WRITTEN QUESTION E-3470/03 by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission. Health risk reports relating to Tetrapol use.
Date: 2003-11-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: health risk, non-ionising radiation, telecommunications, transmission network

C 84 E/736

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

(2004/C 84 E/0829)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3470/03

by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission

(21 November 2003)

Subject: Health risk reports relating to Tetrapol use

Could the Commission inform us whether there have been reports in any European countries of health
risks and illnesses as the result of the use of Tetrapol in relation to the use of handsets and/or from people
working or living near the masts?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3464/03 and E-3470/03
given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(18 December 2003)

GSM, TETRA, Tetrapol (and UMTS) technologies are used by networks providing mobile communications
services.

Tetrapol is a technology, which competes in the market for private mobile communications services, for
instance with the TETRA technology. Information on the roll-out of Tetrapol is published on the Tetrapol
Forum website. Information on the networks in Europe is found under: (http://www.tetrapol.com/www/
corp/references.php?id_zone=4&id_industrie=0&x=10&y=13).

The Commission is not aware of any reports of health risks and illnesses relating to the use of Tetrapol
handsets and/or from people working or living near the Tetrapol masts. The existing regulatory framework
in the Union and in Member States, such as applied for GSM and TETRA masts and handsets, is technology
neutral and also appropriate for the Tetrapol technology. It provides for a high protection of health for our
citizens. The Honourable Member is further referred to the response of the Commission to the large
number of questions on this matter, recently to written questions E-3076/03 by Mr Meijer (1), E-3042/02
by Mr Miller (2) and H-0594/03 by Mr Papayannakis during question time at Parliament’s October 2003
session (3).

(1) OJ C 70 E, 20.3.2004, p. 211.
(2) See page 499.
(3) Written reply, 21.10.2003.

(2004/C 84 E/0830)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3471/03

by Miquel Mayol i Raynal (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Buildings in ‘Es Trenc-Salobrar de Campos’

(21 November 2003)

The present Majorcan Regional Government (Consell de Mallorca) and the Autonomous Government of
the Balearic Islands (Govern de les Illes Balears), having abandoned a scheme for building a polo ground
and additional accommodation for 3 000 people right next to Es Trenc-Salobrar de Campos, have now
decided to approve the building of a 300-bed thermal hospital and clinic within the Es Trenc-Salobrar de
Campos special bird protection area and site of community interest (code no: ES0000037).

Has the Spanish Government consulted the Commission with regard to this scheme, in accordance with
Article 6(3) and (4) of the Habitats Directive?

Does the Commission believe that this building scheme within the special bird protection area and site of
Community interest is compatible with the provisions of the Habitat Directive?

What steps, if appropriate, does the Commission intend to take?