WRITTEN QUESTION E-2140/01 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Action to combat third-world diseases.
Date: 2001-07-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: AIDS, developing countries, health aid, health policy, infectious disease, international affairs, pharmaceutical expenses, right to health

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/113

Commission Recommendation of 8 June 2000 on the application of Article 36 of the Euratom Treaty
concerning the monitoring of the levels of radioactivity in the environment for the purpose of assessing
the exposure of the population as a whole (3), and radon decay products are excluded from the category
(cid:145)gross beta activity(cid:146).

The Commission further recommends that Member States define a reference level for consideration of
remedial action in existing dwellings at 400 Becquerels per (Bq) Cubic metre (m-3) and inform the public
concerned on the remedies available to reduce radon concentrations which are above this action level.

(1) 90/143/Euratom: Commission Recommendation of 21 February 1990 on the protection of the public against

indoor exposure to radon.

(2) OJ L 159, 29.6.1996.
(3) OJ L 191, 27.7.2000.

(2002/C 81 E/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2138/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(20 July 2001)

Subject: Global fund against Aids

Is the Council planning to lend political and economic support to the global fund against Aids which has
been set up on the initiative of the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, and to encourage all the EU
Member States to support it too?

(2002/C 81 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2140/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Council

Subject: Action to combat third-world diseases

(20 July 2001)

Of the 1 223 pharmaceutical products placed on the market between 1975 and 1997, only 13 were
designed to treat tropical diseases, even though of the 17 million people who die each year of infectious
diseases, 90 % are from the world(cid:146)s poorest countries. In view of these alarming facts, does the Council
support the projects submitted by Brazil with a view to ensuring that the WHO and its member countries
carry out a campaign to combat the diseases which kill millions of people in Latin America, Asia and
Africa and to counter the lack of concern demonstrated by multinational pharmaceutical companies,
which are motivated solely by profit?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2138/01 and E-2140/01

(29 November 2001)

The Council has repeated on numerous occasions its grave concern about the situation created by the
spread of communicable diseases in particular in developing countries, and most notably in sub-Saharan
Africa.

The principal aim of Community development policy is to reduce poverty with a view to its eventual
eradication. The Council considers that accelerated action by donors to combat communicable diseases,
particularly AIDS/HIV, malaria and tuberculosis is essential in view of the devastating impact these diseases
can have on efforts to reduce poverty.

C 81 E/114

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

The Council, therefore, warmly welcomes the Commission communication on a Programme for Action on
accelerated measures to fight communicable diseases. This programme, it believes, provides an ambitious,
timely and appropriate framework for priority action by the Community and the Member States over the
next five years.

The lack of affordable pharmaceuticals is a serious problem in many developing countries and especially
for the poorest people. The Council, therefore, agrees with the Commission that there should be a much
broader application of effective global tiered pricing for the benefit of affected developing countries. At the
same time, the Council is aware of the danger of diversion of low-priced pharmaceuticals destined for
specific markets and price erosion in the markets of developed countries.

It is important to strengthen and increase financial support for research and development. In this context
there is a need to reinforce capacity in developing countries and to provide incentives for the development
of new treatments and vaccines.

Regarding the proposal for a Global Health Fund, the Council has fully welcomed the proposal made by
the UN Secretary-General. The Fund was set up at the G8 economic summit in Genoa in cooperation with
the UN Secretary-General.

It agrees with the Commission that the Fund should tackle the three major communicable diseases: HIV/
AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis and considers there should be equitable burden sharing between OECD
countries and between the public and private sectors. Finance should be used to support partner countries(cid:146)
own health strategies including prevention, access to care and treatment, as well as capacity-strengthening
actions.

(2002/C 81 E/136)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2139/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Council

Subject: Massacres of civilians in Chechnya

(20 July 2001)

Two years after Russian troops invaded Chechnya (against the will of an entire people and its legitimately
elected government), 80 000 Russian soldiers are continuing to massacre Chechen civilians and 200 000
refugees have fled to the neighbouring Republic of Ingushskaya, where they are suffering all manner of
abuses.

Since it is clear that Russia is behaving in a cruel, colonialist fashion, is the Council (following the Danish
Parliament(cid:146)s example) planning to lodge a complaint against that country with the Council of Europe(cid:146)s
Court of Human Rights?

Reply

(29 November 2001)

The Council has followed the situation in Chechnya very closely since the start of the conflict. It has
condemned without hesitation, openly and most firmly, the human rights violations perpetrated in the
region. The Council has repeatedly asked that these cases be fully investigated. Recently, the EU made
representations to the Russian authorities following the serious abuses committed against the civilian
populations by Russian troops at the beginning of July.

Moreover, the Council has insisted that the situation in Chechnya be discussed at all appropriate meetings
between the EU and Russia and at all levels. The EU-Russia summit on 3 October in Brussels will be the
next opportunity for reaffirming at the highest level the EU(cid:146)s concern regarding Chechnya and urging
Russia to take the necessary measures to ensure that human rights violations are investigated swiftly and
effectively.