WRITTEN QUESTION P-0782/03 by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission. EU involvement in world immunisation initiatives.
Date: 2003-03-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: cooperation policy, disease prevention, health policy, public health, the EU's international role, vaccination

C 222 E/234

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

(2003/C 222 E/264)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0782/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(7 March 2003)

Subject: EU involvement in world immunisation initiatives

The Commission’s programme of Community action in the field of public health, adopted in September
2002, included tackling health determinants as one of its key areas. Immunisation is the most powerful of
all preventive health measures, especially for children, and is central
to human rights and poverty
alleviation. The recent report by the World Health Organisation, Unicef and the World Bank, ‘State of the
World’s Vaccines and Immunisation’ (2002), highlights immense strides. It also points out that although
vaccines are the least expensive way of controlling diseases, they are not reaching the populations that
need them most in underdeveloped regions in the world.

Considering the EU’s commitment to working closely with the major international bodies in the health
field, such as the World Health Organisation, what steps are being taken at EU level to invest in
immunisation and become involved in new initiatives launched by the World Health Organisation and
other NGOs who are responding to mounting international concern and coverage of immunisation and
vaccination programmes?

Will the Commission consider establishing a health forum, bringing together the health community
including NGOs, health professionals and health authorities, to discuss such issues of public health and
develop a comprehensive and coordinated agenda of action?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 April 2003)

The Commission is strongly committed to work closely with the major international bodies to support the
fight against communicable diseases, in Europe as well as in developing countries.

In Europe the main responsibility for vaccination policy, like health services and medical care in general,
lies with Member States and each has developed its policy according to national needs.

In this context the Commission supports the Member States in their work to control the vaccine-
preventable diseases, taking into account their own specific vaccination strategy, in different ways:

(cid:1) Working closely with the Member States through the Community Network strengthening the
surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases, under Member States Decision No 2119/98/EC of the
Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 setting up a network for the epidemiological
surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the Community (1);

(cid:1) Funding projects under the Public Health Programme to support specific vaccine-preventable disease
surveillance activities and policy oriented projects with Member States and Candidate Countries.
Partnership with other countries and international organisations,
the World Health
Organisation (WHO), are possible.

such as

The Commission’s activities in this field in developing countries are embedded in its ongoing support for
health and strengthening of health, essential to increase and sustain the coverage and effectiveness of
immunisation. This support is progressively provided through sector wide approaches and budget support.
Immunisation coverage is included amongst the indicators selected to monitor sector performance and
improved health outcomes. In some countries, immunisation against vaccine-preventable diseases merits
additional support. For instance, the Community has supported specific projects in countries and regions
where polio is still endemic. The Commission specifically supports polio eradication efforts in India and
Nigeria, where over 90 % of confirmed polio cases occurred during 2002, through projects with a total
value of EUR 37,5 million. The Commission also supports regional programmes in West Africa through

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/235

Unicef (e.g. Appui au renforcement de l’Indépendance vaccinale (cid:1) ARIVA (cid:1) West-Africa), aimed at
strengthening capacities towards higher national and regional independence in vaccination programmes.
Support for immunisation activities in complex emergencies is also provided through the European
Humanitarian Aid Office. Furthermore, the Commission is contributing through regional funds (African
malaria Vaccine Network), the special budget line (AIDS vaccine preparedness programmes) and the 5th
Research Framework, to the development of new and more effective vaccines against the main poverty-
related diseases.

(1) OJ L 268, 3.10.1998.

(2003/C 222 E/265)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0793/03

by Sérgio Marques (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: European Year of People with Disabilities 2003

(14 March 2003)

The EU’s population currently includes some 37 million people with disabilities (cid:1) among them workers,
consumers, taxpayers, politicians and students (cid:1) who, despite having the same rights as those without
disabilities, often fail to receive equal treatment. The EU’s citizens must be made aware of the need for real
equality of rights, so as to avoid all forms of social exclusion for this sector of the population.

In this context, the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003 has as its objectives to increase
awareness in the interests of full equality of rights and to promote analysis, debate and exchanges of views
on the most effective forms of action.

The budget earmarked totals EUR 12 million, for the funding of the following activities: organisation of
meetings and events; information and promotion campaign; cooperation with the media; and surveys and
studies.

Measures having a Community-wide scope may be subsidised up to a maximum of 80 %, while those of a
local, regional, national or transnational nature may be cofinanced from the general Community budget up
to a maximum of 50 % of total cost.

1.
Given that each Member State is asked to name the bodies which will participate in the European
they can submit requests to the
Year and to which candidates are to send their projects so that
Commission for the cofinancing of local, regional, national and transnational actions, what is the deadline
for naming those national bodies and ensuring the necessary publicity?

2. What are the deadlines for the publication of the calls for expression of interest and the associated
procedure, and what media will be used for publicisation?

3.
In view of the Commission’s recognition of the need for a coherent global strategy with a view to
ensuring a proper development- and inclusion-oriented policy for persons with special needs, what
measures has the Commission taken, and what measures does it intend to take in this context? Will the
Commission promote a fully transversal strategy encompassing employment, education and training,
access to public buildings and services, etc, and how will such a strategy be implemented in practice?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2003)

The Honourable Member might be already aware that in accordance with Article 5 of the Council Decision
establishing the European Year of People with Disabilities (1), all participating countries in the European
Year are required to establish a national co-ordinating body to co-ordinate and manage activities in
support of the aims of the European Year.