WRITTEN QUESTION E-3748/03 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Update on use of funding from the Life III programme by the municipality of Prato.
Date: 2003-12-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, eligibility criteria, environmental protection, local government, project evaluation

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/739

Are there plans to develop similar database in other EU Member States? Given that EU citizens can travel
freely on national identity cards even outside the Schengen area, what plans are there to standarize these
documents throughout the EU? For instance, allowing the information to be readable by machine and
recorded on the card in addition to the issuing authorities official
language also in an international
language, such as English and French, in order to facilitate their usage as EU-wide travel documents and
enable ready recognition by the immigration and police authority outside of the citizens’ Member State of
origin?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(16 January 2004)

At European level, the Thessaloniki European Council (19/20 June 2003) called for a coherent approach in
the Union on biometric identifiers or biometric data which would result in harmonised solutions for
documents for third country nationals, Union citizens’ passports and information systems (VIS and SIS II),
and invited the Commission ‘to prepare the appropriate proposals, starting with the visa’.

As a first step, the Commission presented in September 2003 two proposals (1) on the integration of two
biometric identifiers, the facial
into the uniform format for visa and the
residence permit for third country nationals.

image and two fingerprints,

As a second stage, the Commission is considering the feasibility of a proposal on the harmonisation of the
security features of the European Passport including biometrics. Such an eventual proposal would relate
only to provisions which improve the security of the passport by harmonising, and rendering legally
binding, common security features which are currently set out in a non-binding Resolution of the
Representatives of Member States meeting within the Council. Furthermore, biometric identifiers would be
integrated. The exercise to be undertaken would not go beyond what is required for security reasons and
for the control of citizens crossing the external borders; a new harmonisation of the cover of the European
passport is not at all foreseen.

For the time being, apart from the above mentioned initiatives, the Commission does not intend to present
further proposals on the identity card or a European database related to the individual biometric data of
Union citizens.

Initiatives in view of setting up such a database for national citizens fall under the competence of Member
States.

(1) COM(2003) 558 final.

(2004/C 84 E/0834)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3748/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(10 December 2003)

Subject: Update on use of funding from the Life III programme by the municipality of Prato

In its answer to question E-1057/03 (1), which asked whether the municipality of Prato had submitted
projects and secured funding under the Life III programme, the Commission stated that one proposal had
been submitted but that the results of the assessment would be available in September 2003.

Can the Commission now say whether the project submitted was actually funded and, if not, why it was
not considered suitable?

(1) OJ C 280 E, 21.11.2003, p. 104.

C 84 E/740

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(20 January 2004)

the proposal submitted under the LIFE III
The Commission informs the Honourable Member that
Programme for 2003 by the municipality of Prato (LIFE03 ENV/IT/000360) was not co-financed.
The reasons are given in the Commission’s letter of 8 September 2003. The proposal failed criterion
‘Coherence and quality’.

(2004/C 84 E/0835)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3832/03

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 December 2003)

Subject: Global Drug Facility

Is the Commission aware that the Global Drug Facility, which has provided 1,9 million patients in
46 countries with free anti-TB drugs
shortfall of
USD 27,7 million? What are the present and planned levels of EU support for the GDF? What assurances
can the Commission give that the EU is providing sufficient resources to deal with the GDF’s present
financial shortfall?

in only 26 months, now faces a financial

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2004)

The Commission is aware of the role of the Global Tuberculosis (TB) Drug Facility and its constraints.

As regards tuberculosis in developing countries, the Commission developed in 2000 a broad and strategic
approach towards confronting human immuno deificiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(HIV/AIDS), malaria and tuberculosis. The consultations around the High Level Round Table held in
September 2000 led to the Programme for Action: Accelerated action on HIV/AIDS, malaria and
tuberculosis in the context of poverty reduction, which established a coherent Community response for
2001-2006 (1). The Communication’s groundbreaking strategy builds on the experience of a compre-
hensive approach, the principle of country-led development process (cid:1) ownership (cid:1) and the interrelation-
ship of health and poverty and its implications for macroeconomic policy and development. It incorporates
the crucial global elements of partnerships in development,
trade and research. Within this policy
framework, the Commission uses a number of instruments in the fight against tuberculosis in developing
countries: national and regional indicative programmes through programme, sector or budget support;
emergency interventions by the European Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO); research programmes by the
Directorate General for Research and Technological Development (DG RTD); the thematic budget line to
fight poverty-related diseases and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) co-financing budget
lines.
Altogether, the various development, humanitarian and research EC programmed support to combat HIV/
AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, will total close to EUR 1 200 million (annual average of EUR 300 million)
for the period 2003-2006. This represents a four-fold increase from the annual average of EUR 73 million
in the previous 1994-2001 period.

Regarding the request for the Community to increase the support to the Global Drug Facility (GDF), the
Commission has to consider many competing demands. The Commission is at present discussing the
content of the Strategic Partnership with the World Health Organisation, which includes the priority area
of communicable diseases where issues related to the GDF could be considered.

(1) COM(2001) 96 final.