WRITTEN QUESTION E-3148/03 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Support for institutions working with women and girls who are victims of prostitution.
Date: 2003-10-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, Portugal, prostitution, reintegration into working life, sexually transmitted disease, social rehabilitation, socially disadvantaged class

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/223

(2004/C 84 E/0267)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3139/03

by Peter Liese (PPE-DE) to the Council

(23 October 2003)

Subject: EU preparedness in the event of biological attack

The Commission adopted a Communication on Cooperation in the European Union on Preparedness and
Response to Biological and Chemical Agent Attacks on 2 June 2003 (1).

In its Communication, the Commission recommends stockpiling at EU level, but Member States have
shown preference for the development of national stockpiles only. The Communication states ‘the sizes of
the national stockpiles in relation to the national population range from enough to provide a dose for
every citizen in the Member State to enough for one citizen in thirty’ (page 15).

Can the Council explain the reasons for not taking into account the Commission recommendation for a
coordinated Community-level stockpile of smallpox vaccines?

Based on the Council approach, how does the Council
intend to guarantee an equal supply and
distribution of vaccines for all EU citizens, including those in the accession countries, in the event of a
bioterrorism attack?

(1) COM(2003) 320.

Reply

(9 March 2004)

Article 152(5) of the Treaty states that Community action in the field of public health shall fully respect
the responsibilities of the Member States for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical
care.

As mentioned in the Commission’s Communication which the Council received on 5 June 2003, the
Member States have through the Pharmaceutical Committee network and through the Health Security
Committee considered the need for the establishment of a Community stockpile of, inter alia, smallpox
vaccines with the Commission services-pharmaceutical
industry task force. As mentioned in the same
Commission Communication, consultations on options for a Community stockpile or virtual reserve or a
strategic sharing of national stockpiles showed that most Member States would not support either the
establishment of a Community level stockpile of smallpox vaccines or formal arrangements for sharing
national stockpiles. Indeed for different reasons different Member States have until now considered that a
Community level stockpile would not provide added value over the existing and planned national
stockpiles.

Given that this consultation process concerns an area of strictly Member State competence and given that
it took place under the auspices of the Commission and not the Council, the Honourable Member may
wish to take this matter up with the Commission and/or the individual Member States.

(2004/C 84 E/0268)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3148/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(23 October 2003)

Subject: Support for institutions working with women and girls who are victims of prostitution

In Portugal, there are institutions dedicated to the prevention and social integration of women and girls
who are victims of prostitution. Shortage of funding poses real problems.

C 84 E/224

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. What aid has been granted to Portugal under the Daphne programme? Which institutions benefited

from this aid?

2. What other programmes, Community funds or budgetary items could be used by institutions working
on the prevention and social reintegration of women who are victims of prostitution? What subsidies
have been granted to Portugal?

3. What monies have been granted to Portugal in connection with sexually transmitted diseases?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2003)

As regards the first question concerning the Daphne programme, the following information can be
provided.

Since 1997 nine projects carried out by Portuguese organisations were financed under the Daphne
programme for a total of EUR 680 000. Information on each of them is being transmitted direct to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

In addition, 59 Portuguese organisations or local authorities were partners in 32 Daphne projects.

With regard to Community aid for institutions which work on the prevention of prostitution and the
social reintegration of women who are victims of prostitution, the European Social Fund can co-finance (cid:1)
under the Community Support Framework (CSF) III (cid:1) measures for the benefit of disadvantaged groups in
general. Special reference should be made to the operational programme ‘employment, training and social
development’, which, in section five on social development, provides for measures to encourage social and
occupational integration of the most vulnerable groups in society.

With regard to Community action in relation to sexually transmissible diseases, the main financing tool at
present is the ‘public health’ action programme (2003-2008). The Commission has not yet taken a final
for proposals under this
decision on the projects accepted for financing following an initial call
programme and so cannot yet state its position on participation by Portugal. With regard to precursor
programmes, and in particular the programme on the prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS), the projects financed by the Community usually cover almost all Member States. Given that the
Community aid is granted to the project coordinator, who, for his part, is responsible for distributing it to
the project partners, the Commission cannot put a figure on the amount of aid granted to the Portuguese
partners under this programme.

(2004/C 84 E/0269)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3206/03

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Council

(30 October 2003)

Subject: Search made of the offices of the newspaper ‘Il Giornale’: violation of press freedom in Italy

On Friday, 17 October 2003 the main office of ‘Il Giornale’, the major Italian daily which is currently
investigating the takeover of Telekom Serbia by Telecom Italia, was searched by decision of the Perugia
Public Prosecutor’s Office. The search by the police forces lasted 13 hours, at the end of which a
considerable amount of material belonging to journalist Gian Marco Chiocci was confiscated. It is believed
that the only charge against the journalist is that of defamation of a Rome magistrate via the press.

Does the Council consider that these decisions represent a blatant violation of freedom of the press and
freedom of expression?