WRITTEN QUESTION P-2183/02 by Minerva Malliori (PSE) to the Commission. New alcoholic drinks and young people.
Date: 2002-07-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: advertising, alcoholic beverage, consumer information, labelling, public awareness campaign, young person

17.4.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 92 E/141

Member States are responsible for ensuring the correct application of European and international rules.
The Commission has no reason to believe that the Dutch authorities do not ensure full compliance with
these rules.

(1) Council Directive 94/55/EC of 21 November 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with
regard to the transport of dangerous goods by road, OJ L 319, 12.12.1994, as lastly modified by Commission
Directive 2001/7/EC of 29 January 2001 adapting for the third time to technical progress Council Directive
94/55/EC, OJ L 30, 1.2.2001.

(2) Council Directive 96/49/EC of 23 July 1996 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to
the transport of dangerous goods by rail, OJ L 235, 17.9.1996, as lastly modified by Commission Directive
2001/6/EC of 29 January 2001 adapting for the third time to technical progress Council Directive 96/49/EC,
OJ L 30, 1.2.2001.

(3) European Agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road.
(4) Regulations concerning international carriage of dangerous goods by rail.
(5) Convention concerning the international carriage by rail.
(6) Council Directive 96/82/EC of 9 December 1996 on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous

substances, OJ L 10, 14.1.1997.

(7) OJ C 75, 26.3.2002.

(2003/C 92 E/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2181/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(18 July 2002)

Subject: The conclusions of the European Council in Seville: EU visa requirements for third-country citizens

and the case of Latin American countries in their relations with Spain and Portugal

The conclusions of the European Council in Seville envisage revising the list of third countries whose
citizens may be subject to visa requirements. In the case of Latin American countries, where many citizens
have dual nationality, that of the country concerned and of Spain or Portugal, and which in general have a
special human and cultural relationship with the countries of the Iberian peninsula, a decision to introduce
visa requirements would be in serious conflict with the simultaneously European and Latin American
nature of the societies and states concerned. Is such an unacceptable historical, cultural, human and
political situation likely to arise?

Reply

(16-19 December 2002)

In the context of the follow-up to the conclusions of the Seville European Council, the Commission, which
has exclusive right of initiative in this area, was instructed to review and make suggestions concerning the
possible amendment of Council Regulation 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be
in possession of visas when crossing the external borders.

On the basis of the Commission proposals, it will be for the Council to decide in due course whether
changes need to be made to Regulation 539/2001.

(2003/C 92 E/192)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2183/02

by Minerva Malliori (PSE) to the Commission

(12 July 2002)

Subject: New alcoholic drinks and young people

Results from recent research reveal alcohol addiction in young people, caused by the consumption of fruit-
flavoured drinks which contain vodka, gin or rum.

The packaging and the advertising approach encourage young people to consume these concoctions,
which do not carry any warning whatsoever about their alcohol content.

C 92 E/142

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

In view of the above:

(cid:1) Is the Commission aware of this issue?

(cid:1) Does it intend to take measures to ensure that the exact alcoholic content of these drinks is clearly

displayed on the labels?

(cid:1) Does it intend to take preventive steps to raise the awareness of young people with regard to alcohol

consumption, as it very wisely did in relation to smoking?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2002)

The Commission is aware that this is a serious problem, and has supported several projects on this issue.
The second ESPAD study (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs) concerns seven
Member States, and the ECAS (European Comparative Alcohol Studies) relate to all Member States except
Luxembourg, and highlight the importance of this problem.

In application of Directive 2000/13/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and
advertising of foodstuffs (1), it is obligatory to include the alcoholic strength by volume in the labelling of
beverages containing more than 1,2 % by volume of alcohol. This provision applies to the beverages
mentioned by the Honourable Member and to advertisement of these drinks.

Based on the Council’s conclusions of 5 June 2001 on a Community strategy to reduce the damage caused
by alcohol and on the Council Recommendation of 5 June 2001 on alcohol consumption among young
people, particularly children and adolescents, the Commission has already taken initiatives in this field, for
example by setting up a consultation group on alcohol problems with a view to developing a strategy in
this area.

Action will be taken under the new public health programme (2003-2008) to define a prevention strategy
and to carry out studies in order to help identify the problem.

Changing behaviour on alcohol consumption also requires the active involvement of national and regional
authorities,
families and individuals with a view to developing a healthy
approach to young people’s health education. If greater success can be achieved in enforcing measures in
place, significant progress could be made.

industry, retailers, parents,

(1) OJ L 109, 6.5.2000.

(2003/C 92 E/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2186/02

by Reinhard Rack (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 July 2002)

Subject: Subsidies under ISPA

The ISPA Programme supports infrastructure projects involving transport and the environment, including
projects in the field of waste disposal. However, criticisms are being levelled by industry, since it is alleged
that only projects submitted by public authorities are being subsidised. As a result of this competitive
advantage, waste disposal continues to be carried out in a large number of towns in Slovenia exclusively
by local authority waste disposal undertakings.

Is this information correct, or have I been misinformed? If it is correct, does the Commission see any way
in which this potentially deplorable state of affairs might be remedied?