WRITTEN QUESTION E-2312/02 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Risk of legionella infection for tourists.
Date: 2002-07-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, epidemiology, health control, health risk, infectious disease, information network, public health, tourism

6.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/219

(2003/C 28 E/248)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2310/02

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(25 July 2002)

Subject: Lack of regulation and legislation in Ireland concerning wild animals and circuses

It has come to my attention that there is a complete lack of regulation and legislation in Ireland
concerning wild animals and circuses. When asked in May 2002 if the Irish Department of Environment
would include circuses in the ambit of the EU Zoo Directive (Council Directive 1999/22/EC (1)), the
Department prevaricated, and the impression was given that the Directive had not yet been implemented.
No one was able to provide information about it, although it was indicated that it would almost certainly
exclude wild animals in circuses because of the lack of experts in the field.

Given that Ireland was obliged to implement this Directive by April 2002, what is the Commission’s
opinion on the fact that this has not happened?

How does the Commission intend to censure Ireland in the light of this failure?

(1) OJ L 94, 9.4.1999, p. 24.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2002)

The objectives of Council Directive 1999/22/EC of 29 March 1999 relating to the keeping of wild animals
in zoos (1) are to protect wild fauna and to conserve biodiversity by providing for the adoption of measures
by Member States for the licencing and inspection of zoos in the Community, thereby strengthening the
role of zoos in the conservation of biodiversity. The Directive in question does not however specify
requirements for circuses. These are matters for Member States to determine.

The Commission monitors the transposition by Member States of the above Directive and has already
intervened with a letter under Article 226 of the EC Treaty to Member States which have not yet notified
the Commission of the transposition of the Directive. Such a letter was sent to Ireland on 6 June 2002.

After taking note of the observations concerning the transposition submitted by Member States as a reply
to the above letter, the Commission may, if necessary, deliver a Reasoned Opinion under Article 226 of the
EC Treaty. It may also deliver a Reasoned Opinion if those observations fail to reach the Commission
within the deadline given.

(1) OJ L 94, 9.4.1999.

(2003/C 28 E/249)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2312/02

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Risk of legionella infection for tourists

(25 July 2002)

It is estimated that this year again some 800 to 1 400 tourists from the European Union will become
infected with the legionella bacterium, which causes Legionnaires’ disease. Since summer 2000 I have been
questioning the Commission on this subject. In February 2001, together with Mrs Corbey, Mrs Plooij and
Mr De Roo I wrote to the President of the Commission, Mr Prodi, on the inadequate functioning of the
epidemiological monitoring network and the lack of any satisfactory action from the Commission. In the
answer from the Commission we received in April 2001, it agreed to review the network in the coming
months and to take the necessary measures to inform EU citizens as effectively as possible. It now seems,

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Official Journal of the European Union

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6.2.2003

even though the number of legionella infections has doubled in recent years, that the network still does
not work adequately because not all the Member States are taking part in it or are not providing the
necessary information.

Can the Commission say what measures have been or are being taken in the context of the new public
health programme in order as far as possible to eliminate risks for European tourists?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 October 2002)

The Commission recognises the necessity to keep under review the situation of legionella infection among
European citizens, and among tourists in particular. For this reason it continues to fund the European
Working Group for Legionella Infections (EWGLI) project as a tool to fight legionnaire’s disease in Europe.

Since the Commission’s answer in April 2001 referred to in your written question the Commission has
been working closely with EWGLI and the Committee set up under Decision No 2119/98/EC on a
network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the Community. All
Member States now participate through collaborators designated by Member States authorities. The
scheme’s operational procedures have been modified to ensure a rapid and appropriate public health
response in the country of infection when notified of a cluster. With advice of the Network Committee
guidelines have been developed by EWGLI for the risk assessment, environmental investigation and control
and prevention of legionella in water systems and methods for investigation and control of an outbreak of
legionnaires’ disease in an hotel or other accommodation sites. The guidelines also describe the definitions
and procedures for reporting and responding to travel related legionnaires’ disease. The Commission is
now studying how these principles might be taken forward.

The new public health programme focuses on surveillance, early warning and timely response. It identifies
that response to health threats is a key issue, and provides the basis for reinforcing and developing the
current network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases. The aim is to
improve the early warning and response system and to mobilise and co-ordinate European resources for
common outbreak investigations that will allow for more immediate control actions for legionella and
other communicable diseases.

(2003/C 28 E/250)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2323/02

by Michel Hansenne (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 July 2002)

Subject: The inclusion of disabled people in poverty-reduction work

It is recognised that the European Commission is the biggest provider of humanitarian assistance in the
world, dedicated to the international development target of halving world poverty by 2015.

There is also clear evidence that disabled people, who are among the most severely marginalised, make up
a disproportionate number of those living in extreme poverty.

What commitment has the Commission made, therefore,
reduction work?

to include disabled people in its poverty-