WRITTEN QUESTION E-0080/04 by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission. Rheumatism and Biomed programme.
Date: 2004-01-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, EU research policy, chronic illness, health policy, medical research, research project

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/759

The Commission will request further information from the Spanish Authorities in order to ensure that
European environmental legislation is properly applied.

(1) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora,

OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2) Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for

Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.

(3) Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private
projects on the environment, OJ L 175, 5.7.1985 as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997,
OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(2004/C 84 E/0854)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0077/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(20 January 2004)

Subject: Waste water treatment in Ireland

What response, if any, has the Commission received from the Irish Government in relation to the final
written warning it sent to the Irish Government in July (IP/03/1108) regarding the treatment of urban
waste water? What is the Commission’s attitude to the Irish Government’s response and what action is it
now taking or proposing to take in this matter?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(2 March 2004)

The Commission notified a Reasoned Opinion to Ireland on 7 October 2002 with regard to Council
Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment (1). In 2003, Ireland sent
two responses to this Reasoned Opinion. These responses are still under consideration.

(1) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991.

(2004/C 84 E/0855)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0080/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(20 January 2004)

Subject: Rheumatism and Biomed programme

According to the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), more than 50 % of Europe’s population
suffer, at one time or another, from an acute or chronic rheumatic disease. Has the Commission given
consideration to including the combating of rheumatic diseases as a theme under the Biomed programme
and if so, what conclusions has it come to?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(17 February 2004)

The Commission’s commitment in rheumatic diseases research is evident in eight on-going projects related
to rheumatic diseases, financed with an EU financial contribution of more than EUR 11 million under the
5th Framework Programme on Research and Technological Development. The results of these projects are
expected from 2004 onwards.

C 84 E/760

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

In the 6th Framework Programme (FP) health related research is mainly financed under priority one ‘life
sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health’. This programme focuses on basic research in functional
genomics, applications of genomics and biotechnology, and applications related to medicine and health
care. Already under the first call of priority one of the 6th FP a project related to tissue and cell
engineering, which has a strong relevance for rheumatic diseases, has been selected and is currently under
negotiation. The outcome of the second call, with a closure date of 13 November 2003, will be available
mid-2004.

The Commission is defining at present topics to be considered for future calls of this priority with its
scientific programme advisory group and its programme committee. It is the intention of the Commission
to propose another topic for research related to rheumatic diseases in a later call of priority 1.

(2004/C 84 E/0856)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0081/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(20 January 2004)

Subject: Implementation of IPPC Directive in Ireland

What response if any, has the Commission received from the Irish Government in response to the final
written warning sent
to Ireland in July 2003 (as announced in IP/03/1049) concerning the Irish
Government’s failure to properly implement the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive
(Council Directive 96/61/EC (1))? What action is the Commission taking or proposing to take in this
regard?

(1) OJ L 257, 10.10.1996, p. 26.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(11 March 2004)

The Commission notified a Reasoned Opinion to Ireland on 11 July 2003 with regard to the
incompleteness of national legislation to implement Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24 September 1996
concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (1). On 29 July 2003, Ireland sent new legislation,
namely the Protection of the Environment Act, 2003, which, according to Ireland, correctly transposes the
Directive. However, it appears that further secondary legislation is needed with regard to Article 6 of the
Directive. In addition, requirements of the new Act need to be formally commenced with commencement
orders. These outstanding elements are still awaited, and the Commission is considering the next
appropriate steps to take.

(1) OJ L 257, 10.10.1996.

(2004/C 84 E/0857)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0092/04

by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission

(21 January 2004)

Subject: Evolution of electricity prices, investment in the energy sector

The German newspaper Handelsblatt reports on pages 1 and 9 of its 7 January 2004 edition that the
energy company RWE is profiting from greatly increased electricity prices. In the Austrian Standard of
2 January 2004 the chairman of the board of EVN calls for a rise in network prices with a view to
improve chances of achieving a minimum profit of 7 % on invested capital.