WRITTEN QUESTION E-2405/01 by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Carbon sequestration in the North Sea.
Date: 2001-08-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: North Sea, air quality, anti-pollution device, geology, greenhouse gas, industrial pollution, research and development

C 93 E/126

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

(2002/C 93 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2405/01

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 August 2001)

Subject: Carbon sequestration in the North Sea

According to the British Geographical Survey,
‘some North Sea sites which may be suitable for carbon
dioxide sequestration risk being lost unless decommissioning policy takes this potential change of use into
account’ (Earth News, BGS, July 2001). What can the European Commission do to ensure that such sites
are not lost, and that demonstration projects that can explore the potential for sequestration on an
industrial scale in the North Sea are carried out?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2404/01 and E-2405/01
given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 2001)

The successful outcome of the second part of the Sixth United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP 6bis) includes an agreement on carbon sinks. The
Commission has started to develop Community policies on sinks including geological carbon seques-
tration. Whether or not the geological carbon sequestration can be a safe and cost-effective option of
limiting the Carbondioxide (CO2) emissions needs further research and development in the first place.
Directorates general (DG) Research and Transport and Energy (TREN) have a portfolio of projects under
the Fifth Community Programme on Research and Technological Development addressing this question
(DG Research is focussing on medium to long term activities and DG TREN on short term activities). A
number of projects are underway and others are being considered for contract. A brief description is sent
direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

(2002/C 93 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2406/01

by Lousewies van der Laan (ELDR) to the Commission

(21 August 2001)

Subject: EU- India cooperation: joint projects with Sai Baba, alleged child molestation

Last year, Unesco pulled out of a conference it was planning with the Institute of Sathya Sai Education
citing ‘deep concern about widely-reported allegations of sexual abuse involving youths and children that
have been levelled at the leader of the movement in question, Sathya Sai Baba’.

Can the Commission confirm that no EU funding has gone or will go and that joint projects will not be
undertaken with organisations linked to Sai Baba until the controversy has been cleared up?

Will the Commission raise the issue of the allegations at the EU-India summit scheduled for 23 November
2001 and ask assurances that the Indian Government is investigating the allegations?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(1 October 2001)

The Sathya Sai Trust does not receive and has never received any funding from the Community, nor is it
associated with any of its projects in India.