WRITTEN QUESTION E-1617/03 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission. SARS.
Date: 2003-05-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Asia, Schengen Agreement, airport, border control, cooperation policy, health legislation, infectious disease

C 280 E/160

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

21.11.2003

Will the Commission be persuading Member States to initiate the checking of all airline filters for
coronavirus (and other micro-organisms) after each journey, given that the SARS PCR test only takes about
4 hours to come through with a result?

Does the Commission accept that with a disease such as SARS, the EU’s defence will only be as strong as
its weakest point (cid:1) i.e. the least effective national measures?

(2003/C 280 E/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1617/03

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 May 2003)

Subject: SARS

In view of the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS virus, urgent action by the Union
authorities is required to devise common protection measures and strengthen cooperation between
Member States.

The Italian Health Minister, Girolamo Sirchia, has called for checks in Europe to be stepped up because,
without close coordination, the open frontiers between the countries of the Schengen area could prove to
be a weak spot in preventing the spread of the epidemic.

It is vital to establish a European health protection strategy at borders, and above all at airports, and to
introduce a health safety code that will have to be enforced by all the countries that are signatories to the
Schengen agreement.

In the light of this, can the Commission indicate what action it intends to take to prevent the spread of the
virus and strengthen coordination between the national authorities?

When does intend to respond to the request from the Italian Government for checks in countries of the
Schengen area to be improved?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1521/03, E-1547/03, P-1604/03, E-1613/03 and E-1617/03
given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(10 June 2003)

The Commission has taken a proactive and leading role in responding to the outbreak of Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

As recently stated by the Council on SARS (6 May 2003), this has been undertaken through the Union
Network for the Epidemiological Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases in the Community
working under the 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), and it has provided a very effective basis for the rapid exchange of information within the
Union and for a co-ordinated response,
in which the European Economic Area/European Free Trade
Association (EEA/EFTA) and Candidate Countries have fully participated in collaboration with the World
Health Organisation (WHO).

The Commission is also keeping regular contact with Europe’s airlines and airports associations, promoting
the exchange of information and good practices on SARS. The air travel industry has been consulted on
their expectations for a Community-wide co-ordination, although it must in any case follow standard
WHO guidelines under the supervision of national health authorities.

The Council, at its extraordinary meeting on SARS, broadly agreed the orientation developed by the
Commission with the assistance of the Network Committee.

21.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 280 E/161

Although the application of health protection measures falls to the authorities of the Member States the
orientation for immediate and future actions will focus on the following issues:

(cid:1) Rapid detection of all suspect cases of SARS through good surveillance.

(cid:1) Protection of those at risk of infection from the cases through effective isolation of SARS patients in

hospitals, including measures to protect carers.

(cid:1) Particular attention to be paid to air travel, which has been an important factor in the spread of SARS,
notably to standardised screening of passengers leaving affected areas, onboard advice to passengers
and effective information at ports of entry from infected areas.

(cid:1) The importance of raising awareness among professionals and public and the timely and accurate
reporting and sharing of information with other countries, in particular EEA/EFTA countries, acceding
and candidate countries and with the WHO. Co-operation should also be developed with other
partners, such as airline companies.

The Council also took note of the Commission’s intention to submit a proposal to create a European
Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

In the case of controls at the external borders, each Member State conducts these controls in accordance
with the provisions of Chapter 2, Title II, of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement, in
particular Article 5, which lists the conditions for granting entry to third country nationals. The correct
application of these provisions is enough to guarantee an adequate level of safety for the Schengen
countries without the need for new control measures at the external borders to deal with the current
situation.

As for the possible reintroduction of controls at internal borders, it should be stressed that it is up to the
Member States to decide whether to take such a decision in accordance with Article 2(2) of
the
Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement. However, given that the source of the problem here is
in third countries, the Commission considers that the correct implementation at airports of the provisions
on controls at the external borders should suffice.

(1) OJ L 268, 3.10.1998.

(2003/C 280 E/179)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1524/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(6 May 2003)

Subject: Compulsory payment of contributions for health care in a Member State other than the state of

residence and the health care services used

Is the Commission aware that the free movement of persons and freedom of establishment has
1.
resulted in many people no longer being dependent on residence in their Member State of origin for their
income, including many pensioners who settle in areas with warm climates and attractive recreational
facilities, such as the coastal areas of Spain?

2.
Is this influx of new residents resulting in a relatively heavy burden being imposed on the Spanish
social security system, which has to meet the needs of local residents on low incomes with few doctors
and facilities, thus resulting in growing waiting lists?

Can the Commission confirm that EU Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 (1) requires persons in receipt of a
3.
pension or social benefit from their Member State of origin to pay contributions in that State to cover
their entitlement to health services in another Member State where they have chosen to live? Does this
mean that people may be required to pay for a much broader or limited package of provisions than is
there is no relation between the level of
available in the Member State where they live, so that