WRITTEN QUESTION E-2323/02 by Michel Hansenne (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The inclusion of disabled people in poverty-reduction work.
Date: 2002-07-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, cooperation policy, development aid, development policy, disabled person, poverty

C 28 E/220

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

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-

6.2.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2002)

The Commission recognises the importance of addressing disability issues in the context of poverty
reduction. According to World Bank and United Nations (UN) figures, people with disabilities make up 20
per cent of the world’s poorest. Disability is both a cause and an effect of poverty, and over 80 per cent of
disabled people in developing countries live below the poverty line. They often experience discrimination
and are widely excluded from the social, economic and political life of the community.

The development cooperation policy of the Community, is based on the priority areas and the cross-
cutting principles laid out by the Commission in its Policy framework (1). Disability issues and people with
disabilities are not a focal area and need to be addressed in each of the priority fields, wherever relevant.
Efforts are now beginning, and much remains to be done, for policies and programmes in fields as diverse
as health, education, transport and rural development to be developed and implemented in a way that
involve disabled people and their concerns throughout the process and reflect their needs. This will
necessitate the availability of statistical data and the development of indicators. The Commission tries to
its policies adequately reflect the needs and priorities of the disabled and that they
ensure that all
contribute to making societies less ‘disabling’. At the same time, the Commission also recognises that there
could be a need for targeted action and direct support to certain groups of disabled people, through the
use of existing financing instruments rather than a specific budget line.

The Community continues to support capacity building and organisational development of organisations
that represent and empower the disabled. The Commission has also cooperated with European non-
governmental organisations (NGOs) representing disabled people to prepare guidance for Commission
services and delegations on how to ensure disability issues get sufficient attention in programming and
implementation. This guidance will underline the importance of ensuring that the Country programmes
comply with the Union-African, Carribean and Pacific States (EU-ACP) Joint Parliamentary Resolutions on
persons with disabilities (2), as well as underline the importance of the European Year of Persons with
Disabilities (in 2003) as an opportunity to give particular attention to these issues. When finalised, the
Commission will be pleased to share this guidance with Parliament.

Finally, the Commission will rely on training and other forms of support, to ensure that the guidance is
applied and used in the countries as well as on monitoring and evaluation to assess the outcomes and
impact.

(1) The European Community’s Development Policy, COM(2000) 212 final.
(2) Resolution on the rights of the disabled people and older people in ACP countries ACP-EU 3313/01/final, OJ C 78,
2.4.2002 Resolution on health issues, young people, the elderly and people living with disabilities ACP-EU 3398/
02/final.

(2003/C 28 E/251)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2328/02

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 July 2002)

Subject: Allocation of responsibilities to the Commission in connection with the reform of the CFP

In its proposals for a reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP) which were adopted by the College of
Commissioners on 28 May 2002, the Commission assumes responsibilities in areas which currently lie
within the Council’s area of competence and, furthermore, it takes on newly created responsibilities such
as the establishment of TACs in respect of species which are subject to multiannual management, decisions
taken within international fisheries organisations, rules on fisheries monitoring, rules on exemptions from
fisheries monitoring requirements and penalties for failure to comply with monitoring rules.