WRITTEN QUESTION E-3909/02 by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. GATS.
Date: 2003-01-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: GATS, United Kingdom, higher education, liberalisation of the market, private education, public education, public service, public-private partnership

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/29

Does it include direct budget support?

If so, ought it not to be halted immediately?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 2003)

The Commission has taken due note of the content of the expert panel report on the illegal exploitation of
natural resources and other forms of wealth of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) transmitted by
the UN Secretary-General to the Security Council on 15 October 2002.

The report states, notably in paragraphs 171, 172 and 173, that the UN Security Council could,
if
necessary, propose reductions in official development assistance in order to promote peace and good
governance in the region. The report also proposes a general mechanism for implementing the reductions
which would in particular be conditional on the withdrawal of foreign troops from the DRC (this has in
fact already taken place). However, the report does not specifically state any other sort of corrective
measures to take into consideration as regards the establishment of a mechanism for gradually reducing
aid.

In resolution 1457 of 24 January 2003, the Security Council commented on the report, granting the panel
a six-month extension of its mandate to allow the expert group to review relevant data and analyse the
information it had already gathered in order to verify, reinforce and, where necessary, update its findings.

Because of the complexity of the issues involved, the Commission is in favour of the extension of the
mandate which will help provide a clearer picture of the situation. The Commission likewise believes, if
appropriate, that a Security Council resolution setting out the implementing framework of a common and
concerted position by the whole international community on possible sanctions is a prerequisite for
ensuring the effectiveness of such sanctions in securing the desired objectives.

In the context of the political dialogue between the Union and the ACP countries under Article 8 of the
Cotonou Agreement, the Commission strongly urges the countries cited in the report to conduct extensive
investigations and take appropriate measures against their nationals, also cited, where such action is
warranted by incontestable proof and objective circumstantial evidence. The Commission also notes that
the UN expert group’s report cites individuals and businesses from the Member States of the European
Union and from other countries outside the African continent as being responsible for the pillaging of the
DRC’s resources.

The Commission has no specific competence for targeted sanctions against individuals and businesses.
Since the sanctions against individuals and businesses referred to in the report belong to the sphere of
criminal
justice and/or home affairs, the Commission cannot make a formal recommendation to the
Council to adopt them.

Community support for Uganda and Rwanda takes the form of project aid in the health, education,
transport and local development sectors and budgetary assistance for national poverty reduction strategies
devised in conjunction with the World Bank, IMF, civil society and the donor community.

(2004/C 33 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3909/02

by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(14 January 2003)

Subject: GATS

The UK Government has clearly implied that at least some parts of the public education system do not fall
under the exemption clause in Article 1.3 as they are supplied in competition with the private sector.

C 33 E/30

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

Especially in the UK, the higher education sector already comprises a mixture of public and private
institutions with increasing amounts of funding coming from fees and other private sources.

In light of this, does the EC plan to agree to any requests from third countries which entail the removal of
any limitation which would ensure that commitments apply only to privately-funded education?

Can the EC also clarify the term ‘privately-funded education’, in view of the fact that increasing amounts of
funding are coming from fees and other sources to all educational institutions?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2003)

The Community has no intention to modify the existing commitment on higher education services which
is limited to privately funded services.

The term ‘privately-funded education’ limits the Community commitment only to those institutions whose
operation is based on private resources. The fact that some educational institutions receive supplementary
support from fees or other private funding does not automatically make them ‘privately-funded’.

(2004/C 33 E/028)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0037/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(21 January 2003)

Subject: Efficacy of somatostatin in fighting cancer

The International Congress of Oncology in Orlando (USA) and conferences in Naples and Como in Italy
have identified vitamin A, retinoids and somatostatin as effective anti-tumour agents. This was in line with
the claims made by Prof. Luigi di Bella, whose methods the Italian Ministry of Health deemed to have no
scientific basis in 1997.

1.

Is the Commission acquainted with the research findings made public at the recent congresses?

Does it knows whether the therapy named after Prof. Di Bella has any connection with the latest

2.
results emerging from the above-mentioned international congresses on oncology?

Does it considers it appropriate to set up a committee to establish the validity of the Di Bella therapy

3.
in treating tumours?

4.
In view of the scientific basis now recognised for the use of somatostatin in treating certain kinds of
tumour, it does not consider it should fund research to ensure that this method is used increasingly in
Europe?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(28 February 2003)

The Commission is aware of state-of-the-art research undertaken regarding the use of somatostatin,
retinoids and vitamin A in the treatment of cancer.

Somatostatin analogues have proved to be useful both in experimental tumour models in vitro and in
animal models. In human subjects, clinical efficacy in the treatment of acromegaly and, to a lesser extent,
in neuroendocrine tumours has also been established.