WRITTEN QUESTION E-2406/02 by Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Exile of 13 Palestinian militants from the West Bank.
Date: 2002-08-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, Palestine, West Bank question, imprisonment, prison system, removal

C 28 E/232

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

Community level: a reduced level of fees charged by the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal
Products and the establishment of market exclusivity for the medicinal products authorised. The
effectiveness of this specific procedure therefore rests on these two pillars, and the effectiveness of one
can be measured only in the context of the effectiveness of the other.

At present, thanks to a specific Community subsidy, the Agency is in a position (for the year 2002)
1.
to grant a reduction of 100 % in the fees linked to development assistance (‘protocol assistance’) and 50 %
in the fees linked to registration. In the light of the above-mentioned results, the reductions offered do
appear to be effective. Consideration could also obviously be given to increasing to 100 % the rate of
exemption from marketing authorisation fees and to reducing the fees charged for maintaining the
authorisation (post-marketing). This question would have to be discussed within the overall budgetary
framework of the Agency. Nevertheless, partial or total exemption from fees represents only a part of the
economic incentive intended by the legislator; market exclusivity constitutes in this respect an essential
economic aspect.

2.
In the light of the above-mentioned results, the Commission does not consider it necessary to
establish by legislation a precise rate of fees for orphan medicinal products; the current procedure, which
leaves the Agency room for manoeuvre, appears the most appropriate. In theory, it enables a flexible
application in order to take into account the specific characteristics of certain medicinal products and/or
illnesses treated.

3.
The Agency’s budget is established by its Executive Board. When this budget is being drawn up,
account must obviously be taken of any additional expenses linked to the procedure for evaluating orphan
medicinal products. The special Community contribution allocated under Article 7 of the above-mentioned
Regulation is intended to be used exclusively by the Agency to waive, in part or in total, the fees normally
charged by the Agency. If the additional expenses to which the Honourable Member refers are not
ordinarily covered by fees, these expenses should therefore be covered from other Agency receipts (fees,
general Community contribution),
irrespective of the fact that these expenses are linked to orphan
medicinal products. The Executive Board is the only body competent in this respect to determine any such
arrangements.

(1) OJ L 18, 22.1.2000.

(2003/C 28 E/262)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2406/02

by Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Exile of 13 Palestinian militants from the West Bank

(7 August 2002)

In May 2002, 13 Palestinian militants were expelled from the West Bank following their siege of the
Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. These men have now been dispersed across Cyprus, Italy, Greece,
Spain, Ireland, Portugal and Belgium.

Please could the Commission inform me:

(cid:1) Under what conditions will these men be kept?

(cid:1) Will they be held in security facilities in the various locations in Europe?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2002)

The Commission thanks the Honourable Member for his question on the conditions under which
Palestinian militants expelled from the West Bank following the siege of the Church of the Nativity in
Bethlehem are being held in a number of Member States.

Since this matter does not come within the Commission’s remit, it does not have the information required
to answer this question.