WRITTEN QUESTION E-1604/02 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Akamas Peninsula, Cyprus.
Date: 2002-06-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community acquis, Cyprus, EU control, European Commission, accession criteria, environmental law, protected area, tourist infrastructure

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/229

The facts raised by the Honourable Member have been assessed by the Commission. As a result of this, the
Commission has addressed a letter to the Spanish Authorities in order to request further information
concerning this case. The Commission will ensure that the provisions of the above mentioned Council
Directive are taken into account by the Spanish Authorities.

As soon as the Commission adopts a decision on this case, the complainant will be duly informed.

(2002/C 277 E/251)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1584/02

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(4 June 2002)

Subject: Ambulance services

With regard to the European Committee for Standardisation’s new regulations such as ‘Medical Vehicles
and their equipment . Road Ambulances’ and ‘Specification for stretchers and other patient- handling
equipment used on road ambulances’, to be effective from 6 June 2002, and the extra money that will
have to be spent as a consequence to allow all ambulances to meet the Committee’s requirements: Does
the Commission agree that, in areas where manufacturers cannot produce fully CEN-compliant vehicles,
and local NHS Trusts can only purchase them from abroad at a considerably higher cost (£78k as opposed
to £62k), the process becomes unreasonably difficult, expensive and technical? Does it not also agree that
in the case of Britain, the NHS contract for supplying ambulances, the ‘National Contract for Vehicle and
Bodybuild Conversions’, which, although not compliant with the new regulations, ultimately improves
quality and safety levels, should be sufficient?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 2002)

According to Council Directive 93/42/EEC of 14 June 1993, on Medical Devices (1), manufacturers must
declare the compliance of their products with the essential requirements of this Directive, and not the
compliance with European standards. The use of standards is only one of the possible ways to comply
with the Directive’s requirements. The CEN standards referred to are implemented by all national standards
bodies, including in the United Kingdom, the British Standards Institute (BSI), that published them as BSI
standards: BS EN 1789:1999 (Medical vehicles and their equipment . Road ambulances) and BS EN
1865:1999 (Specifications for stretchers and other patient handling equipment used in road ambulances).

The Commission has no reason to believe that NHS contracts, even if it would be different from the
Standards referred to, do not comply with the 1994 Medical Devices Regulations transposing Directive
93/42/EEC.

(1) OJ L 169, 12.7.1993.

(2002/C 277 E/252)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1604/02

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(5 June 2002)

Subject: Akamas Peninsula, Cyprus

Can the Commission confirm that in the accession negotiations with the Government of the Republic of
Cyprus, which are expected to be concluded in time for the Copenhagen Council, it has continued to
stress, as Commissioner Wallström made clear in June 2000, that ALL new investments should comply
with the environmental acquis, and, in particular, that any measures which may lead to the deterioration
of areas, such as the Akamas peninsula, likely to be proposed for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network,
should be avoided?

C 277 E/230

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

When does the Commission expect to receive the proposals for Natura 2000 designation from Cyprus, and
will the Commissioner confirm that if these do not embrace a sufficient area to protect the full diversity of
the island’s flora and fauna they will be returned for reconsideration?

Is the Commission aware of widespread expectations that the Government of Cyprus intends only to
propose a limited area of
the Akamas peninsula for Natura 2000 designation, despite the recom-
mendations of its own advisors that a much larger area should be included, and that the Government
intends to permit a variety of different tourism-related construction projects to proceed on the land where
designation is disputed? It is also suggested that permission for development may be given before any
Natura 2000 proposal for the area is submitted.

What steps can, and will, the Commission take to ensure that development does not take place in the
Akamas either prior to the submission of the Natura 2000 proposals or in the interim period between
their submission and subsequent review and final approval by the Commission?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(12 July 2002)

The Commission is able to confirm that during the accession negotiations with the Cypriot authorities it
has continued to stress that all new investments should comply with the environmental acquis. It has also
insisted that if an area is likely to be proposed for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network, its conservation
values should not be jeopardised by any ongoing or future development.

Cyprus is due to formally submit its proposals for Natura 2000 sites by the date of accession to the Union.
It is currently undergoing public consultation on its proposals and the Commission understands that there
has been a strong public reaction to this process. The Commission will closely examine these submissions
and take appropriate steps to address any shortcomings or omissions.

The Commission is aware that there are many claims over intended actions for the Akamas Peninsula but
has not been informed of any definitive decisions that have been taken. The actions that the Commission
could take in the pre-accession period would be dependent on the exact nature of any decision taken by
the Cypriot authorities.

(2002/C 277 E/253)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1628/02

by Minerva Malliori (PSE) to the Commission

(3 June 2002)

Subject: Toxic substance in food

Results from recent research by Swedish scientists and the British Food Standards Agency have revealed
the presence of a particularly toxic substance, acrylamide, suspected of causing genetic mutations,
in
prepared food available on the market and widely consumed.

On the basis of the above and in view of the precautionary principle, could the Commission say whether it
is aware of this issue, comment on the reliability of the research and say whether it intends to take
measures to correct matters, such as screening foods for this substance and instituting compulsory
labelling?