WRITTEN QUESTION E-4033/03 by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission. Censoring of the word condom in the Commission's official press release to mark World Aids Day at the request of Mr Prodi's office.
Date: 2004-01-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: AIDS, European Commission, censorship, disease prevention, press release, public awareness campaign

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/135

The Commission does not have an official position concerning whether or not the euro will continue to
the Commission does not have an official position
appreciate over the coming months. Similarly,
concerning what exchange rate of
the economic
fundamentals of the United States and euro-area economies.

the dollar would best

the euro against

reflect

(2004/C 84 E/0173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4032/03

by Geoffrey Van Orden (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 January 2004)

Subject: UK contribution to the EU budget

What is the UK’s gross contribution to the EU budget since it became a member in 1973?

How much money has the UK received from the EU budget since it became a member in 1973?

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2004)

A table showing:

(cid:1) the United Kingdom’s gross contribution (total United Kingdom payments, after deduction of the

United Kingdom budgetary rebate) to the Community budget during the period 1973-2002;

(cid:1) total funds received by the United Kingdom from the Community budget during the period 1985-

2002; as well as;

(cid:1) the amount of the United Kingdom correction relating to each of the years 1985-2002;

is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

Figures on total funds received by the United Kingdom from the Community budget are only available
from 1985, i.e. since the entry into effect of the current United Kingdom correction mechanism.

(2004/C 84 E/0174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4033/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(12 January 2004)

Subject: Censoring of the word ‘condom’ in the Commission’s official press release to mark World Aids

Day at the request of Mr Prodi’s office

The 11-17 December 2003 edition of the weekly ‘European Voice’ published an article entitled ‘Prodi bans
condoms’, according to which the Commission’s press service was about to publish an official press release
to mark World Aids Day when a telephone call came from Mr Prodi’s office with orders to delete the word
‘condom’ from the statement.

In his answer of 10 December 2003 to written question E-3115/03 (1) the Commissioner Christopher
Patten said ‘On the basis of research conducted during the last 15 years and partly funded by the
Community, it can be claimed that condoms, when used properly, are an effective means of preventing
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, with an efficacy close to 100 %’.

Can the Commission say:

(cid:1) whether the report published in the ‘European Voice’ is true;

C 84 E/136

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

(cid:1) if so, what prompted President Prodi’s office to remove the word ‘condom’ from the press release;

(cid:1) if Mr Prodi’s office does not have access to any scientific findings contradicting those quoted by the
Commissioner, on the basis of what political assessment was the word ‘condom’ deleted from the
press release?

(1) See page 50.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(6 February 2004)

The Commission did not consider it worthwhile to refute the claims of the newspaper mentioned since its
position on this question has long been clear.

For example, it would refer to its answer to Written Question E-3115/03 by Mr Turco (1) and to its press
release of 20 October 2003 entitled ‘HIV/AIDS: European research provides clear proof that HIV virus
cannot pass through condoms’ (2). This document, which is being sent direct to the Honourable Member
and to Parliament’s Secretariat, covers the results of research projects financed by the Directorate-General
for Research (RTD) over the last fifteen years. All the available data confirm that condoms are extremely
effective in preventing HIV transmission.

(1) See page 50.
(2) http://europa.eu.int/rapid/cgi/rapcgi.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/03/1410|0|AGED&lg=EN&display=

(2004/C 84 E/0175)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-4034/03

by Kyösti Virrankoski (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Protecting people and livestock against wolves and bears

(5 January 2004)

Wolves and bears are strictly protected in the EU. However, in some areas of Finland large numbers of
these wild animals exist, and they pose a real danger to people, especially children. Livestock/domestic
animals are also in danger, as there is no satisfactory method of keeping wild animals away.

Particularly dangerous are wild animals which have become accustomed to being near people. In the
Northern Karelia province of Finland, for example, there are herds of wolves whose behaviour has
changed. They are not afraid of people but on the contrary seek out prey in the immediate vicinity of
human settlements. This year, for instance, wolves have already mauled a dozen cattle, sheep and dogs.
In some areas, children do not dare to walk to school, so either parents have to drive them or the
municipality has to organise transport to and from school.

Large wild animals are exceptionally numerous in Northern Karelia because the wildernesses in Russian
Karelia, beyond Finland’s eastern border, are a constant source of new animals, while on the other hand
the large lakes prevent them from spreading to the west. In fact, despite this, populations of large wild
animals have grown significantly throughout Finland in recent years.

Very few shooting licences are issued for wolves and bears. The issuing of hunting licences is based on
average wild animal populations in Finland. No account whatsoever is taken of wild animal populations
beyond the Russian border. Accordingly, the police have had to kill a wild animal in the middle of a
settlement in the interests of public safety, because the appropriate authorities have not been able to issue
the requisite licence.

1. What will the Commission do to make it possible to guarantee the safety of people and their animals
in areas where wolves and bears have grown too numerous?