a level of maritime
traffic in excess of its ecological capacities.

Does the Commission believe that objective criteria should be established for choosing among the cities
put forward for the Agency(cid:146)s seat, to include compliance with the existing on-board safety rules, levels of
risk insurance provision, and coordination management in respect of the provisions of national law in the
field?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(2 August 2001)

The Commission proposal for a Regulation establishing a European Maritime Safety Agency was presented
on 6 December 2000 in the context of a second package of measures following the (cid:145)Erika(cid:146) accident (1).

Since the presentation of this proposal, the Commission has indeed received a number of applications by
Member States or regional authorities, among which is an application by the city of Malaga.

The Commission would agree with the Honourable Member that certain objective criteria have to be taken
into account by the competent Authority when deciding on the location of the Agency.

(1) COM(2000) 802 final.

(2001/C 364 E/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1623/01

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 June 2001)

Subject: Recognition as medical treatment centres of mineshafts used for therapeutic purposes

In Germany and Austria, as well as in several applicant countries (such as Slovenia, the Czech Republic,
Slovakia and Hungary), mineshafts used for therapeutic purposes are recognised, for example, as medical
treatment centres. Accordingly, sickness insurance schemes bear the cost of the treatment which they offer.

C 364 E/162

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

Can the European Commission indicate:

(cid:129) what it thinks of mineshafts used for therapeutic purposes as medical treatment centres;

(cid:129) whether the operation of such therapeutic centres will, in future, also receive increased financial aid

from the European Union through Community programmes and be encouraged?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

The competences of the Community in the health field are limited. The recognition of the use of
mineshafts for medical treatment and the decisions of health insurance whether to reimburse treatment
costs in this area form part of the responsibilities of the Member States for the organisation and financing
of health systems (Article 152 (ex Article 129) of the EC Treaty).

The new public health programme which is currently being discussed by the Parliament and the Council
contains actions pertaining to the exchange of best practice and on the cost effectiveness of specific health
interventions. It could therefore provide a framework to discuss the costs and benefits of treatments and
procedures, while of course the final decision on their use and application remains with Member States.

Moreover, research into the effectiveness of these therapies could be undertaken within the Quality of Life
and Management of Living Resources programme in the context of the Fifth Reasearch and Technological
Development framework programme.

(2001/C 364 E/179)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1626/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Standardisation and promotion of olive oil

(12 June 2001)

Can the Commission say what use Greece has made of Community aid for the standardisation of olive oil
to date and what percentage this amounts to by comparison with other olive-oil producing countries?

Can the Commission also provide estimates relating to the use of Community funds for the standardisation
and promotion of olive oil under the regional operational programmes 2000-2006 in Greece?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2001)

The Commission has not part-financed any action to standardise olive oil in connection with the structural
measures. Under the new programming for 2000-06, however, proposals involving investments in the
standardisation of olive oil cannot be ruled out. At this stage in programming, it is still too early for
precise details or figures concerning the financing of such investments. That information will only be
available once the calls for proposals are published and potential investors(cid:146) proposals are received and
approved by the body responsible for managing the rural development operational programme covering
the processing and marketing of agricultural products.