WRITTEN QUESTION E-2774/02 by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Euro.
Date: 2002-10-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: allergy, euro, health risk, nickel

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Official Journal of the European Union

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10.7.2003

(2003/C 161 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2759/02

by Frank Vanhecke (NI) to the Commission

(1 October 2002)

Subject: Terrorism

In the issue of the weekly magazine ‘Valeurs actuelles’ published on Friday, 13 September 2002, it was
reported that, as part of the international campaign against terrorism, the Commission began drawing up a
list of terrorist organisations in July 2002.

Can the Commission publish the list of those organisations?

On the basis of what criteria was the list drawn up?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 November 2002)

The Union has expressed its support for the international campaign against terrorism, initiated by the
United Nations by means of Resolution 1373 (2001) and reinforced by Resolution 1390(2002) of the
Security Council of the United Nations. This was done by means of Common Positions 2001/930/CFSP,
2001/931/CFSP and 2002/402/CFSP (1).

Pursuant to these instruments, the Council has adopted two Regulations imposing inter alia, the freezing of
funds and economic resources of persons, groups and entities included in lists targeting international
terrorism.

Council Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 of 27 December 2001 on specific restrictive measures directed
against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism (2) foresees a Union list targeting
terrorist persons, groups and entities with a view to combating terrorism. This list should include persons,
groups and entities linked or related to third countries as well as those who otherwise are the focus of the
CFSP aspects of Common Position 2001/931/CFSP. The list is adopted by Council and subsequently
published in the Official Journal (3).

A specific act, Council Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 of 27 May 2002 imposing certain specific restrictive
measures directed against certain persons and entities associated with Usama bin Laden, the Al-Qaida
network and the Taliban, and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 467/2001 prohibiting the export of
certain goods and services to Afghanistan, strengthening the flight ban and extending the freeze of funds
and other financial resources in respect of the Taliban of Afghanistan (4), empowers the Commission to
amend the list of persons, groups and entities associated with Al Qaida and the Taliban, that is attached to
that Regulation. The Commission has meanwhile adopted seven amendments of that list (5), all on the basis
of determinations made by either the United Nations Security Council or the relevant Sanctions Committee
of that Council.

(1) OJ L 344, 28.12.2001 and OJ L 139, 29.5.2002.
(2) OJ L 344, 28.12.2001.
(3) See Council Decision 2002/848/EC, OJ L 295, 30.10.2002.
(4) OJ L 139, 29.5.2002.
(5) Commission Regulations (EC) No 951/2002 (OJ L 145, 4.6.2002), No 1580/2002 (OJ L 237, 5.9.2002), No 1644/
2002 (OJ L 247, 14.9.2002), No 1754/2002 (OJ L 264, 2.10.2002), No 1823/2002 (OJ L 276, 12.10.2002),
No 1893/2002 (OJ L 286, 24.10.2002) and No 1935/2002 (OJ L 295, 30.10.2002).

(2003/C 161 E/039)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2774/02

by Struan Stevenson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 October 2002)

Subject: Euro

Swiss research (The Times, 12.9.2002) has recently discovered that euro coins release up to 320 times
more nickel than is allowed under European Union rules, leading to various skin conditions for one in ten

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people who suffer from an allergy to the metal. This is due to the two-tone design of the coins, which
makes corrosion and nickel release more likely, particularly when exposed to sweat.

Have you investigated whether the EUR 1 and EUR 2 coins are capable of damaging health?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2002)

This conclusion drawn by the authors of the study in question is misleading, because the Parliament and
Council Directive 94/27/EC of 30 June 1994 amending for the 12th time Directive 76/769/EEC on the
approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to
restrictions on the marketing and use of certain substances and preparations (1), refers to objects that come
into direct and prolonged contact with the human skin, such as jewellery or wrist watch cases. This
Directive does not cover coins. Secondly, the results were generated by sticking EUR 1 and EUR 2 coins to
the skin of patients with a known nickel allergy for 48-72 hours. After this period, they showed an allergic
reaction. As these conditions clearly do not reflect the normal use of the euro coins, the Commission does
not see the need for action with regard to the euro coins.

The recent publication does not change the Commission’s view that the normal use of euro coins does not
represent a risk for European citizens. The Commission is not aware of any particular cases of patients
suffering from nickel allergy which can be traced back to the handling or use of EUR 1 and EUR 2 coins.
Additionally, there is no scientific evidence of a recent increase in nickel allergies among European citizens.

These conclusions were confirmed by a recent independent study, which showed that the amount of nickel
released from the EUR 1 and EUR 2 coins is significantly lower than from the national coins used prior to
the introduction of the euro.

(1) OJ L 188, 22.7.1994.

(2003/C 161 E/040)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2775/02

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Allergic reactions to EUR 1 and EUR 2 coins

(3 October 2002)

On 12 September this year the magazine ‘Nature’ published an article based on a study, carried out by the
dermatology department of Zurich University, confirming that EUR 1 and EUR 2 coins can cause a rash
when in contact with human sweat.

Since the euro first came into circulation there have been many reports in the media that the nickel used
to make the EUR 1 and EUR 2 coins can produce allergic reactions on contact with skin and sweat.

In view of these reports the Commission, in a press report published on 11 January last, expressed doubts
as to whether possible allergies were caused by the new coins, arguing that the nickel they contain was not
on the surface and therefore did not come into contact with the skin. At the same time it suggested that
allergies might be caused by the nickel in the coins of the national currencies which at the time were in
circulation together with the euro.

These arguments were subsequently reflected in the Commission’s answer to Parliament’s Written Question
E-0851/02 (1) of 28 May.

What view does the Commission take of the Zurich University study?