WRITTEN QUESTION P-1535/02 by Reimer Böge (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Foot-and-mouth disease in South Korea.
Date: 2002-05-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: South Korea, disease prevention, foot-and-mouth disease, health control, health risk

C 301 E/172

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2002)

The Commission has repeatedly emphasised that it considers that the knowledge of languages is an
enriching factor not only for personal development but also for European society as a whole.

As previously stated in the reply to the Honourable Member’s written question E-1336/02 (1),
the
Commission fully acknowledges the problems linked to the teaching of migrant workers’ children and
actively strives to tackle these problems in co-operation with the Member States.

Regarding the draft legislation of the German federal state of Hessen to which the Honourable Member
refers, the Commission would underline that it does not wish to comment on draft legislation which has
not yet been adopted and which is not yet in force.

However,
EC Treaty, which states that:

in this context,

the Commission recalls the provisions of Article 149 paragraph 1 of

the

The Community shall contribute to the development of quality education by encouraging co-operation
between Member States and, if necessary, by supporting and supplementing their action, while fully
respecting the responsibility of Member States for the content of teaching and the organisation of
education systems and their cultural and linguistic diversity.

(1) OJ C 277 E, 14.11.2002, p. 189.

(2002/C 301 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1535/02

by Reimer Böge (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 May 2002)

Subject: Foot-and-mouth disease in South Korea

There has been an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in South Korea.

According to reports, should the disease spread, it cannot be ruled out that more than 300 000 animals
will have to be slaughtered, in particular in the regions of Anseung and Yoning some 100 km from Seoul.

What precautions will the Commission take in conjunction with the Member States to prevent the disease
spreading to Europe, particularly through travel to the football World Cup competition?

(2002/C 301 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1544/02

by Albert Maat (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 May 2002)

Subject: Foot-and-mouth disease in South Korea

Since the beginning of this month foot-and-mouth disease has been sweeping through South Korea. In an
effort to bring the disease under control, 110 000 animals, chiefly pigs, have now been slaughtered, but
even so in the past week new cases of the disease have been reported. Starting on 31 May, the football
World Cup is taking place in South Korea (and Japan). The city of Suwon, where teams including Portugal
are due to play matches, lies only 40 km from the affected area and Japan has now expressed the fear that
contaminated football fans may transmit the disease to that country.

Does the European Commission share the view that the large numbers of European football fans set to
visit South Korea represent a risk that contamination will spread to the EU? If not, why not?