WRITTEN QUESTION E-1526/03 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Failure to remove blue and brown asbestos from contaminated flats, workshops and other buildings in EU accession State Hungary.
Date: 2003-05-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community acquis, Hungary, State aid, asbestos, decontamination, environmental policy, multi-storey dwelling

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/371

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(26 May 2003)

The Commission has repeatedly stressed that Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) negotiations will
need to be accompanied by comprehensive consultations with ‘non-state actors’ in both the Union and
African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States. This process has already started, but communication and
consultations in the ACP States will be enhanced as soon as negotiations on the regional level have started.
Commission Delegations will have an important role to play in this context.

The target groups of these activities will vary among countries and regions, and should include business
and employer associations,
farmers associations, consumer groups, non governmental
organisations (NGOs), etc. The involvement of trade experts in ACP universities and research institutions
will be important as well, especially also in the context of the Sustainability Impact Assessment.

trade unions,

ACP parliaments, and notably those parliamentarians who focus in their work on trade and regional
integration, should be fully associated with this process and will have the opportunity to form part of
informal contact groups the Commission is going to establish on a regional basis. Indeed, parliamentarians
should be in the best position to contribute to the negotiations, as they can make use of official ACP
channels, the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the informal consultation networks which will be
established.

The Parliament, and first of all the European members of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, could
be very helpful in identifying appropriate ACP parliamentarians for this purpose. First contacts on this
have been made and the Commission would welcome close co-operation in this regard.

(2004/C 78 E/0391)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1526/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(6 May 2003)

Subject: Failure to remove blue and brown asbestos from contaminated flats, workshops and other

buildings in EU accession State Hungary

1.
Is the Commission aware that at least 400 000 square metres of sprayed asbestos containing the
most carcinogenic blue asbestos were used in the building of large estates of flats in Hungary in the
1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s and that particles of this material are released after between 10 and 15 years, as
a result of which they spread inside and outside the blocks of flats and that it would cost between EUR 65
and 130 million to clean up the contamination?

2.
Is the Commission also aware that these flats, which were initially rented out to residents by the
State, were sold to the occupants before it became known in Hungary that a clean-up operation is required
in the interests of both the survival of the residents and the obligation to comply with the Community
‘acquis’ but that the removal of one square metre of asbestos costs between EUR 160 and 190, which is
more than a resident’s average weekly salary?

3.
Can the Commission confirm that the Hungarian government has no financial resources available or
earmarked for making a start on the removal of these large quantities of asbestos from residential buildings
and that it was only in March 2003 that an investigation began into the scale of the problem and the
implications for public health?

Is brown asbestos still being used in Hungary in garden sheds, hen houses, cellars and garages, partly

4.
because of the lack of adequate information?

C 78 E/372

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Is there no legislation in Hungary requiring firms and organisations to remove any asbestos present

5.
within certain period? Is this about to change, and if so when?

6. What is the Commission doing to encourage the removal of the barriers that have hitherto prevented
Hungary from complying fully with the Community acquis?

Source: Netherlands newspaper, Het Financieele Dagblad, 14 April 2003.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(10 June 2003)

1.
The Hungarian Ministry of Interior confirmed upon request of the Commission that asbestos was
used in cellar ceilings in multifamily houses built during the time period mentioned. According to
information from the Hungarian Government, it intends to undertake the following measures to rectify the
situation: The asbestos in the most dangerous houses will be temporarily covered. This action has already
been partially carried out. A recent decree introduced further measures to remove the asbestos from
residential areas as of 2004 as part of the National Environmental Programme.

2.
Yes, according to the same source of information, some flats in these houses were owned by the
inhabitants already before the political changes. Others were let out at a very low rent not covering the
actual cost for normal maintenance and therefore sold to the tenants at a very low price corresponding to
5 to 10 % of the market price.

No, according to our information investigations have started several years ago, and considerable
3.
amounts have already been spent on these investigations. As mentioned under 1., further funding for
measures is foreseen as of 2004 as part of the National Environmental Programme.

According to information available to the Commission there is no domestic manufacturing of
4.
products containing asbestos, but a small part of roofing products made from asbestos-cement has
remained on the market, which is imported from Romania and the Ukraine. These products are less costly
than asbestos-free substitutes. It is, therefore, considered by the Hungarian Ministry of the Interior that
there is no lack of information but rather a lack of financial resources.

According to our information, there is currently no legislation in force, but two decrees covering this

5.
issue are under preparation.

The Commission is carefully monitoring Hungary to ensure that it adopts and implements the entire
6.
EU environmental ‘acquis’ by the date of accession. Hungary’s preparations are overall quite advanced
compared with other new Member States. Also, considerable financial resources have been made available
for environmental projects both under the PHARE and ISPA programmes.

(2004/C 78 E/0392)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1540/03

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(7 May 2003)

Subject: Trade in equipment which could be used for torture or capital punishment

Could the Commission indicate which, if any, items covered by the proposal for a Regulation concerning
trade in certain equipment which could be used for torture or capital punishment (1) are also covered by
the (EC) Regulation adopted by the Council on 21 January 2003 suspending duties on weapons and
military equipment (150/2003 (2))?

(1) COM(2002) 770.
(2) OJ L 25, 30.1.2003, p. 1.