WRITTEN QUESTION E-2570/01 by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission. EU funding for experiments on non-human primates in the Netherlands.
Date: 2001-09-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Netherlands, animal experimentation, ethics, monkey, research and development, research body

C 93 E/164

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

(2002/C 93 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2569/01

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(21 September 2001)

Subject: The Alqueva dam project (Portugal)

Has the Commission investigated whether the construction of the Alqueva dam is in conformity with the
provisions of the Habitat Directive, and in particular with its effect on the Iberian Lynx as a protected
species under priority grade annexe II of this Directive?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2001)

In 1994-1995 the Commission part-financed environmental
Alqueva dam project in the light of Community environmental
project.

impact assessment (EIA) studies on the
legislation applicable to this type of

In the follow-up to those studies, the Portuguese authorities drew up an environmental management plan
for the overall area affected by the project; the plan makes provision for a large number of measures to
alleviate and compensate for that impact. The Commission is keeping a close eye on the way those
measures are being implemented, as implementation is one of the conditions for Community part-
financing. To that end it is currently analysing additional information received from the Portuguese on
implementation of the measures.

Lastly, alongside the EIA of the project as a whole, the environmental effects of each individual project
(minor dams, connection tunnels and irrigation systems) will be assessed separately having regard to the
conservation of areas included in the Natura 2000 network and, where applicable, in the light of the
principles laid down in Articles 6(3) and (4) of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1). The Iberian lynx is listed in Annex IV to
that Directive and is therefore protected under the arrangements laid down in Article 12 thereof.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2002/C 93 E/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2570/01

by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission

(21 September 2001)

Subject: EU funding for experiments on non-human primates in the Netherlands

Given the concern expressed by many EU citizens over the use of non-human primates in experiments and
in light of the Dutch government’s announcement in July that it will be banning the use of great apes in
biomedical research, which directly affects the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in Rijswijk, when was
EU funding given to this centre last reviewed and when will it be reviewed again?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(29 October 2001)

The last Community research contracts involving the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in Rijswijk
(BPRC) were signed in 2000.

As the Honourable Member may be aware, the Commission ensures a scientific as well as an ethical
assessment of all research proposals, before any decision is taken concerning funding of a research
proposal.

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/165

review has been implemented systematically under

the Fifth
Furthermore, an independent ethical
Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (RTD) A Quality of Life Pro-
gramme A for proposals dealing with sensitive issues such as the use of non-human primates. The ethical
review panel includes, among others, representatives of animal welfare groups. The ethical review ensures
that all research projects involving animals are conducted in accordance with Council Directive 86/609/
CEE of 24 November 1986 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the
Member States regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes (1).
It takes account of the overall benefit of the research proposed in relation to the possible costs in terms of
animal suffering. All projects must be approved by local ethics committees or other authorisation bodies
before funding.

The BPRC has engaged itself contractually to fulfil all national, legal and ethical requirements. The BPRC
has in July 2001 confirmed to the Commission that it has the permission at local
level to conduct
biomedical research with non-human primates.

All Community funded projects are reviewed regularly by the Commission on the basis of the individual
annual project progress reports by the project coordinators.

(1) OJ L 358, 18.12.1986.

(2002/C 93 E/196)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2575/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(21 September 2001)

Subject: Coordination of the Sensus project

In its reply to question E-1065/01 (1), the Commission states that the German secret agent Christoph
Klonowski is still heading the Sensus project. However, on 20 December 2000 a Munich court found
Mr Klonowski guilty of forgery. The Commission’s action is particularly astonishing since Mr Klonowski’s
fraud was committed precisely in connection with the Sensus project.

I should therefore like the Commission to answer the following questions:

1.

Is Stephan Bodenkamp, alias Christoph Klonowski, still the coordinator of the Commission’s Sensus
project?

(a)

If so, what are the Commission’s arguments for keeping him as the project coordinator in spite of
his conviction for forging a contract with a German technology firm in connection with the
Sensus project?

(b)

If not, when was he relieved of his duties and who has been coordinating the Sensus project
since?

2. Will the Commission be taking the coordination of the Sensus project out of the hands of Stephan
Bodenkamp, alias Christoph Klonowski, in view of his conviction by a Munich court for forging a
contract with a German technology firm in connection with the Sensus project? If not, why is the
Commission still entrusting the coordination of the project to him?

(1) OJ C 364 E, 20.12.2001, p. 39.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(7 November 2001)

As is usually the case for research projects, the co-ordinator of the Sensus project is an organisation, not a
person. The co-ordinator of the Sensus project is the Amt für Auslandsfragen (AfA), which has been
represented for this purpose by the person to whom the Honourable Member refers.