WRITTEN QUESTION P-0392/04 by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission. The EU's continuing capacity to receive large quotas of immigrants from third-world countries.
Date: 2004-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU migration policy, immigration, integration of migrants, labour shortage, migratory movement, population ageing

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Official Journal of the European Union

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3.4.2004

With regard to the recent publication in the American Journal of Epidemiology (1) the authors concluded,
that they found ‘an increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma among women who started using darker
hair-colouring products before 1980 but not among women who started using products after that. Future
studies designed to collect similar exposure information are needed to determine whether our findings for
hair dye use before 1980 are replicated in other populations.’ The Commission will conduct a
comprehensive literature review on all publications linking the use of hair dyes with various forms of
cancer and submit it to the SCCNFP with a view to obtaining its analysis and advice on this issue in a
holistic comprehensive manner.

(1) Zhang Y, Holford TR, Leaderer B et al. Hair-colouring products use and risk of Non-Hodkin’s Lymphoma:

A population-based case-control study in Connecticut. Am J Epidemiol 2004;159:148-154.

(2004/C 84 E/0450)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0392/04

by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission

(6 February 2004)

Subject: The EU’s continuing capacity to receive large quotas of immigrants from third-world countries

According to Eurostat, the population of EU-15 rose in 2003 by 1 276 200 to 380,8 million, with
982 600 persons or 77 % of this growth being made up of immigrants to the EU, mainly from third world
countries.

At the same time, the Head of the UN Population Office, Joseph Chamie, has published information
showing that the EU’s population figures have been on the decline since 1998. Joseph Chamie’s statement
is then used to claim that the EU needs immigration from third-world countries.

A negative population trend has indeed been recorded in certain east and central European countries and,
if Russia, Ukraine and Belarus are counted as part of Europe, there has been a slight fall in the population
figure for the European area as a whole although this is clearly not the case for EU-15.

It is well known that the immigration flows from the third world are directed towards EU-15 in particular.
In addition, the Commission’s own analyses have concluded that the changes in the age structure of the
population in the years to come mean that the EU will need to see a larger proportion of the active age
groups entering the labour market and remaining there longer because immigrants from the third world
cannot, as a general rule, replace the skilled Europeans who leave the labour market early or stay away
from it altogether.

Will the Commission state whether it is of the opinion that the heavily overpopulated cities in the EU, the
overloaded transport systems, the overstretched welfare systems, unemployment in the EU and the major
social and crime issues associated with the EU’s immigrant communities indicate that the EU should
continue to receive such large quotas of people from non-western cultures?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(10 March 2004)

In its communication on immigration, integration and employment of 3 June 2003 (1), the Commission
referred to demographic estimates showing that the population of Europe is ageing and is set to decline
between now and 2010-2020. The extent of these demographic developments enables us to predict that
the Lisbon target of a 70 % employment rate will be achieved by 2010, or even surpassed.

Although the economic implications of these socio-demographic changes will become apparent only over
time, increasingly frequent labour shortages have already been observed in several Member States. The
Commission considers that, even if immigration is not a realistic solution that will entirely offset the effects
of demographic ageing on the employment market, labour migration can help to reduce the shortages in
the short term.
the
demographic transition which will take place between 2010 and 2030.

It can also contribute to spreading over a longer period the repercussions of

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A common immigration policy that is well controlled, implemented at Community level and backed by an
ambitious policy on integration is necessary in order to respond properly to these needs.

(1) COM(2003) 336 final.

(2004/C 84 E/0451)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0405/04

by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: Outbreak of avian influenza

1.

2.

Can the EU take measures within 24 hours of a case of avian influenza being discovered in the EU?

Has the Commission drawn up a crisis management plan?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 2004)

1.
In case of emergencies due to major animal diseases, the Commission has procedures in place
enabling it to immediately react and take the appropriate actions falling under its own responsibility to
protect the Community against this kind of threat,
including (cid:1) for example (cid:1) a network of mobile
phones to exchange information with the Member States’ veterinary authorities within one hour, and
which is operational 24 hours a day.

The capacity of the Commission to rapidly react has been demonstrated on several recent occasions such
as the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom in 2001, when the Commission adopted
a safeguard decision in less than 24 hours from the confirmation of the outbreak and during the avian
influenza outbreak in the Netherlands in 2003, when a Community expert was sent to that Member State
during the same weekend in which the emergency arose.

Nevertheless, the Commission wishes to underline that it is the primary responsibility of the Member
States to promptly implement disease control measures established in Community legislation, in case of a
suspicion or confirmation of an outbreak of major animal diseases such as avian influenza in the
Community.

To this aim, the Member States have contingency plans in place which have been approved by the
Commission. To ensure that the new Member States will also have such plans in place, the Commission is
currently scrutinising the plans submitted by them in conformity with the 2003 Accession Treaty.

The Commission has an Emergency Manual that establishes the actions to be taken in the event of an
2.
animal health emergency which may pose a very high risk for the Community and contains standard
documents in the Community official languages to facilitate their rapid use.

As regards the threat for public health due to Avian Influenza, the Commission will soon adopt a working
paper on Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response Planning in the Community. The document sets
out the main objectives for action and gives an outline of the role of the Commission and the Member
States. The paper addresses key issues identified as the result of an extensive consultation process, such as
management and co-ordination, surveillance, prevention, mitigation and response, which covers the
availability of vaccines and anti-virals, and finally communication and research. This consultative document
is meant to promote effective policies and measures specified in correlation to the stages of an influenza
pandemic that are explained on the basis of the World Health Organisation (WHO) definitions. The
document adds value to preparedness planning at national level, which is being reviewed and updated by
the Member States in response to the ongoing avian influenza outbreaks in Asia.