WRITTEN QUESTION E-1981/02 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Health service waiting lists in Rome and Italy as a whole.
Date: 2002-07-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, health policy, organisation of health care, right to health

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/255

Is there any Community legislation regulating the maximum permissible level of noise at source

1.
(loudspeakers) in respect of large dance clubs with live music or a DJ?

2. What are the applicable rules in each Member State of the Union in this respect? What are the
consequences for anyone infringing the national legislation?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(8 August 2002)

The Commission has noted with interest the written question submitted by the Honourable Member
regarding the noise levels permitted in places of entertainment where music is played.

There is no Community legislation governing maximum noise levels for the playing of music in public.
Directive 2002/49/EC of 29 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental
noise (1) concerns only various modes of transport (road, rail and air) and industrial activities.

Issuing such regulations lies within the exclusive competence of the Member States and the Commission
has no information on any local measures taken to prevent music being played at excessive volumes.

Nonetheless, the Commission would draw the Honourable Member’s attention to the fact that there is
Community legislation to protect employees’ health and safety in the workplace: Framework Directive
89/391/EEC (2) on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of
workers at work, and Council Directive 86/188/EEC (3) on the protection of workers from the risks related
to exposure to noise at work. The latter applies to all employees except for those in shipping and aviation,
and thus is applicable to employees working in night clubs and similar places (bars, cafes, etc.).

The Commission regards promoting and ensuring proper and effective inspection and application of the
national provisions implementing this Directive as the responsibility of the Member States.

Lastly, the Honourable Member’s attention is drawn to the fact that Directive 86/188/EEC on noise at
work is currently being revised following a Commission proposal, with a view to stepping up health and
safety in the workplace and, in particular, extending the scope of the directive. The Council adopted a
common position on 29 October 2001 (4) and the proposal is now being considered under the codecision
procedure (Article 251 of the EC Treaty).

(1) OJ L 189, 18.7.2002.
(2) Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989, OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.
(3) Council Directive 86/188/EEC of 12 May 1986, OJ L 137, 24.5.1986.
(4) Common position (EC) No 8/2002 of 29 October 2001, OJ C 45 E, 19.2.2002.

(2002/C 301 E/275)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1981/02

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(8 July 2002)

Subject: Health service waiting lists in Rome and Italy as a whole

Rome and Italy as a whole have for some time been wrestling with the serious problem of ‘waiting lists’ for
access to free public health services. The problem can be particularly serious in the case of emergencies
and certain diseases. In many cases patients have to wait more than six months to undergo tests.

C 301 E/256

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

Can the Commission say:

1. whether there are examples of good practice in this field;

2. whether there is any Commission documentation or research on the subject;

3. whether it can express a general opinion on the issue?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(27 August 2002)

The Commission is aware that waiting time for health services causes concern in a number of Member
States. At this stage, however, it does not have data on waiting lists available. The new public health action
foresees the
programme which was recently adopted by the Parliament and the Council, however,
establishment of a comprehensive health information system which may provide a framework to pursue
some of the issues raised by the question.

Moreover, the Commission hopes that replies by the Member States to a recently issued questionnaire on
health and long-term care for the elderly will provide some insights into the problem and possibly yield
some indications on how it can be tackled.

(2002/C 301 E/276)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1986/02

by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 July 2002)

Subject: Export of spent nuclear fuel to Russia

In summer 2001 the Russian President Vladimir Putin approved new legislation allowing the import of
foreign spent nuclear fuel to Russia.

Under Council Directive 92/3/Euratom (1) of 3 February 1992 on the supervision and control of
1.
shipments of radioactive waste between Member States, into and out of the Community, Member States
are prohibited from exporting shipments of radioactive waste to third countries that do not have the
‘technical, legal or administrative resources’ to manage it safely. The assessment of whether this condition
is met is conducted by the relevant authorities in Member States.

How does the Commission plan to prevent conflicting interpretations by the Member States in regard to
‘technical, legal or administrative resources’ to manage spent nuclear fuel safely in Russia?

Most of the Member States are committed to similar rules concerning any shipment of spent nuclear fuel
under the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and Radioactive Waste, which entered
into force on 18 June 2001.

Prior to the EU-Russia Summit at the end of May 2002 in Moscow, the Russian Minister for Nuclear
2.
Energy, Alexander Rumyantchev, had indicated his intention to discuss with Commissioner Loyala de
Palacio Russia’s possibilities to import spent nuclear fuel from the EU, and in particular from Spain. Was
this topic brought up and did it lead to any follow-up measures?

(1) OJ L 35, 12.2.1992, p. 24.