WRITTEN QUESTION E-2797/03 by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Combating legionnaires' disease.
Date: 2003-09-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: health control, health policy, health risk, infectious disease, information network, respiratory disease, travel agency

C 78 E/756

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

(2004/C 78 E/0803)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2767/03

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 September 2003)

Subject: NGO funding

Can the EU Commission fund organisations which support or participate in the management of a
programme of coercive abortion?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 2003)

The Commission’s policy on abortion is based on a set of principles adopted through a series of major
development conferences over recent years,
including the 1994 Cairo International Conference on
Population and Development (ICPD) and ICPD plus five. All 15 Member States of the Union have endorsed
the ICPD Programme of Action.

Accordingly, the Commission supports the right of men and women to make a free and informed choice
about the number and spacing of their children, to have access to good family planning and sexual health
services, and to have access to skilled care during birth.

The Commission regards national legislation as paramount when it comes to the question of abortion
being performed within the formal health care system. It does not support abortion policies as a means to
limit population growth in developing countries and it is strongly opposed to forced abortion.

The Union has recently adopted a Regulation (EC) No 1567/2003 of the Parliament and of the Council of
15 July 2003, on aid for policies and actions on reproductive and sexual health and rights in developing
countries (1). This regulation provides the basis for financing projects in developing countries. In selecting
the beneficiaries for Community funding open tendering procedures are applied. The Commission
considers the activity for which the funds were authorised, not the whole range of activities carried out by
the beneficiary organisation.

(1) OJ L 224, 6.9.2003.

(2004/C 78 E/0804)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2797/03

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2003)

Subject: Combating legionnaires’ disease

According to the guidelines which have to be followed, if a single case of legionnaires’ disease is reported
(cid:1) defined as ‘cases who in the ten days before onset of illness stayed at or visited an accommodation site
that has not been associated with any other cases of legionnaires’ disease, or cases who stayed at an
accommodation site linked to other cases of legionnaires’ disease but more than two years previously’ (cid:1)
travel organisations need not inform travellers. However, in this situation there are grounds for suspecting
the presence of legionella in the building concerned, so a report of a single case is serious enough to
warrant an insistence that measures be taken in relation to the accommodation site.

After a report of a cluster of cases of the disease, the authorities have two weeks to submit a provisional
report to the EWGLI. If no provisional report has been received within this time limit, the accommodation
site is listed on the EWGLI website.

1. Where a single case of legionnaires’ disease is reported, does the Commission consider that, in view
of the life-threatening nature of the disease, it is desirable for a travel organisation to provide the fullest
possible information to travellers, and if so,
is the provision of information for which the guidelines
currently provide too limited?

27.3.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/757

2. Where a cluster of cases of legionnaires’ disease is reported, does the Commission consider that, in
view of the life-threatening nature of the disease, it is desirable for a travel organisation to provide the
fullest possible information to travellers, and if so, is the two-week period too long?

3. Will the Commission submit a proposal for rules on the provision of information on cases of
legionnaires’ disease in order to avert deaths?

If the Commission intends to submit such a proposal, will it incorporate these rules in a legislative

4.
proposal?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 2003)

information to travellers and action by national authorities concerning
Guidelines on reporting cases,
legionnaires’ disease outbreaks have been proposed by the technical experts of the European Working
Group for Legionella Infections Network (Ewglinet). Such guidelines are not mandatory for the authorities
and organisations concerned but they can contribute to establishing a basis for decisions and action aimed
at providing a high-level of health protection.

Co-operation through the Ewglinet has helped fight legionnaires’ disease and represents a significant
advance. There is, however, no consensus among the authorities concerned as to how the guidelines
proposed by the experts can serve as the basis for regulatory provisions that have subsequently to be
enforced.

The Commission has provided support to Ewglinet and works to achieve a common approach among the
authorities represented in its Communicable Disease Network Committee, established under 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), to enable the
formulation of guidelines on the basis of scientific and technical advice that will take into account the
proposals cited in the question.

(1) OJ L 268, 3.10.1998.

(2004/C 78 E/0805)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2801/03

by Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(19 September 2003)

Subject: Special tolls in France and Germany for the transport of goods by road

The announcement that the French and German authorities will shortly impose special tolls for lorries
travelling through those countries on the motorways is likely to cause justified alarm in the Murcia region
(Spain), particularly in the farming industry, since it might have adverse effects on the transport of fruit
and vegetables from Murcia to various EU countries.

1.

Is the Council aware of this situation?

Does the Council not consider it appropriate to demand that

2.
implemented, given that the charges are discriminatory and damaging?

this measure should not be

Does the Council take the view that these French and German measures may violate the free

3.
movement and transport of goods in the EU?