WRITTEN QUESTION E-2959/01 by Carlos Carnero González (PSE) to the Commission. Support for organisations working with the mentally ill or providing psycho-geriatric assistance.
Date: 2001-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, EU programme, gerontology, health policy, mental health, psychology

C 115 E/200

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2957/01 and E-3044/01
given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(28 November 2001)

In Chapter 4.9 ‘Implementation (cid:18) Cohesion Fund’, the Community support framework for Greece for the
2000-2006 programming period describes the principles which govern the submission to the Commission
of projects for that Fund.

In the case referred to by the Honourable Members, it is the managing authority of the mainland Greece
regional operational programme (OP) which, after having evaluated the technical feasibility of the projects
submitted by the municipalities and other local operators, submits the selected proposals to the Greek
Ministry for Economic Affairs (MEN) for the remainder of the procedure. MEN collects all the proposals
from the various managing authorities, evaluates and prioritises them and sends the Commission those
finally selected for its approval. In the case of projects in the ‘Environment’ sector, such as the one
mentioned in the question, the managing authorities and MEN must also carry out an evaluation according
to the principles set out in ‘Strategy of the Cohesion Fund (cid:18) Environment Sector’, which forms part of the
Environment OP for 2000-2006 (1).

In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity and the agreements referred to above, the implementation
of assistance, and therefore the selection of the projects, is a matter for the Member States, which are
required to send their final proposals to the Commission.

At this stage, the Commission has not received a proposal concerning part-financing from the Cohesion
Fund of water supply work and drainage in Khalkida.

(1) Commission Decision C(2001) 1357. 24.7.2001.

(2002/C 115 E/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2959/01

by Carlos Carnero González (PSE) to the Commission

(25 October 2001)

Subject: Support for organisations working with the mentally ill or providing psycho-geriatric assistance

10 October has been declared World Mental Health Day. The World Health Organisation (WHO) believes
that mental illness accounts for 12,5 % of all illnesses, thus representing a higher proportion than cancer
and cardiovascular disease. In Spain, the mentally ill number over 800 000, to which total should be added
that of older people requiring psycho-geriatric care.

In recent years hospital health care provision for these sufferers has been reduced, and the task has been
transferred to the community, with home helps, mini-residences, occupational workshops, etc. At the same
time, partly due to the lack of funding, but also because of the need to involve society more with these
sufferers,
foundations and social organisations working with them has
increased.

the number of

institutions,

Is the Commission making any provision for the promotion of research into mental or psycho-geriatric
illness?

Is the Commission providing support for the setting up of community infrastructures for sufferers in these
categories under any heading?

Does the Commission have support programmes for associations, foundations or institutions working in
this social sector?

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/201

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2001)

The Community Health Promotion Programme supports measures to promote sound models of good
practice in mental health with a view to developing coping and prevention strategies to be implemented in
the Member States. The Commission has also given support through this programme to the development
of cooperation between organisations active on the promotion of positive mental health and on the
prevention of mental disorder.

A project which has just started under the leadership of Deusto university in Bilbao develops coping and
prevention strategies in relation to depression during the whole life cycle. One aspect of this project aims
at preventing depression during the transition period from working to retirement life.

Another project that is currently carried out aims at setting up a European synopsis on compulsory
admission and involuntary treatment of psychiatric patients based on national legislation and practice.

(2002/C 115 E/214)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2963/01

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(25 October 2001)

Subject: EU-Egypt Euro-Mediterranean Agreement

In bilateral commercial agreements at Community level, the sectors most affected by liberalisation of trade
are usually the fruit and vegetable, horticultural and preserves industries. These sectors have a significant
role both for the GVA and primary sector employment in certain Member States, particularly in numerous
Objective 1 regions. Moreover, these sectors have come under heavy pressure from third country imports,
affecting employment and development
in many EU regions. The Union recently signed a Euro-
Mediterranean agreement with Egypt, with fresh customs duties productions and exemptions, which will
again affect these sectors.

I would therefore ask the Commission to supply a list of the Community customs duty concessions for the
fruit and vegetable, horticultural and preserves industries. I would also ask whether the Commission
carried out any study of the socio-economic impact of this new liberalisation? If so, what were the results?
Has the Commission, should there be loss of income as a result, have any provision for a support
mechanism or compensatory payments? How has the principle of Community preference been ensured in
these sectors, which have frequently served as makeweights in agreements concerning other products,
particularly industrial products?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2001)

The Honourable Member is advised to consult a newly produced publication covering topical issues linked
to the partnership between the Union and Egypt (1) (cid:18) a copy of the publication is sent direct to the
Honourable Member and to the Parliament’s Secretariat. Chapter II of the publication covers an overview
of the agricultural part of the agreement between the parties, as well as all the concessions granted by the
trade. The brochure furthermore comprises
Community as well as by Egypt as regards agricultural
information on the development of the agricultural trade between the parties in 1998 to 2000.

An impact study on the Community-concessions to not only Egypt but to all Mediterranean countries was
carried out by the Commission in 1997 and was presented in its final form to the Council at the end of
the same year (2).