WRITTEN QUESTION E-0195/03 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Netherlands heavy dependency on the use of hospitals in neighbouring countries as a result of its own inadequate domestic provision.
Date: 2003-01-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, European Commission, Netherlands, competence of the Member States, cooperation policy, health policy, health service, medical institution, patient's rights, public health

C 268 E/80

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

While Turkmenistan has some of the world’s largest deposits of natural gas and this sector has been the
major spur for economic growth in recent years, the oil sector is an important sector of the economy. In
the year 2000, some 7,7 million tonnes were produced and net exports of crude and refined products
accounted for 60 %.

The Community has signed Partnership and Co-operation Agreements (PCA) with all three countries
mentioned by the Honourable Member. While those signed with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have entered
into force, that with Turkmenistan has yet to be ratified.

In the framework of the PCA with Azerbaijan, the scope of the existing Sub-Committee on Trade will be
widened this year (2003) to include energy issues. Expert dialogue with Kazakhstan was extended in 2002
to include energy matters as well.

The Commission is also providing technical assistance in the field of oil and gas infrastructure to these
countries under the framework of TACIS (the Inogate programme).

At a commercial level, Union energy companies are particularly active both in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

All Union relations in the energy sector aim at promoting increased transparency, encouraging market
reform and enhancing environmental awareness. By developing relations in a defined area of evident
mutual interest and facilitating political and commercial contacts between the Union and these countries,
these countries will be encouraged to integrate more closely into the global society and thereby be more
aware to global values and concerns.

In addition, all the Partnership and Co-operation Agreements signed with these countries include a strong
focus on respect for democracy and the principles of international law and human rights as defined in
particular in the United Nations Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. They also include articles designed to
develop and strengthen co-operation on environmental and human health issues.

The oil market is an integrated global market and the destination of specific production is much less
important than ensuring the diversification of the sources of supply. In addition,
it is clear that the
decision to build new pipelines and the routing of such pipelines is a matter for the private sector based
upon economic and commercial considerations.

The United States, like the Union, pursues an active policy of ensuring the geographical diversification and
competition between different sources of supply. It is clear that this policy will be continued into the
future, whatever should happen in any particular region of the world. Should oil production from Iraq not
reach the international markets for a period of time for whatever reason, there is enough global spare
capacity for the market to be supplied. In this context, it is clear that, should the market disequilibrium be
such that it threatens to seriously affect economic growth in the Union, serious reflection should be given
to the potential use of the strategic oil stocks held by Member states.

It is clear that the Union has strategic geopolitical interests in this region. The main Union objective is to
promote regional co-operation with a view to contributing towards political stability. Such political
stability will contribute to an enhanced role for Caspian energy resources in the energy security of the
enlarged Union. In this context, the Honourable Member should be aware that the Commission is planning
a Communication later in 2003 on energy links with neighbouring countries.

(2003/C 268 E/082)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0195/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(31 January 2003)

Subject: Netherlands heavy dependency on the use of hospitals in neighbouring countries as a result of its

own inadequate domestic provision

1.
Is the Commission aware that the swingeing cuts in the number of hospital beds and the closure of
entire hospitals resulting from the economy measures taken over the years in the healthcare sector in the
Netherlands means that that country now has permanent waiting lists for patients who need to be
admitted to hospital?

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/81

Is it also aware that the Netherlands attempts to overcome the shortage in part by using the requisite

2.
services in neighbouring countries which have more hospital beds and doctors?

3.
Is the Commission aware that, in execution of a contract with a Dutch sickness insurance company,
the hospital in Genk, Belgium, has, to date, treated more than 6 000 Dutch patients on the same basis as
Belgian insured patients but that that hospital does not want to extend the contract without changes being
made to it on the grounds that Belgian patients are now being put on waiting lists and that the operations
being carried out on Dutch nationals are more complicated and, hence, much more costly than was
expected?

4.
Does the Commission agree with me that, in instances of this nature, what is happening here no
longer simply involves the individual patient’s freedom of choice, promoted by the EU, to be treated on an
equal footing in a hospital in another Member State and that the result thereof is an increasing dependency
on the provision of services in a neighbouring country which seriously threatens the patient’s freedom of
choice?

5.
Does the Commission deem it acceptable for a Member State to transfer the consequences of the
failures in its own healthcare system structurally and permanently on to an neighbouring country which
has organised its healthcare services more efficiently instead of first solving its problems internally with the
greatest possible speed?

6. What help is the Commission giving with a view to ensuring that a fair balance is struck in the
Member States and, possibly,
in the regions between the provision of hospital services and the calls
thereon so that the possibility of using services in neighbouring countries once again involves exclusively
freedom of choice which is determined by quality and proximity instead of permanent dependence on the
neighbouring countries as a result of a country’s own failings?

Source: Het Journaal Laat, TV-1 Vlaanderen, (The Late Show, Flanders-1 TV) 21 January 2003.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2003)

The Commission would like to remind the Honourable Member that the EC Treaty stresses that Member
States retain responsibility for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care.
Nevertheless, according to settled case-law, the Member States must comply with Community law when
exercising that power. The Commission follows closely how health services are being used across
Community borders. This raises a number of health policy issues. In order to discuss these in detail, it has
initiated a high level reflection process with Ministers of Health and key stakeholders. The purpose of this
group is to identify areas in which intensified co-operation at Union level would be beneficial. Some of the
issues raised by the Honourable Member could possibly be addressed in this context.

(2003/C 268 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0205/03

by Manuel dos Santos (PSE) to the Commission

(3 February 2003)

Subject: Business closure

Having already asked the Commission about C. & J. Clark’s relocation from Castelo de Paiva (Portugal) to
India and, possibly, Romania, I learned that the Gerry Weber clothing company is preparing to take similar
steps to relocate its Figueiró dos Vinhos (Portugal) fabrics plant abroad.

If this relocation (or even the simple closure of the business) takes place, it will generate considerable
unemployment in the region, with disastrous social consequences.

Gerry Weber is another example of a company which applied for and obtained considerable amounts of
Community funding.