WRITTEN QUESTION E-0469/04 by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission. Aviation health warnings.
Date: 2004-02-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: air transport, cardiovascular disease, health risk, transport regulations, transport safety, transport user

C 84 E/592

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2004)

Under Article 211 of the EC Treaty, the Commission is responsible for ensuring that Member States
properly apply Community law. In matters which are not covered by Community law the Commission is
unable to intervene.

The situation described by the Honourable Member does not appear to be covered by Community law. So
the Commission would have no basis for intervening. The matter would have to be brought to the
attention of the appropriate authorities in Greece.

(2004/C 84 E/0668)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0469/04

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Aviation health warnings

In view of the growing evidence of health risks involved with flying (deep vein thrombosis, exposure to
cosmic radiation, airborne infections etc.), does the Commission agree that safety warnings announced on
aircraft prior to take-off should be extended to include an appropriate health warning?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(29 March 2004)

The Commission agrees that air carriers have an important part to play, alongside health authorities, in
informing passengers about the possibility of developing deep vein thrombosis. As a precautionary
measure, they should warn their passengers of the risk of deep vein thrombosis, of predisposing factors to
the illness and of preventive measures to take before flying and on-board the aircraft. The Vice-president of
the Commission in charge of Energy and Transport has written to Community carriers urging them to give
passengers such information and intends now to write again to see what each airline has done. However,
the Commission considers that it is for airlines to decide on the most effective means of getting the
message across rather than for public authorities to lay it down.

The Commission is financing research on the strength and nature of the link between air travel and deep
vein thrombosis, the results of which will be available in mid-2005. This should considerably advance
understanding of the condition and of what should be done to prevent it. It is also supporting research on
conditions in aircraft cabins, including air quality, on which possible measures could be based.

(2004/C 84 E/0669)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0470/04

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: State aid to the Rome milk plant

Following privatisation of the Rome milk plant, a number of complaints were made concerning alleged
irregularities in the privatisation procedure. Subsequently, the Commission found that the aid provided by
the Municipality of Rome to the municipal milk plant Azienda Communale Centrale del Latte (ACCL)
constituted State aid in a sector in which there is considerable intra-Community trade. The Commission
also found that over the period 1992 to 1997 the Municipality of Rome had written off ACCL’s annual
losses amounting to LIT 96,6 billion and took the view that these write-offs were to be regarded as the
granting of public aid in breach of Articles 87, 88 and 89 of the EC Treaty. The Commission therefore
concluded that ACCL had received an undue economic and financial advantage over its competitors in