WRITTEN QUESTION P-0690/02 by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission. Wood-fired pyrolysis.
Date: 2002-03-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, bio-industry, bioenergy, environmental law, environmental protection, financial aid, health policy, principle of subsidiarity, renewable energy, substitute fuel

C 28 E/46

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

The Honourable Member will be aware that Parliament has repeatedly made clear that it recognises the
importance of respecting the principle of the right of presumption of innocence and understands that
precipitate public disclosure of allegations could be prejudicial to this principle. That basic consideration
has to be taken into account on all occasions in order to safeguard the civil rights of the accused and to
protect the integrity of investigations and any subsequent administrative or legal proceedings that might be
justified by the evidence established by those investigations.

The Commission and the other Institutions also have to take into account the fact that, as employing
Institutions, they have specific responsibilities under the Staff Regulations with regard to officials who are
the subject of allegations. In addition, the precipitate public announcement of allegations would be likely
to discourage officials from communicating suspicion of wrongdoing and consequently carry the risk of
preventing or hindering proper and effective investigations.

The Commission proposals made as part of the strategy for Reform of the Staff Regulations of European
officials would bring about changes which give personnel sure and effective internal channels for reporting
suspicions of wrongdoing, and also provide for such reports to be made outside the employing Institution
to the Presidents of other Institutions or to the European Ombudsman if neither the employing Institution
nor OLAF have responded to the reports in an appropriately serious way.

(1) OJ L 136, 31.5.1999.
(2) OJ L 149, 16.6.1999.
(3) SEC(2000) 2078.
(4) C(2002) 845.
(5) http://www.cc.cec/home/admref/en/ressources_disfonct.html.
(6) OJ L 145, 31.5.2001.

(2003/C 28 E/050)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0690/02

by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

(5 March 2002)

Subject: Wood-fired pyrolysis

Although the EU must continue to support and develop renewable sources of energy generation, this must
not be done to the overall detriment of the environment. EU and UK funding is currently being used to
research further the technologies used to harness biomass energy resources.

What steps has the Commission taken, in line with the precautionary principle, to assess the risks to the
local environment created by plants generating liquid biofuels through pyrolysis processes generally, and
wood fired pyrolysis with diesel as a supplementary fuel in particular? What is the nature of such risks and
how serious are they in respect of health and safety, both for those working with them and for the general
public, and for the environment generally?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2002)

Flash pyrolysis technologies producing bio-oil from biomass feedstocks are indeed under development by
various companies and several projects have been supported by Community programmes.

The utilisation of bio-oil, a renewable liquid fuel, for energy production results in significant reduction to
environmental emissions compared to all fossil fuels and especially coals.

Based on subsidiarity, it is the obligation of any demonstration plant, irrespectively of the type of the
biomass conversion technology,
local environmental requirements and emission limits.
Furthermore, the engine manufacturers are aware that unless they will develop engines that can combust
efficiently and with minimum emissions the bio-oil, their product will never penetrate the market.

to meet all

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Official Journal of the European Union

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The effects on health and safety are also seriously examined both on a European and international level.
The technology developers have recognised that these aspects must be carefully addressed and several
studies are under implementation. These issues are the subjects (among others) of a thematic network
supported by the Fifth Framework Programme on Research and Technological Development (FP5) and a
new proposal has been shortlisted for support during the evaluation of proposals submitted in the
14 December 2001 call for FP5.

(2003/C 28 E/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0698/02

by Amalia Sartori (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 March 2002)

Subject: Exchange of sexual favours for humanitarian aid

The international press has reported that officials from non-governmental organisations involved in the
distribution and management of humanitarian aid on behalf of the United Nations have been accused of
sexually harassing refugees.

This information derives from enquiries carried out by the United Nations during operations to monitor
aid activities in crisis zones.

The practice apparently involves giving food, medicines, and other aid in exchange for sexual favours from
young women (in many cases under age).

This violent and contemptuous behaviour is exacerbated by the fact that no precautions are apparently
taken, thereby encouraging the spread of AIDS, which is already at alarming levels in these regions.

Furthermore, it would seem that incidents of this kind have occurred in Liberia, Ivory Coast and East
Timor, suggesting that this is by now an established practice.

Bearing in mind that United Nations humanitarian aid programmes are co-funded by the EU, what
measures will the Commission take to shed light on these regrettable incidents, whose perpetrators, instead
of bringing aid to populations in crisis, are humiliating and exploiting the very people they should be
helping?

If these reports are found to be true, what will the Commission do to punish the guilty parties and ensure
that incidents of this kind do not recur?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2002)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written P-0687/02 by Mrs Sanders-
Ten Holte (1).

(1) See page 43.

(2003/C 28 E/052)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0701/02

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 March 2002)

Subject: Removal of foam from fridges in the UK

On January 1, 2002, EU regulations pertaining to ozone-depleting substances which require that liquid
coolant and foam in the walls of old fridges be removed before recycling came into force. This process