WRITTEN QUESTION E-3270/01 by Nirj Deva (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Nawab Khair Baksh Marri.
Date: 2001-11-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Commission Delegation, Europe, Pakistan, elderly person, health care, imprisonment, the EU's international role

20.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/139

(2002/C 147 E/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3265/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Modification of research programme to combat anthrax

(23 November 2001)

In order to counter the threat of the spread of anthrax in letters, the American Society of Microbiology has
announced that it is undertaking research to adapt X-ray machines so that they destroy anthrax.

Does the Commission intend through the research programme of the European Union to find ways of
building machines able to destroy anthrax and other such microbiological substances contained in parcels
or cases?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(28 January 2002)

The current 5th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (RTD) does not
foresee support to the kind of research suggested by the Honourable Member and therefore no research
into machinery able to destroy anthrax will be undertaken at the moment.

The Commission however agrees that a Community strategy to combat biological terrorism will necessarily
to increase
involve mobilising Europe’s research and technology development potential,
knowledge in the field, provide scientific support to the policies concerned and develop more effective
ways of protecting European citizens.

in order

Therefore, once adopted, the new Framework Programme for research, technological development and
demonstration activities (2002-2006) will incorporate the means to respond to urgent research challenges,
of which the new threats of bioterrorism could be an example. The section of the programme entitled
‘Anticipating the EU’s scientific and technological needs’ will provide support to policies, including those
concerned with public health, and security and justice. Considerable flexibility is available in this part of
the programme not only to respond to new policy needs but also to unforeseeable developments in
science and technology. Furthermore, under the thematic priorities, the new Framework Programme may
also include longer term research on importance in the fight against bioterrorism, for example within the
priorities ‘Genomics and biotechnology for health’ and ‘Food safety and health risks’.

in response to the Ghent European Council

More generally,
(19 October 2001) conclusions on
bioterrorism, the Commission has presented a Communication on ‘Civil Protection ; State of preventive
alert against possible emergencies’ (1). This Communication presents the basis for co-ordinating an optimal
response by the Community to all types of emergencies. It sets out the main lines of action desirable for
improved co-operation across the Union including in the field of research and development.

(1) COM(2001) 707 final.

(2002/C 147 E/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3270/01

by Nirj Deva (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 November 2001)

Subject: Nawab Khair Baksh Marri

Will the Commission use its influence with the Government of Pakistan to grant permission for the 80-
year-old Nawab Khair Baksh Marri to leave the country in order to receive urgent specialist medical
attention, while recognising that the Nawab has been released from solitary confinement?

C 147 E/140

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

The Nawab’s illness has been exacerbated by his period of confinement, and in the interests of his health
and peace in Balochistan this would be a significant gesture.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2002)

Mr Khair Baksh Marri has been active in provincial politics in Balochistan since the 1970s. He was arrested
on 11 January 2000 and charged with the murder of a Balochistan High Court judge. He has now been
released.

According to information obtained through the Delegation of the Commission in Islamabad, Mr Khair
Baksh Marri has been seeking to leave Pakistan for Europe on medical grounds. While the Commission is
not aware of the Pakistan government’s grounds for refusing Mr Khair Baksh permission to leave Pakistan,
its Delegation will raise the case with the Union’s Human Rights Working Group in Islamabad.

(2002/C 147 E/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3273/01

by Frank Vanhecke (NI) to the Commission

(26 November 2001)

Subject: Aid for the airline industry

The recent failure of the Belgian airline Sabena has painfully demonstrated the weak market conditions
under which the European airline industry is suffering.

Questions may be raised in connection with the decision by the Commission to ban the Belgian
from stepping in to provide financial aid to the company. The issue of distortion of
government
competition by governments is clearly being very narrowly interpreted by the Commission. The fact that,
in the case of Sabena, some 12 000 jobs are at risk justifies the wish to look for alternative solutions with
a view to avoiding such catastrophes in social terms in future.

Does the Commission not consider that there is an urgent need to revise the directives on competition to
make it possible for governments to step in to provide financial aid when crises of this kind occur in
national industries?

Is the Commission considering other ways of helping industries in difficulties come through slumps and
periods of recession?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(1 February 2002)

The Commission decided on 17 October 2001 to authorise the Belgian authorities to grant a rescue aid, in
the form of a short term loan, to Sabena. On 9 November 2001, following Sabena’s bankruptcy, the
Commission confirmed that it would not object to the use of this loan for the benefit of the Sabena
subsidiary DAT.

The EC Treaty imposes a general ban on state aid with certain exceptions. One exception which the
Commission has allowed is to rescue and restructure companies in difficulty. However, the Commission
believes that restructuring aid should be necessary at most once for a single beneficiary. Sabena has already
benefited from such an aid.