WRITTEN QUESTION P-0021/03 by Vitaliano Gemelli (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Appointment of senior staff in the European Commission — medical service.
Date: 2003-01-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, appointment of staff, health service, occupational medicine

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/1

I

(Information)

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WITH ANSWER
(Part 1)

(2004/C 84 E/0001)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0021/03

by Vitaliano Gemelli (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 January 2003)

Subject: Appointment of senior staff in the European Commission (cid:1) medical service

ILO (International Labour Organisation) Recommendation No 112 concerning occupational health services
in places of employment establishes, as one of the professional guarantees designed to ensure that there is
a relationship of trust between employers, workers and their occupational health service physician,
‘professional and moral independence’ vis-à-vis all those concerned.

In its resolution of 1 July 1960 on safety and hygiene at work the European Parliament recognises that
occupational medicine is practised in occupational health services in companies and in the work of
occupational physicians.

In its Recommendation of 20 July 1962 on company medical services (1) the Commission calls on the
Member States to officially recognise occupational medicine in enterprises, emphasising that these services
should preferably be headed, wherever possible, by full-time occupational physicians.

Can the Commission say why it saw fit to ignore the fundamental principles of the ILO recommendation,
Parliament’s resolution and its own recommendation to the Member States, by appointing an official with
no medical knowledge as head of its medical service?

Does the Commission not consider that decisions of this kind may severely harm its credibility in the eyes
of the other institutions and European citizens?

(1) OJ B 80, 31.8.1962, p. 2181.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2003)

Contrary to what the Honourable Member appears to have been led to believe by the information at his
disposal, the Commission does not disregard any of its own recommendations to the Member States on the
importance of occupational health services.

After the previous head of the Medical Service in Brussels retired, the Commission decision in 2002 was
taken specifically for the purpose of reinforcing its Medical Service in Brussels by giving greater attention

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Official Journal of the European Union

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3.4.2004

to the management of this service through the appointment of two members of staff to lead it. The post of
Unit Head was entrusted to an administrator with proven management experience and a new function of
Medical Adviser (cid:1) with full responsibility for the medical aspects of the service (cid:1) was created. That post
was assigned to a medical doctor with well established and recognised expertise in occupational health
matters. The Medical Adviser is not inferior in grade or in status to any person in the Medical Service.

The Commission was assisted in coming to the decision by knowledge of the manner in which hospital
management is organised in some Member States.

The Commission is sure that the Honourable Member will want to correct the impression inadvertently
given by his question that ‘an official with no medical knowledge’ was appointed by the Commission to
head its Medical Service, in contravention of ILO recommendations.

(2004/C 84 E/0002)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0335/03

by Maria Sanders-ten Holte (ELDR) to the Commission

(10 February 2003)

Subject: A new generation of mercenaries

Although the system of old-style mercenaries is not yet entirely a thing of the past, a new type of
mercenary is coming into existence in conflicts in Africa. The soldiers concerned provide military services,
even including peace-keeping and monitoring of the enforcement of cease-fires. The most important
development here is the establishment of small military groups which offer their services to governments
and commercial enterprises.

Does the Commission have any information about the activities of foreign soldiers in conflicts in

1.
Africa?

Can the Commission, in particular, indicate the role which such soldiers are playing in border wars

2.
in West Africa?

To what extent is the EU taking account of this new phenomenon in its strategies for restoring peace

3.
and settling conflicts in Africa?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(19 March 2003)

The Commission is aware of newspaper articles and rumours in expatriate circles in Africa on
1.
mercenaries involved in African conflicts. The Commission has on an ad hoc basis also been informed that
in some cases mercenaries offer their services to governments and/or commercial companies. The
Commission is, however, not in a position to obtain this specialised intelligence information other than on
an incidental basis.

There are rumours and reported witness accounts that demobilised ex-combatants from Sierra Leone

2.
have joined rebel activities in Liberia and Western Ivory Coast.

3.
The Commission supports initiatives in the framework of the Rabat peace process for the Mano River
Union and of the International Contact Group for Liberia to promote a cease fire and peace talks between
the Government of Liberia and the rebels active in North-west Liberia. The Commission is also supportive
of the re-integration of Sierra Leonan ex-combatants into the society.