WRITTEN QUESTION P-0244/04 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission. Spanish National Hydrological Plan — cost and price of water.
Date: 2004-01-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, average price, cost analysis, economic analysis, hydrology, water supply

C 84 E/180

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

In Switzerland, for instance, it is 29,4 %, in France 9,8 %, in Spain 8,4 %, in Germany 5,2 % and in the
United Kingdom 4,6 %. In Italy the percentage of patients offered treatment is 5 %.

1.

Is the Commission aware of these figures, which reflect an emergency health problem in Europe?

Has the Commission made arrangements, in cooperation with the health services of the Member

2.
States, to monitor the incidence of Parkinson’s disease in the European population?

Does the Commission consider it necessary to launch an information campaign on Parkinson’s

3.
disease in view of the advisability of early treatment to slow down progression of the disease?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2004)

The prevalence of Parkinson’s disease rises from 0,6 % at age 65 to 3,5 % at age 85 and above, with
1.
no great difference between men and women. It is one of the most common neuro-degenerative diseases
of the elderly. The differences between countries do not seem to be significant (data available for Spain,
France, Italy and the Netherlands, 1997) (Source: Public health in the EU, Sanco C, 2003).

There is no convincing evidence of differences in rates of prevalence in the countries of Europe. Estimates
suggest that approximately 400 000 men and 540 000 women of 65 and above living in the EU have
Parkinson’s disease. However, a substantial proportion of patients with Parkinson’s disease remains
undetected among the general population.

The Commission funded a study in 1998 on hospital discharges in certain EU countries for Alzheimer’s
and other neuro-degenerative diseases (including Parkinson’s), but covering different periods. The results
show the degree of hospitalisation for Parkinson’s disease to be very low.

Parkinson’s disease represents a serious health situation, as indeed do all the other disabling diseases
associated with the ageing of the population. Moreover, ‘health and ageing’ is actually one of the priority
themes in the Community Public Health Programme work plan 2004, strand 1, Health Information.

Apart from the abovementioned initiatives, the theme of neuro-degenerative diseases (including
2.
Parkinson’s) was not addressed, or was addressed only very marginally, in the previous health surveillance
programme (the sole exception was Alzheimer’s disease).

The new Community Public Health Programme 2003-2008 provides for the implementation of a disease
information and surveillance system. A specific working group on major and chronic diseases has been set
up, and its work will cover, ‘inter alia’, neuro-degenerative diseases.

The Community Public Health Programme opens up funding opportunities for activities designed to

3.
implement the Programme’s objectives. A call for proposals is due to be published shortly.

(2004/C 84 E/0220)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0244/04

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

(27 January 2004)

Subject: Spanish National Hydrological Plan (cid:1) cost and price of water

The water costs envisaged in Law No 10/2001 of 5 July 2003 on the Spanish National Hydrological Plan
(NHP) differ significantly from the average cost estimated in independent studies such as that by the
Fundación Nueva Cultura del Agua, which indicates that the average cost passed on to users will be
EUR 0,45 per cubic metre of water, while the figures from the Spanish Government, which defends the
economic and environmental viability of the NHP, show that cost to be EUR 0,205.

3.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/181

Given the inaccuracies and differences that exist between the economic studies presented by the Spanish
Government and those presented by experts from other organisations, the European Commission has
asked the Spanish Government to provide additional information on the price and cost of water from the
Ebro transfer.

Does the Commission consider that the Spanish Government has provided justification for the cost of a
cubic metre of water transferred from the Ebro being lower in Murcia or Almeria (cid:1) after hundreds of
kilometres and various pumping operations (cid:1) than in Barcelona? Does it consider the prices and costs that
appear in the NHP economic analysis to constitute covert subsidising of economic output and activities in
certain Community regions, in unfair competition with those in other areas?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 2004)

With regard to the projected costs of water to be delivered by the proposed Ebro transfer, the Commission
is aware of the differences in the cost projections made on the one hand by the Government of Spain and
on the other hand by organisations such as the Foundation for a New Water Culture.

The Commission is also aware that the projected price of water to be paid by private users in Barcelona
may be considerably higher than the price of water delivered to farmers in Almeria and Murcia.
Traditionally across the EU, the price paid by individual water consumers is considerably higher than the
prices paid by farmers.

Article 9 of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EEC of the Parliament and of the Council
of 23 October 2000, establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (1))
imposes upon Member States the obligation to respect the principle of cost recovery for water services, to
use price incentives to encourage efficient water use and to achieve an equitable balance of the cost burden
between different water users. However, in deciding their pricing arrangements, Member States may take
into account social and economic considerations as well as geographic and climatic conditions.

In December 2003, the Commission received four separate but related requests for Community funds to
support the building of the infrastructure for the Ebro transfer. The Commission is currently evaluating
these requests in the light of the rules and procedures which apply to the structural funds and the cohesion
fund. Part of this evaluation includes an assessment of the economic and financial justification for the
projects.

(1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.

(2004/C 84 E/0221)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0245/04

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 January 2004)

Subject: Impact assessment of OPTA decisions

The European Telecoms package is currently being implemented in the Netherlands by means of a new
Telecoms law. This new law gives OPTA, the Netherlands Telecoms regulator, greater powers.

In November 2003 the Second Chamber adopted an amendment resulting in ex-ante control of OPTA’s
decisions. OPTA will be required to carry out an impact assessment of any far-reaching decision, indicating
the repercussions of the measure on a firm and setting out the alternatives.

Ex-post control of OPTA already exists in that any firm can challenge an OPTA decision in the courts.
Furthermore, OPTA is required to submit its decisions to the other European Telecoms regulators.