WRITTEN QUESTION E-1784/02 by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Cervical cancer screening in the EU.
Date: 2002-06-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: action programme, cancer, disease prevention, health policy, medical research, research project

6.3.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 52 E/101

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2002)

The Structural Funds’ regional programmes may include measures to expand use of renewable energy
sources. In the energy section of the guidelines for programmes in the period 2000 to 2006 (1) the
Commission discusses these sources and calls on Member States to use Community funding to develop
them. The priorities centre on investment to promote use of renewable energy sources, investment aid to
reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), using energy audits and promoting
efficient energy management in small and medium-sized entreprises as well as in towns and cities.
In accordance with the subsidiarity principle,
the national and regional managing authorities are
responsible both for the selection of projects to be part-financed and for their implementation.

Use of hydrogen as a fuel represents a future alternative to hydrocarbons, particularly if the hydrogen
comes from renewable energy sources. Currently the technologies for producing this fuel and the
techniques for using it safely are still at the development stage, however. Considerable effort will be
devoted to this under the Sixth Framework Programme for Research, and use of hydrogen could be
promoted through pilot projects.

(1) Commission communication concerning the Structural Funds and their coordination with the Cohesion Fund (cid:1)

guidelines for programmes in the period 2000 to 2006 (OJ C 267, 22.9.1999).

(2003/C 52 E/113)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1784/02

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 June 2002)

Subject: Cervical cancer screening in the EU

The new ‘Health Action Plan’ no longer makes any mention of SANCO (Directorate-General for Health and
Consumer Protection) and no longer lists cancer screening among the objectives. Old objectives have
simply been scrapped.

How is cancer screening to be incorporated into this new and more horizontal approach? How will the
Commission ensure that existing programmes can be continued in the future?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(20 August 2002)

Although the new public health action plan does not explicitly mention as a separate objective cervical
cancer screening, or, in other words, secondary prevention of cervical cancer mortality by screening, it is
clear that cancer including cervical cancer is one of the major diseases, which is addressed by the heading
of section 3. of the action plan’s annex: ‘To promote Health and Prevent Disease through Action on Health
Determinants across all Community Policies and Activities’ (1) in conjunction with objectives 1.2 and 1.7 of
section 1. of the action plan’s annex.

Nevertheless, cervical cancer screening is only one example of early detection of disease. Thus the aim
under the new public health action plan will be to exploit best practice developed under the existing public
health programmes for several diseases, e.g. breast cancer, to improve and extend screening at European
level for diseases wherever possible.

(1) PE-CONS 3627/02.