WRITTEN QUESTION E-1547/03 by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission. Adoption in Europe of joint measures to combat SARS.
Date: 2003-05-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Asia, European Commission, disease prevention, epidemiology, illegal migration, infectious disease, information network, trading operation

C 280 E/158

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

21.11.2003

With regard to the specific issues raised in the present question:

1. The Commission is not aware of any steps being taken by the Spanish Government to eradicate the

Zebra mussel in the Ebro river system.

2. The Commission is not aware of any method which is 100 % efficient in eradicating these animals.

3. The use of structural funds and cohesion funds is subject to the detailed rules laid down in the

relevant regulations. These rules include the necessity to respect Community legislation and policies.

4. The Commission is engaged in an extensive dialogue with the Spanish Authorities concerning the
proposed Ebro transfer and in particular with regard to the respect of Community legislation on water
protection, habitats’ protection and Environmental Impact Assessment. The issue of the zebra mussel
and the threat of spreading this animal to other river basins is part of this dialogue.

5. The Spanish Hydrological Plan covers the entirety of the country and includes hundreds of proposed
projects relating to the construction of sewage works, water purification plants, canals, dams, pipelines
etc. The Commission will monitor compliance with the relevant legislation and will ensure that the
detailed rules relating to use of Community funds are respected. With regard to the proposed Ebro
transfer, which is part of the hydrological plan, the Commission is still engaged in detailed discussions
with the Spanish Authorities concerning the environmental impact in the Ebro river, the Ebro delta
and the receiving river basins.

(1) OJ C 242 E, 9.10.2003, p. 141.

(2003/C 280 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1521/03

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission

(6 May 2003)

Subject: Illegal immigration and the spread of the SARS virus

Since the SARS virus is also spreading within Europe in a way which threatens everyone’s health.

Since the international authorities consider people arriving from certain parts of the world to be possible
carriers of
the virus (in particular people coming from China, a country whose health authorities
significantly delayed the issue of an international warning regarding the dangers inherent in any spread of
the virus).

Since in many European countries there are extensive networks of Chinese restaurants and other
businesses which are known to employ staff of doubtful origin who entered the EU as illegal immigrants.

Will the Commission provide information regarding the action it intends to take in order to ensure that
proper checks are carried out on the state of health of such individuals?

(2003/C 280 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1547/03

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission

(7 May 2003)

Subject: Adoption in Europe of joint measures to combat SARS

The recent epidemic caused by the atypical pneumonia virus (SARS) has now forced the Chinese
authorities to place a large number of people under quarantine, whilst special prevention provisions have
already been taken in Canada and in other Asian countries directly involved. However Europe, which has

21.11.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

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close trade relations with all these countries and receives a constant influx of Asian immigrants, many of
them illegal immigrants, has not yet devised an appropriate prevention and control plan for the continent
as a whole, with standard measures to be carried out by all the Member States, not least in order to devise
the means of tackling a possible epidemic.

In view of all this, does the Commission not intend to take any urgent action?

(2003/C 280 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1604/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(6 May 2003)

Subject: Atypical pneumonia virus (SARS)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been causing worldwide concern since February.

At the beginning of April there were 2 223 suspected cases in the world, 78 of which resulted in death.
In Europe there were 5 suspected cases in Germany, 8 in Italy, 3 in the United Kingdom, 2 in Ireland, 1 in
France and 1 in Belgium (none of them fatal).

According to the most recent information supplied by the Chinese Ministry of Health, SARS has killed
another 9 people in the country and there are 203 new suspected cases (95 of them in Beijing). The total
number of cases in China has now risen to 3 117, and the number of deaths has risen from 131 to 140
(59 of them in Beijing).

The antibiotics used to combat the most serious form of the infection have proved ineffective and as yet
there are no antiviral drugs (it will allegedly take at least a year to develop any).

The Member States have taken action to tighten up preventive measures. In Italy, for example, not only
will people arriving from countries at risk have to fill in a form at all airports, they will also be interviewed
by doctors accompanied by interpreters.

Can the Commission say whether:

1.

2.

3.

it intends to take prompt action aimed at coordinating European-wide measures to prevent, control
and monitor the disease;

it will propose the creation of a European centre to combat disease, as Commissioner Byrne
recommended when addressing the European Parliament on 7 April 2003;

it considers it appropriate to coordinate the increasingly rigorous checks to be carried out by the
airlines flying to EU airports from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Canada (for example,
measuring the temperature of passengers when they leave the areas at risk and when they arrive in
Europe, with the possibility of quarantine for suspected cases) and urge countries outside the EU to
carry out the same checks?

(2003/C 280 E/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1613/03

by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

(13 May 2003)

On 28 April 2003 the World Health Organisation stated that there were 32 reported probable cases of
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in EU Member States.

Should the Commission consider the measures taken by a Member State to be inadequate, would the
Commission consider implementing a coordinated EU response?