WRITTEN QUESTION E-0700/03 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Doping in amateur sport.
Date: 2003-03-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: consumer protection, health policy, performance drugs, pharmaceutical product, public health, sport

C 242 E/164

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

9.10.2003

(2003/C 242 E/172)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0692/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Landfill sites for the hygienic disposal of waste in Greece

(7 March 2003)

Will the Commission say what are its views on the creation of landfill sites for the hygienic disposal of
waste in Greece?

How many waste tips do not meet Community specifications?

What actions has it taken to prevail upon Greece to comply with Community legislation?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2003)

The landfilling of waste must be done in accordance with Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975
on waste (1) as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991 (2) and with Council Directive
1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste (3).

According to the information transmitted by the Greek authorities there are at present 33 sanitary landfill
sites, which accept around 33 % of municipal waste in Greece. Another 60 % of municipal waste is
disposed of in tips, that do not satisfy the requirements set by Community legislation. The national waste
management plan adopted in 2000 sets out the objective to adapt sanitary landfills to the environmental
specifications and to rehabilitate the uncontrolled or illegal landfills.

On the basis of this information and following a large number of complaints about uncontrolled or illegal
the Commission initiated an
waste disposal sites that do not comply with Community legislation,
infringement procedure under Article 226 of the Treaty establishing the Community in July 2002. The
Greek authorities recognised that 1 458 illegal or uncontrolled landfills were still in operation and declared
that a new waste management plan was under adoption. According to their timetable all illegal landfills
would be closed by the end of 2007 and be replaced by permanent installations. In this framework, the
Greek authorities have solicited the aid of the European Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund. A number
of landfills are actually under authorisation or under construction in various regions of Greece.

The Commission delivered a reasoned opinion under Article 226 of the EC Treaty in December 2002
inviting Greece to take the necessary measures to comply with the requirements of the provisions of
Directive 75/442/EEC as amended. If Greece does not comply with its obligations under the Community
legislation, the Commission will not hesitate to bring the matter before the Court of Justice.

(1) OJ L 194, 25.7.1975.
(2) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991.
(3) OJ L 182, 16.7.1999.

(2003/C 242 E/173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0700/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(10 March 2003)

Subject: Doping in amateur sport

On 15 May of last year Commissioner Reding presented a study on the use of drugs by amateur sportsmen
and -women attending the ca 23 000 fitness centres in the European Union. One of the recommendations
made by the authors of the study was the introduction of quality labels for such products and systematic
checks on their composition. This was motivated above all by the fact that (harmful) products of this kind
can be ordered via the Internet.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Has the Commission since taken protective measures specifically relating to such products with a view to
protecting European consumers?

What steps has the Commission since taken in order,
Internet, at least to make it extremely difficult?

if not to completely stop illegal trade via the

Does the Commission intend to stop harmful products of this kind at the EU’s external borders and, where
necessary, what steps does it intend to take to that end?

Answer given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2003)

The Commission was interested to read the conclusions of the study mentioned by the Honourable
Member. This study was carried out under the pilot measures financed by the Commission in 2000 and
2001 concerning the combating of doping in sport.

The conclusions of the study informed the Commission’s thoughts on the combating of doping. They were
used, among other things, to begin work on drawing up a Commission proposal for a Community anti-
doping programme focusing on information, education and prevention. In the end, this initiative had to be
suspended for budgetary reasons.

Since the publication of this study, there has been an important development, namely the adoption in
2002 of Directive 2002/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 June 2002 on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to food supplements (1).

The Commission raised the issue of special
labelling for doping products at the 53rd meeting of the
Community’s Pharmaceutical Committee on 14 May 2002. This meeting examined the experience of the
Member States in this area and the feasibility of an early warning system at European level. However, the
discussions in the Pharmaceutical Committee revealed the difficulties of implementing a system of this
kind, and the Commission currently has no plans to follow up this idea.

Finally, the Commission would point out to the Honourable Member that it has an obligation to act
strictly within the limits of its powers and that, in the combating of doping, a number of measures can
only be considered at national level.

(1) OJ L 183, 12.7.2002.

(2003/C 242 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0728/03

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(11 March 2003)

Subject: Prestige: Community financial aid

On 19 December 2002 the European Parliament adopted a resolution on safety at sea and measures to
alleviate the effects of the Prestige disaster. Paragraph 11 reads:

Calls on the Commission, as a matter of urgency, to consider using all the necessary financial
instruments to tackle the economic, social and environmental consequences of the wreck of the
‘Prestige’ and assist the economic sectors affected.

What measures has the Commission taken or does it intend to take?

What percentage does the total Community aid granted represent of the total estimated amount of damage
and prejudice caused by the Prestige?