WRITTEN QUESTION E-2848/01 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Controlling the marketing of dangerous chemicals.
Date: 2001-10-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: biological weapon, chemical product, chemical weapon, civil defence, cooperation policy, dangerous substance, public health, terrorism

C 134 E/122

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991 on hazardous waste (3)
from 1 January 2002
onwards.
In addition, the Commission is considering measures to promote the practice of selective
demolition in order to segregate the hazardous wastes present in construction materials and ensure their
safe disposal.

Furthermore, as regards the protection of health and safety of workers at work there is Council Directive
83/477/EEC of 19 September 1983 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to
asbestos at work (second individual Directive within the meaning of Article 8 of Directive 80/1107/EEC) (4).
This Directive has been amended and updated by Council Directives 91/382/EEC of 25 June 1991 (5) and
Council Directive 98/24/EC of 7 April 1998 on the protection of the health and safety of workers from
the risks related to chemical agents at work (fourteenth individual Directive within the meaning of
Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC (6). On 20 July 2001 the Commission adopted a proposal for a
Directive of the Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 83/477/EEC (7), which aims to
reinforce further the protection of workers. The main provisions of the proposal concern stricter limit
values, an obligation for the employer to prove his capacity in activities involving asbestos removal and an
extensive duty to inform employees.

(1) OJ L 207, 6.8.1999.
(2) OJ L 85, 28.3.1987.
(3) OJ L 377, 31.12.1991.
(4) OJ L 263, 24.9.1983.
(5) OJ L 206, 29.7.1991.
(6) OJ L 131, 5.5.1998.
(7) OJ C 304 E, 30.10.2001.

(2002/C 134 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2848/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Controlling the marketing of dangerous chemicals

(17 October 2001)

The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington have spread terror and fear in Europe, since it is not
exempt from the threat of terrorist attacks either. The countries of the Western Alliance were recently put
on a state of alert by the US Government and the Japanese because of the fear of chemical and biological
weapons being used by terrorists.

In order to help combat such risks of tragedy and step up a combined intelligence operation for a wide-
ranging campaign against terrorism, does the Commission not consider it appropriate to call on the
governments of the Member States:

1.

2.

3.

4.

to make their chemical
dangerous substances in the last few months which could be used to manufacture toxic weapons;

industries carry out checks to ascertain what customers have purchased

to ascertain whether any substances of this kind have been stolen or have disappeared;

to step up the exchange of information on any anomalous or irregular situations ascertained in this
field;

to be particularly vigilant as regards their factories and staff in order to prevent any toxic substances
being taken away or any attacks on factories and/or stores being carried out?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 2001)

Quickly after the 11 September events, the Commission, with full backing from Member States moved to
anticipate entry into force of a new Civil Protection Mechanism (foreseen for 1 January) co-ordinated by
the Commission, which reinforces the EU civil protection capabilities.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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In light of the events, the co-operation was extended to include:

? The pooling of expertise in the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical fields (NBC experts), available

24 hours a day to assist any country that requests help;

? Enhanced co-operation on information-sharing concerning antidotes, vaccines, antibiotics, and access

to hospital treatment for any victims of such attacks;

? Creation of a system of immediate and systematic exchange of information relating to accidents or

threats of terrorist attack;

? Creation of a Civil Protection monitoring and information centre in the Commission.

the European Council

At
the Heads of State and Government called on the European
Commission and the Council to organise an urgent and co-ordinated program to respond to the threat of
bio-terrorism.

in Ghent,

In response to the request by EU Heads of State and Government, the European Commission approved on
28 November a Communication setting out the action it has taken to mobilise its resources, expertise and
networks in the area of civil protection to respond to terrorist threats.

The Commission proposed to appoint a European Co-ordinator for Civil Protection.

Moreover, it has been decided to organise a workshop mid December under the Belgian Presidency; the
latter will be entrusted with setting up a short, medium and long term working programme.

On the question raised by the Honourable Member on the exchange of information dealing with irregular
or anomalous situations in the chemical industry, it would be discussed during this workshop.

In the field of public health there is already in place a basis at Community level on which one can build up
an effective mechanism for an early warning and response system for the prevention and control of
communicable diseases, also related to terrorist attacks. Work on the Community communicable disease
network (1) has been under development and is now being accelerated urgently with the necessary
assistance of Member States. Following consultation of representatives of Union Health Ministers, the
Commission proposed at the Health Council of 15 November 2001, to complement the current two
strands of the network, tracking diseases and rapid alert, by a third strand: emergency preparedness. The
emergency coordination mechanism will
in particular address progress of preparedness planning and
prepare decision making mechanisms for emergency situations. The aim is to target a wider range of
emerging threats and to be able to deliver authoritative expert analysis rapidly. By consequence,
Community response will be built on resources existing in the Member States and at Community level
and directed at gaining real added value through more effective and stronger coordination.

(1) Parliament and Council Decision No 2119/98/EC, OJ L 268, 3.10.1998, Commission Decision 2000/57/EC, OJ L 21,

26.1.2000 and Commission Decision 2000/96/EC, OJ L 28, 3.2.2000.

(2002/C 134 E/123)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2850/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Subject: Use of schemes to get round rules on the public-sector cofinancing required for the allocation of

ESF monies in Limburg province, Netherlands

Is the Commission aware that the now bankrupt firm Abb MCG in Limburg province, Netherlands,
1.
used a special scheme in order to meet the requirement for public-sector cofinancing in the case of ESF 4
projects? The scheme consisted in asking businesses or organisations in various sectors to make loans (and
hence not binding contributions) to a training and development fund; this money, passing for public-sector
cofinancing, was then paid back to the firm, supplemented with ESF 4 funding, to enable it to implement
training projects.