WRITTEN QUESTION E-0367/03 by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission. Electromagnetic pollution.
Date: 2003-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: electromagnetic interference, health legislation, health policy, health risk, non-ionising radiation, public health

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/187

Reply

(13 May 2003)

The Council can confirm to the Honourable Parliamentarian, that the decision of the 7 EU Member States
to abstain from the vote on 20 January 2003 was the result of a common position of the European Union
adopted within the framework of the CFSP.

Whether Mrs al-Hajjaji’s appointment will enhance the credibility of the UN system very much depends on
how she conducts the work of the UNCHR during CHR 59. From her previous track record in the CHR,
there is every reason to hope that Mrs al-Hajjaji will carry out her duties in chairing CHR 59 with all the
competence and professionalism required.

(2003/C 222 E/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0353/03

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Council

(6 February 2003)

Subject: Statement by the Italian Minister for Health on EU Member States ‘guilty of crimes against

humanity’

Girolamo Sirchia, the Italian Minister for Health, stated publicly at the official opening of the High
Technology Centre for Biomedical Sciences at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Campobasso on
28 November 2002 (as reported by all the news agencies that day) that reproductive cloning was without
doubt a crime against humanity and that laws should be passed qualifying it as such. He also said that
therapeutic cloning was no better than reproductive cloning because it did not differ substantially from it
and that the two could only be differentiated on a philosophical level (AGI news agency, 28 November
2002). On the same occasion, the Minister stated that he viewed both reproductive and therapeutic
cloning as crimes on a par with slavery, child abuse and the atrocities committed by the Nazis (ANSA
news agency, 28 November 2002).

What is the Council’s reaction to the fact that the Minister for Health of an EU Member State has indirectly
accused other Member States that authorise and practice therapeutic cloning in the hope of curing and
extending the life of millions of sick people in Europe of besmirching themselves with crimes against
humanity?

Should the Council not ask the Italian government, especially with an eye to Italy’s presidency of the EU
Council, to clarify a statement accusing Member States of the same types of crime committed in Nazi
Germany, in order to establish whether this stance represents the Italian government’s official line?

Reply

(13 May 2003)

It is not the Council’s intention to comment on public statements by the Minister for Health in the Italian
Government.

(2003/C 222 E/214)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0367/03

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 February 2003)

Subject: Electromagnetic pollution

There have been a series of studies on the phenomenon known as ‘electromagnetic pollution’ or
‘electrosmog’. Can the Commission say what its latest views are on the subject and whether there are any
legislative implications?

C 222 E/188

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2003)

As regard the limitation of the exposure of the general public to multiple sources emitting non-ionising
radiations kown as ‘electro-smog’, the Commission is pleased to inform the Honourable Member on the
measures taken at European level.

On 12 July 1999, the Council adopted Recommendation 1999/519/EEC (1) limiting the exposure of the
general public to non-ionising radiation in a view of protecting human health against well-known acute
health effects. It also referred the precautionary approach to long-term possible carcinogenic effects by the
introduction of safety margins in the exposure limits. The Recommendation calls on the Commission to
prepare a report, by 2004, taking into account reports from Member States and the latest scientific data
and advice.

The recommended maximum limits are based on the guidelines established by the International
Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection and endorsed by the Scientific Steering Committee of
the Commission. The Scientific Committee on Toxicity-Ecotoxicity and the Environment confirmed on
‘the additional information which has become available on carcinogenic and
30 November 2001 that:
other non-thermal effects of radio frequency and microwave radiation frequencies in the last years does
not justify a revision of exposure limits set by the Commission’. The Commission does not plan to change
these limits.

The Commission hosted the World Health Organisation (WHO) /National Institute for Environmental
Health Science (NIEHS) meeting on the Precautionary Principle and Electromagnetic fields on 24-25-
26 February 2003. This meeting took place within the context of the extensive risk assessment conducted
the Commission, on health risks associated with the exposure to
by WHO, with the support of
electromagnetic fields. First results of this assessment will be available by the end of 2003 for extremely
low frequencies, whereas the radio frequencies assessment will be completed in 2005. The outputs of this
WHO/NIEHS conference will be posted on the Europa web site of the Commission (2).

(1) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.
(2) http://europa.eu.int.

(2003/C 222 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0369/03

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 February 2003)

Subject: Bringing forward the deadline for introducing less polluting lorry engines

In the current wide-ranging debate on transport policy, and with particular reference to the excessive use
of road transport, European efforts to introduce less polluting lorry engines are still of topical interest.
With a view to the entry into service of Euro 4 standard engines and looking ahead to Euro 5, can the
Commission say whether the process of introducing these engines onto the market can be speeded up and
what mechanisms may be envisaged for the renewal of fleets of lorries?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2003)

Directive 1999/96/EC (1) (amending Directive 88/77/EEC (2)) introduced the mandatory Euro 4 and Euro 5
pollutant emission limits. Article 3 of Directive 1999/96/EC provides the framework for the granting of tax
incentives by the Member States to encourage the earlier introduction of new vehicles and engines that
meet the future emission limits of Euro 4 or Euro 5. Aside from this framework, there is no other process
for speeding-up the introduction of new Euro 4 or Euro 5 vehicles and engines to the market.