WRITTEN QUESTION E-0161/02 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Misleading information on Internet sites about melanoma.
Date: 2002-02-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Internet site, cancer, dissemination of information, information, medical research, public health

C 172 E/158

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

The area has already been declared a Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Site of Community Interest (SIC),
as well as a primary reproduction area for the heron community. Nonetheless, the fear continues to exist
that environmental degradation could result from urban or industrial development schemes, waste disposal
projects or the failure to convert a currently oil-based electric power station to methane.

In view of the above risks:

1. Can the Commission state whether it considers it necessary to monitor the situation closely and

ensure that the Community environmental legislation is properly applied?

2. Will the Commission remind the local authorities that the fact that this area has been granted the
status of Special Protection Area and Site of Community Interest entails obligations and duties as
regards the conservation of a resource which belongs to all the citizens of the Union?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2002)

The Commission’s powers are limited to those conferred on it by the EC Treaty. In particular,
it is
responsible for ensuring that Community law is properly applied within all Member States. On the basis of
Article 211 of the EC Treaty, ‘in order to ensure the proper functioning and development of the common
market, the Commission shall ensure that the provisions of this Treaty and the measures taken by the
institutions pursuant thereto are applied’. As the guardian of the EC Treaty, it does not hesitate to take all
necessary measures, including infringement procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty, in order to
ensure the observance of Community law.

In the Po Delta there are several Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated under Council Directive
79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (1) and Sites of Community Importance
(SCI) proposed by Italy under Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural
habitats and of wild fauna and flora (2). Article 6 of Directive 92/43/EEC provides for protection
requirements with reference to Special Conservation Areas (SCAs) and SPAs. These obligations apply to
all authorities of the Member States, at national, regional or local level.

However, the Commission is not in a position to assess issues concerning possible future situations of
breach of Community law, as raised by the Honourable Member. Future developments in the situations of
certain SPAs and SCAs cannot be considered falling under the responsibilities of the Commission acting as
the guardian of the EC Treaty. In addition, it would be stressed that situations claimed to be inconsistent
with Community legislation need to be precisely described so as to enable the Commission to assess them
in relation to relevant Community environmental law.

Therefore, on the basis of the information given by the Honourable Member, no breach of Community law
can be identified at present. Should the Honourable Member provide detailed information enabling the
Commission to assess the issues in relation to the above mentioned directives, the Commission would then
be able to investigate this matter.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2002/C 172 E/166)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0161/02

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Misleading information on Internet sites about melanoma

(4 February 2002)

On 17 January 2002 the Italian weekly ‘Panorama’ reported that, according to the results of a survey
published in the ‘Journal of Clinical Oncology’, the information given out about melanoma on many
Internet sites is incorrect or incomplete. The experts examined 76 sites and evaluated them according to
35 factors (basic information, incidence, risk factors, therapies, etc). Only eight of the factors were included

18.7.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/159

on at least half the sites; no one piece of information appeared on more than 62 % of them; and 14 % of
the sites had erroneous information.

In the light of these findings and given that similarly vague and misleading information is given out on
other health matters:

1.

Is the Commission aware of this research?

2. Has the Commission set up or financed any research groups studying melanoma?

3.

If so, can the Commission state how many of these groups have placed their findings on the Internet?

4. Does any legislation exist regulating the ethical aspects publication of scientific information on the

Internet?

5. Does the Commission believe that action should be taken, not so much to penalise sites responsible
for misleading information as to bring about
the
effectiveness of consultation by all those who seek new forms of therapy and are likely to trust the
information they find on-line?

improvements in quality and thus further

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(15 April 2002)

1.
The Commission became aware of this piece of Internet research through the information provided
by the Honourable Member. A close look at the publication revealed that the authors concentrated on the
United States, and discarded all non English-language web sites as inaccessible. It seems that no European
sites were included in the analysis.

2.
Directorate general (DG) Research has supported research into the treatment of melanoma over the
last ten years, mainly basic research (in-vitro techniques). Over the last six years the Community has
funded research on imuno-therapy as a treatment. However, further research is still needed to make it
clinically possible.

Due to the very nature of the research supported by DG Research the results have been published in

3.
scientific journals though no findings of a clinical nature have been put on the Internet.

4.
No European legislation exists regulating the ethical aspects of scientific information on the Internet.
Nevertheless, many funding bodies require that any published information resulting from the funded
research should be truthful.

5.
On 15 June 2000, the Commission submitted to the Council and to the Parliament a proposal based
on Article 152 of the EC Treaty for a Decision of the Parliament and of the Council adopting a programme
of Community action in the field of public health (1). After its final adoption the new public health action
plan will support the development of a comprehensive health information system, which may also include
comprehensive information on cancer, including melanoma. The question of best practice, certification and
quality control will be addressed.

For the present time it might help to make use of the many cancer information services established in
many Member States or European regions. The ‘Krebsinformationsdienst (KID)’ (2) of the German Cancer
Centre or the web portals of many members of the European cancer leagues or cancer societies might
serve as an example of how the european citizen can obtain comprehensive and truthful information on
cancer.

(1) OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000.
(2) Tel.: (+49) 6221 410121 or http://www.krebsinformationsdienst.de.