WRITTEN QUESTION P-3023/03 by Anders Wijkman (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Combating meningitis in Africa.
Date: 2003-10-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Africa, ECHO, EU aid, disease prevention, health aid, vaccination

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/447

Adherence by the gypsy community to its traditions in cases such as this constitutes flagrant violation of
the human rights of children belonging to the gypsy community who are not asked whether and whom
they wish to marry but are compelled by force to comply with the choice of their male relatives. This is
tolerated if not actually covered up by the Government, which chooses not to implement its own laws,
particularly regarding the Roma. For example, the legal age for marriage in Romania is 18 while, under
certain conditions, it may be allowed at the age of 16. Concerning the Roma community, however, the
authorities tend to turn a blind eye, allowing the practice of forced marriages such as that referred to
above to be perpetuated.

it make to the Romanian
What measures will the Commission take and what representations will
Government with a view to protecting the human rights of underage members of the gypsy community
given that Romania’s application for European Union membership must denote a significant step forward
by the country regarding the protection of human rights?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(24 October 2003)

The Commission is aware of the traditional Roma wedding of two minors that recently took place in
Romania. This wedding does not have legal force because the two minors have not reached the legal age
for marriage under Romanian law.

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that the Child Protection Department of the
province where the traditional wedding took place reached an agreement with the parents concerned. As a
result both children have returned to their parents’ homes, they will go to school and will attend
counselling sessions at the Child Protection Service until they reach the legal age of marriage.

(2004/C 88 E/0456)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3023/03

by Anders Wijkman (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 October 2003)

Subject: Combating meningitis in Africa

Meningitis epidemics frequently occur in Africa, killing and permanently disabling thousands of people.
The emergence of a new strain of the meningitis bacteria (cid:1) W135 (cid:1) has rendered the traditionally used
vaccine insufficient, if not useless. In record time, a public-private partnership, under the leadership of
WHO, has been able to produce a vaccine against the new strain. In order to ensure an effective response
in the case of a likely outbreak in parts of Africa early in 2004, a stock of several million doses of the new
vaccine will be needed. The estimated cost for an effective preparedness programme is estimated at
EUR 8,5 million. Most of that money has to be spent immediately and cannot wait for an epidemic to
occur.

What will be the role of the EU in the efforts to prevent a serious meningitis epidemic in the so-called
meningitis belt countries in the short term?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2003)

The European Commission is aware of
particularly in view of the emergence of the new W-135 strain.

the worrying situation of meningitis epidemics in Africa,

C 88 E/448

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

for

The European Community is supporting in West Africa, the region worst affected, the regional programme
‘Support
the Strengthening of vaccine independence in Africa d’Appui au reinforcement de
l’Independence Vaccinale en Afrique’. This programme strengthens the co-ordination amongst countries
in the region to the management and mobilisation of vaccine stocks, in collaboration with WHO. This
programme, in collaboration with ECHO, proved itself most effective in the last yellow fever epidemics in
the region, and could also support related activities for meningitis epidemics.

At present a health sector programme under the West Africa Regional Strategy (EUR 15 million) is being
identified by the European Commission and we are exploring the possibilities on preparedness (including
vaccine stocks), early detection and response to the main epidemics (including meningitis) in the region.
More efficient prevention would come from extending trivalent vaccine to endemic countries through
strategies such as those supported by GAVI and others in the region, but there are still technical difficulties
in the immunogenicity of this vaccine for children and hence its inclusion in the Expanded Programme of
Immunization. The European Community is also supporting research into more effective and appropriate
meningitis vaccines.

The European Community also has a clear strategy in Disaster Preparedness and Prevention (DPP) in place
and there is a need to increase DPP support from our regular programming (A or B envelops), subject to
the prioritization by our partner countries.

During the last year, the European Community funded interventions in response to outbreaks of meningitis
in Africa for a total of EUR 920 000 through ECHO. The bulk of this contribution was directed to the
purchasing of around 600 000 doses of meningitis vaccines, most of the Trivalent ACW including the
classical A and C serotypes, and the new resistant strain W135. At present ECHO is designing a one-year
programme to react more rapidly to epidemics in the region. The Commission is also contributing to
essential prevention and care services which will be the basis for long term capacities in early warning,
detection and reaction to epidemics in the region.

In the framework of humanitarian interventions dealt with by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), as a
general principle no pre-positioning of stocks can be financed in connection with the forecast of a
potential humanitarian emergency. ECHO’s policy is to tackle identified needs in a given humanitarian
crisis, and resources are speedily mobilised through ECHO implementing partners when emergencies break
out, upon presentation of operational proposals by humanitarian organisations. Costs incurred by partners
that fall within the operational period are financed by ECHO, which may also consider the cost of
products purchased and put into stock before the grant is signed and for which later distribution takes
place, provided that these stocks are used within the contract period and in the framework of the financed
operation.

(2004/C 88 E/0457)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3057/03

by Bartho Pronk (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Subject: Human rights situation in Guatemala, particularly the situation of Mr Rogoberto Dueñas Morales

1.
Is the Commission aware of the disappearance of Mr Rogoberto Dueñas Morales, deputy Secretary-
General of the Unión Autónoma de Campesinos and deputy Secretary-General of the Central General de
Trabajadores de Guatemala?

2.
Is the Commission aware that his disappearance is probably connected to the fact that he raised the
question of government-linked corrupt practices in the Guatemalan social security system, for which the
government is partly responsible?