WRITTEN QUESTION P-3660/03 by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission. Tragic state of health of children in Chechnya.
Date: 2003-12-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: ECHO, Russia, aid policy, child protection, fact-finding mission, health aid, humanitarian aid

C 78 E/624

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Can the Commission establish to what extent au pairs are similarly exploited in other Member States?

How will the Commission tackle this practice, bearing in mind, inter alia, the growing uncertainty about
the safeguarding of au pairs’ rights (cid:1) irrespective of their own responsibility (cid:1) and in view of the
Commission’s duty to encourage close cooperation among the Member States in the field of social policy
(Article 136 in conjunction with Article 140 of the EC Treaty)?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(23 January 2004)

There is no specific Community legislation aimed at au pairs. In so far as they are considered to be
workers according to the definition in the country where they work, they are, in general, covered by the
existing labour law directives.

The Commission has through Recommendation 85/64/EEC of 20 December 1984 (1), recommended that
Member States sign and ratify the European agreement of the Council of Europe of 24 November 1969 on
au pair placement. Based on the information the Commission has received so far regarding the situation of
au pairs, it has not been considered necessary to take any further specific actions.

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.1985.

(2004/C 78 E/0659)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3660/03

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(2 December 2003)

Subject: Tragic state of health of children in Chechnya

Mr Hasan Gadayev, head of the maternity and child health department of the pro-Russian Chechen
administration, has stated that more than 80 % of the children in Chechnya have health problems. This
information was made public as part of a health survey covering the entire territory of the Russian
Federation during which 320 000 children underwent routine medical check-ups in Chechnya. According
to Mr Gadayev, the problems are mostly of a neurological and psychological nature, although many
children also suffer from anaemia and endocrinological and gastrointestinal problems. Furthermore, more
than 40 % of children suffer from pathologies affecting sight and hearing, while 70 % of those examined
have tuberculosis. In the long list of adverse factors affecting the health of youngsters, Mr Gadayev
emphasised the interruption of their schooling, the existence of overcrowded classrooms and the lack of
hot meals and exercise. He concluded by pointing out that the consequences of the war will unfortunately
have a major impact on the health of Chechen children for many years. Although entirely familiar with
this disastrous situation, neither the Commissioner for humanitarian aid nor the President of
the
Commission have ever felt it necessary to visit Chechnya in order to make an accurate assessment of needs
and devise possible measures with a view to finding solutions to such a tragedy.

Does the President or a Member of the Commission plan to visit Chechnya before the end of the present
Commission’s term of office in order to gather all the information necessary for framing an extraordinary
Union initiative capable of providing practical answers to the humanitarian tragedy taking place there?
In particular, what specific measures does the Commission at long last plan to take in order to provide
effective help for Chechen children who are facing a disastrous situation in terms of health? Lastly, does it
plan to recommend that Member States adopt a joint measure aimed at organising an extraordinary
humanitarian operation with the objective of accommodating thousands of Chechen children in need of
special care in the health structures of the EU Member States?

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/625

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(28 January 2004)

The Commission is aware of, and concerned by, the humanitarian situation in the north Caucasus.
The impact of the ongoing conflict in Chechnya on ordinary citizens (cid:1) and in particular children (cid:1) is
deeply disturbing.

The Commission (cid:1) via the European Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) (cid:1) is the largest donor of
humanitarian aid in the north Caucasus, with EUR 110 million committed since 1999. Significant funding
has already been allocated for efforts to improve the poor health infrastructure in Chechnya as well as to
provide safe drinking water and improve sanitation conditions for local
inhabitants. Specific health
programmes for children are going on in four locations in Grozny. This will continue and will soon be
expanded to six locations. It is certainly hoped that these efforts will over time contribute to improve the
very poor state of health of the civilian population in Chechnya, but as long as the population continues
to live in such poor conditions, the impact of these programmes on the general health situation will be
limited.

The Commission notes that the Member of the Commission responsible for Development and Humani-
tarian Aid visited the north Caucasus in 2000. It regrets that (cid:1) due to difficult security conditions in this
area (cid:1) more high-level visits have not been possible so far. It takes this opportunity to underline the fact
that ECHO tries to undertake regular missions to Chechnya to assess in detail and at expert level the needs
of the population there, in order to consider how best it can help to improve the humanitarian situation,
in particular with regard to children. The extent of the programmes undertaken in Chechnya and the
regularity of visits there, are however, highly dependent on security conditions in the region.

(2004/C 78 E/0660)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3671/03

by Joost Lagendijk (Verts/ALE)
and Arie Oostlander (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 December 2003)

Subject: Further cooperation in the fight against terrorism

Turkey recently suffered terrorist attacks on two synagogues on 15 November and on the British Consulate
and the HSBC headquarters in Istanbul on 20 November 2003.

Does the Commission see any further possibility of extending cooperation with Turkey in the fight against
terrorism, given that these attacks could impede the reform process in Turkey?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2004)

The Commission is already providing assistance in a number of the areas defined by the United Nations
(UN) as essential in the fight against terrorism, notably capacity building for the police, border control,
customs and immigration services. In addition, the co-operation with Turkey in the fight against terrorism
will be further extended through a twinning project which will start in early 2004 to strengthen the
Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK). This body has administrative, regulatory and supervisory
powers concerning the identification of suspicious transactions related to money laundering and the
financing of terrorism.

The twinning will analyse current Turkish legislation on money laundering, confiscation and forfeiture of
proceeds related to financing of terrorism and draft proposals for improvements, will develop co-operation
between all agencies involved in the fight against money laundering, and will train personnel.