WRITTEN QUESTION E-0841/03 by Carlos Coelho (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Health.
Date: 2003-03-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, disease prevention, health policy, nutritional disease, public health

C 222 E/236

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

All Member States and Norway and Iceland have established such bodies and contact information for these
bodies is updated regularly on the web-site of
is the
responsibility of these bodies, and not that of the Commission, to publish the availability of Community
co-funding for projects during the European Year (national, regional, local and transnational).

the European Year (www.eypd2003.org).

It

It is also the responsibility of the national co-ordinating bodies to designate the exact procedures and
timing of submission of bids for co-funding, and to make the final selection of eligible projects. All
participating countries have either completed or are in the process of completing this exercise.

The national co-ordinating bodies are responsible for ensuring that projects receive a maximum of 50 per
cent funding from the Community budget to cover eligible costs for each project. As soon as the budget
line for the European Year was opened in 2003, the Commission proceeded with the process of making
the necessary financial engagement and signing an agreement with each participating country. Agreements
are underway now for almost all Member States.

The Commission considers disability as a rights issue. Emphasis has, therefore, moved entirely away from
protection and institutionalisation to full social and economic integration (cid:1) the so-called ‘social model’.
Therefore,
the Commission focuses on the removal of the many barriers within the existing social
environment that are faced by people with disabilities who seek to carry out the usual activities of
everyday life and to participate in the full range of activities in society. This perspective has important
implications, be it at Union or national level, the way in which policy and law in relation to disability are
developed and interpreted, as well as for their substantive content.

In our view, supporting citizens with disabilities to become an effective part of the economic and social
mainstream means participation in the mainstream for everyone for whom this is possible and in every
area where this is possible (cid:1) rather than segregation into disability-specific arrangements. This applies
especially to the mainstream into employment policies and social inclusion processes which has both
social and economic advantages, not only for people with disabilities but also for society in general.
Mainstreaming also goes beyond the area of Community social policy into education, transport, research
and new technologies. For that reason, the Commission looks at all aspects of mainstreaming with a view
not only to ensuring that people with disabilities and the issues of concern to them are at the top of the
agenda but also to emphasise the need for greater synergy between related issues in the various policy
fields.

Improvements for people with disabilities can very often improve conditions for society as a whole,
particularly where the ‘Design for All’ concept is adopted. Improving accessibility to buildings for example
will benefit everybody, including the elderly and people with reduced mobility. Accessibility is, therefore,
an area where the Commission is determined to achieve improvements, notably in relation to the built
environment. The competent service in the Commission has set up an independent expert group to
examine the current state of legislation in the Member States and look at how current Union policies
affect, or may affect, the overall design of the built environment. This group will report to the Commission
during the second semester of 2003.

(1) OJ L 335, 19.12.2001.

(2003/C 222 E/266)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0841/03

by Carlos Coelho (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 March 2003)

Subject: Health

Obesity is turning out to be one of the major epidemics of the century, and Portugal and the other EU
countries have seen a massive increase in the number of people suffering from obesity.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Reliable scientific studies forecast that if the trend continues, by 2015, 95 % of the North American
population will be obese. Europe will hit this figure by 2030.

Obesity is a chronic illness, which acts as a catalyst for all sorts of other illnesses, including cardiovascular
disease and diabetes (which are, for example, the major causes of death in Portugal). Properly preventive
structured preventive policies are therefore essential. Hitherto, all that has been done is to intervene
clinically by giving sufferers medication.

Are there plans to discuss strategies to tackle the problem and reverse the trend, specifically in the field of
prevention and reducing the amount people eat? What role is envisaged for experts in the field, such as
nutritionists or dieticians?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(14 April 2003)

According to the figures available to the Commission, obesity is on the increase practically everywhere,
and in particular within the EU. However, in the field of health, Article 152 of the EC Treaty defines and
limits the Community’s powers, therefore tackling obesity continues to be the responsibility of the Member
States.

The Commission wishes to act as a coordinator and catalyst in measures taken by the Member States;
thanks to the new public health programme 2003-2008, the Commission will continue to collect data to
improve understanding of the causes of the increase in obesity and will also set up the new network of
national institutes for nutrition and physical activity (NPA Network).

The Commission has already,
in the past, funded important activities in the area of nutrition under
previous public health programmes, namely the health monitoring programme, the cancer programme and
the health promotion programme.

One of the ten or so projects which have been financed is Eurodiet, for which a summary report entitled
‘Nutrition and Diet for Healthy Lifestyles in Europe’ was drawn up.

The report on Community action on nutrition, which has been posted on the Commission’s website (1),
outlines what has been done so far in this area.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph/programmes/health/reports/nutrition-report_en.pdf.

(2003/C 222 E/267)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0842/03

by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Commission

(18 March 2003)

Subject: Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy

The principle of a single farm payment subject to compliance with environmental, food safety, animal
welfare, health and occupational safety standards as well as the requirement to keep all farmland in good
condition has the advantage of moving away from the production-incentive approach that has prevailed
until now and has revealed its limits.

there is a possible concern that decoupling does not

However,
take adequate account of regional
diversities, particularly with regard to production in the ultra-peripheral regions. In these regions, many
farmers set themselves up in business each year, without necessarily occupying a farm.