WRITTEN QUESTION E-2586/01 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Community provisions to facilitate the movement of patients to help cut waiting-lists.
Date: 2001-09-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, United Kingdom, competence of the Member States, health care, public health, right to health

C 115 E/118

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

lower-quality butterfat does not meet

the criteria laid down in Article 1(2)(a) and (b) of
However,
Regulation (EC) No 2571/97 (11) (scheme for pastry and ice-cream) and is therefore not eligible for aid
under this Regulation either.

(1) OJ C 174 E, 19.6.2001, p. 28.
(2) OJ C 151 E, 22.5.2001.
(3) OJ C 318 E, 13.11.2001, p. 244.
(4) OJ C 40 E, 14.2.2002, p. 219.
(5) OJ L 46, 1.3.1995.
(6) OJ L 37, 7.2.2001.
(7) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.
(8) OJ L 316, 9.12.1994.
(9) OJ L 125, 23.5.1996.
(10) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992.
(11) OJ L 350, 20.12.1997.

(2002/C 115 E/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2559/01

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(20 September 2001)

Subject: EU’s contribution to the problem of waiting lists in national health systems

The Commission has just made a number of fitting statements in support of the United Kingdom initiative
to send patients to other Community countries in order to reduce waiting lists. However, the problem of
waiting lists is widespread throughout the EU, as can be seen from the situation in Spain, where a number
of people have died after long waiting lists prevented them from undergoing operations in time.

I drew the Commission’s attention to the seriousness of
this problem in my Written Question
E-2415/00 (1), which Mr Byrne answered on 25 September 2000. In his answer, the Commissioner cited
the lack of a Community mandate for health matters pursuant to Article 152 of the Treaty and added that
Commission action to help to mitigate the problem of waiting lists would be taken as part of the
Community action programme in the field of public health.

Bearing in mind the substance of the judgment of the Court of Justice in Case-157/99, which recognises
that patients have a right to seek treatment in other countries if systems in their place of origin are
overloaded, would the Commission be prepared to propose an initiative geared to Community
coordination in order to solve the problem of waiting lists through a recommendation addressed to the
Member States?

What specific measures will the Commission take as part of the Community action programme to
promote the exchange of patients between Community countries?

(1) OJ C 89 E, 20.3.2001, p. 195.

(2002/C 115 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2586/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 September 2001)

Subject: Community provisions to facilitate the movement of patients to help cut waiting-lists

The British National Health Service intends to pay for surgery and treatment in other Member States in
order to cut its waiting-lists but will not be able to do so until the relevant British law has been amended.

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/119

In a recent ruling handed down in Case C-157/99 the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice stated that
Community citizens were entitled to go to other countries for treatment if they would have to wait an
inordinately long time to be treated in their own countries.

The above measure will have a considerable impact on all European countries, and its implications will
therefore need to be discussed with the Health Ministers of the other Member States.

What is the Commission’s attitude to this matter, and what proposals is it drawing up, or will it draw up,
to respond to the possibility created by the Court ruling?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2559/01 and E-2586/01
given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(29 October 2001)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to her Written Question E-2415/00 (1).
The Commission is well aware of the problem of waiting lists for patients in several Member States. The
new public health programme is currently being discussed by the Parliament and the Council. Once
adopted, it will provide an opportunity to monitor and analyse developments in Member States’ health
systems.

The situation as regards actions to be undertaken in the context of Article 152 (ex Article 129) of the EC
Treaty remains unchanged. Community actions in the field of public health shall
the
responsibility of the Member States for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care.

fully respect

the ramifications of

All
reimbursement of cross-border health care costs are at present being examined by the Commission.

the case law gradually built up by the Court of

Justice concerning the

(1) OJ C 89 E, 20.3.2001.

(2002/C 115 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2560/01

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

(20 September 2001)

Subject: Electricity shortages in Spain @ market regulation and consequences for consumers

Despite the over-optimistic statements made by the Spanish Government on the liberalisation of the
electricity market, that market reveals serious shortcomings and monopolies still remain in the transport
and distribution sectors.

These shortcomings have recently led to power cuts which have left consumers in the dark for hours in
many parts of Spain, particularly the Community of Valencia.

The managing director of Iberdrola recently said that unless charges were raised, there would be more cuts.

Given that Article 82(b) of the Treaty lays down that one form of abuse of a dominant position consists in
limiting production, markets or
to the prejudice of consumers, does the
Commission see signs of abusive behaviour in the Spanish electricity sector, or does it take the view that
these shortcomings are simply the consequence of poor regulation?

technical development