WRITTEN QUESTION P-3623/01 by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission. Osteoporosis.
Date: 2002-01-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, competence of the Member States, disease prevention, health policy, illness, public health, therapeutics

C 134 E/244

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(7 February 2002)

The Commission has requested and received information from the National Statistical Service of Greece
which shows that:

(cid:25) a continuous labour force survey has been conducted in Greece since the beginning of 1998 (with
interviews, each quarter, of around 30 000 households throughout the different NUTS 2 regions);

(cid:25) the unemployment estimates published by the National Statistical Service of Greece (which have not
been transmitted to Eurostat) for the third and fourth quarters of 2000 were compiled from a sub-
sample of 8 % of the questionnaires;

(cid:25) transmission of the labour force survey results will be speeded up in the very near future: the results
for the 4th quarter of 2001 should be transmitted to Eurostat in March 2002 (in accordance with the
regulatory deadline).

(2002/C 134 E/259)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3623/01

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Osteoporosis

Will the Commission seek to ensure that national health authorities and health insurance agencies work to
improve the availability of bone densitometry resources and pay for bone density scans for people with
osteoporosis risk factors prior to the first fracture?

Will the Commission pay for proven therapies for people with osteoporosis risk factors prior to the first
fracture, financially support and participate in educational awareness campaigns in partnership with the
IOF-International Osteoporosis Foundation,
IOF member societies and other concerned groups and
professionals?

Will the Commission also work in partnership with the International Osteoporosis Foundation to bring
national and European policy makers together with osteoporosis experts and concerned groups to produce
practical, cost-effective strategies to prevent osteoporotic fractures and to ensure that those strategies
include measurable, realistic, time-based targets for reducing fractures and create a coordinated data
collection system to monitor osteoporotic fractures across Europe?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2002)

According to Article 152 of the EC Treaty, Community action in the field of public health shall fully
respect the responsibilities of the Member States for the organisation and delivery of health services and
medical care. Availability of bone densiometry measurement therefore falls under the responsibility of
Member States. However,
the
Community programme for health promotion.

the Commission will continue to take steps in the area, as part of

The Commission cannot pay for treatment of people with osteoporosis, as this is an issue covered by the
above-mentioned Article, and as such falls under the responsibility of Member States as well. On the other
hand, the mandate of the Commission covers health promotion and disease prevention activities. Thus, the
Commission may participate in education activities regarding risk factors and preventive treatment in the
field of osteoporosis.

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/245

In fact, this is what the Commission has already carried out by financing and publishing the report on
osteoporosis in the Community (cid:25) Action for prevention in 1998, prepared by the European Foundation
on osteoporosis. Also,
the
Commission’s priorities in relation to osteoporosis are outlined. It is stated that following the above
mentioned Commission report on the prevention of osteoporosis,
it is intended to analyse how the
recommendations of this report have been acted upon by the Member States.

in the 2002 work programme for the health promotion programme,

The Commission has worked closely together with the International Osteoporosis Foundation in the past,
among other issues on the Osteoporosis report in 1998. The Commission has also participated in several
events arranged by the Foundation, and will continue to work closely together with the Foundation in the
future.

(2002/C 134 E/260)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3640/01

by Diana Wallis (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Euro Info Centres

Will the Commission reaffirm its commitment to the ‘Euro Info Centre’ network, and provide assurances
that the Parliament can expect both long-term funding and dedicated and responsible coordination for this
vital service to European SMEs?

Furthermore, is the Commission able to confirm with confidence that its ‘Business Feedback Mechanism’,
part of the ‘Interactive Policy Making’ initiative, is structured and coordinated in such a manner that EICs
are able to implement this project with any real chance of success?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(25 January 2002)

The Euro Info Centre (EIC) network was created in 1987 under the small and medium-sized enterprises
(SME) Multiannual Programme and has been renewed in all the ensuing Enterprise Programmes. It figures
very prominently in the present Multi annual programme 2001-2005, and as such,
is assured of its
financing in the present conditions until the end of 2005.

What will be decided for the period following 2005 will depend on the evaluation of the present
programme and on the outcome of the work engaged to bring about closer co-operation between the
various European business support networks and their further rationalisation. In the present situation, the
Commission sees no reason to discontinue the functions of the EIC network as they represent a constant
need on the part of European companies and in particular SMEs, especially in the context of the next
enlargement.

Given the role of the EIC network in helping enterprises to operate effectively in the Internal Market, the
Commission is pleased to confirm that it is making every effort to ensure that the Interactive Policy
Making (IPM) initiative is implemented successfully, in cooperation with the EICs. The very promising first
results of the pilot project on the Business Feedback Mechanism led to its extension in 2001 from 41 pilot
EICs to the whole EIC network. The experience gained in the pilot project will form a solid basis for
improved implementation of the feedback aspect of the IPM initiative. This will broaden the scope of this
new form of business feedback using the Internet from 2002 onwards as well as ensuring continuity, to
the mutual advantage of EICs and the Commission.