WRITTEN QUESTION E-1842/01 by Maria Martens (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Dutch abortion ship.
Date: 2001-06-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law, Ireland, abortion, international waters, position of women, public international law

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/215

(2001/C 364 E/235)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1842/01

by Maria Martens (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 June 2001)

Subject: Dutch abortion ship

This month a ship with doctors on board is sailing from the Netherlands in the direction of Ireland in
order to offer Irish women the opportunity to have abortions. The ship is sailing under a Dutch flag. The
abortions will be carried out in international waters.

1.

Is the Commission aware of this initiative of a Dutch abortion ship moored off the coast of Ireland?

How does this initiative stand in relation to European Community law, relevant case-law and

2.
international public law?

Does the Commission think that this initiative may have the effect of undermining Irish law because

3.
the doctors on the ship intend to circumvent Irish law?

Has there been any discussion of this matter in the Commission? If so, what was the outcome? If not,

4.
does the Commission intend to discuss the (cid:145)abortion ship(cid:146) initiative in the near future?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

From press information the Commission understands that no measures were taken by the Irish authorities
to prevent the carrying out of the intended activity from the Dutch ship. The Commission further
understands that the Dutch ship has returned to the Netherlands on its own initiative and in these
circumstances there is no need for the Commission to address the matter further at this time.

(2001/C 364 E/236)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1844/01

by W.G. van Velzen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: European standard for radiation from mobile phones

(19 June 2001)

The Dutch paper Financiele Dagblad of 6 June 2001 contained an article on radiation from mobile
phones. The Financial Times of 9 June 2001 also considered a new study on the relationship between
brain damage and mobile phones. The rapid growth in the sending and receiving of SMS messages,
particularly by young people, may represent a new danger to public health. The advent of the low-
radiation mobile phone may, according to the FT article, help to prevent these problems.

The Commission statement on (cid:145)The introduction of Third Generation Mobile Communications in the
European Union: State of Play and the Way Forward(cid:146) (1) considers the possibility of a single European
standard for mobile phone radiation. What stage have the preparations for this European radiation
standard reached?

Magcom, a Norwegian mobile phone manufacturer, has developed a magnesium phone which has
a maximum radiation level of 0,005 W/kg, compared to a radiation level from most mobile phones
currently on the market of around 1 W/kg. Is the Commission aware of the developments at Magcom with
regard to low-radiation mobile phones, and does it agree that it would be useful to take this level of 0,005
W/kg as a base line for mobile phones produced in or imported into the EU?

Does the Commission consider it desirable that legislation should be introduced in the European Union
requiring the marketers of mobile phones to state on each device the radiation levels emitted, perhaps
expressed in SAR (Specific Absorption Rates) and if so, when will the Commission be submitting proposals
for this type of legislation?

(1) COM(2001) 141.