WRITTEN QUESTION No. 268/98 by Yiannis ROUBATIS to the Commission. Tragic consequences of the sanctions policy for the population of Iraq
17. 7. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 223/151 (98/C 223/198) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0268/98 by Yiannis Roubatis (PSE) to the Commission (13 February 1998) Subject: Tragic consequences of the sanctions policy for the population of Iraq The sanctions policy imposed on the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq has had tragic consequences for the population of the country, and particularly children who suffer from malnutrition and a lack of drugs. Given that it is questionable how much the sanctions policy has produced the desired results and the plight of the population is unbearable for any civilized state: Will the Commission say: 1. What is its position on this matter? 2. Does it intend to take any measures to relieve the plight of the population and particularly the children suffering from malnutrition and a lack of drugs? Answer given by Mr Mar ·n on behalf of the Commission (9 March 1998) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to his Written Question E-4056/97 (1). The Commission adds that a proposal to increase Iraqi oil sales from 1. 900 MECU to 4. 500 MECU over a six months period was submitted on 2 February 1998 by the United Nations (UN) Secretary General to the UN Security Council for consideration. Under its 10 MECU humanitarian aid plan for Iraq for the first semester of 1998 the Commission is funding a programme of supplementary feeding for malnourished children and their families, supplies of medicines to paediatric and maternity hospitals and providing better sanitary conditions for primary health centres and primary schools and assistance in the treatment of drinking water. (1) OJ C 187, 16. 6. 1998, p. 117. (98/C 223/199) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0273/98 by Lissy Gro¤ner (PSE) to the Council (6 February 1998) Subject: Implementation of the Council Resolution of 20 December 1995 on intergrating gender issues in development cooperation At the meeting on 19 January 1998 between the President-in-Office of the Council of Development Ministers, United Kingdom Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short, and the EP Committee on Development and Cooperation, Ms Short stressed, in reply to questions by MEPs, that implementation of the Council Resolution of 20 December 1995 on intergrating gender issues in development cooperation is one of the priorities of her presidency. What specific measures will the Council take to implement the above-mentioned Council Resolution during the British Presidency? Answer (11 May 1998) Gender inequality is known to be one of the major obstacles to the achievement of sustainable development. As some 70 percent of the worldís poorest people are women, the objective of effective poverty reduction requires policies that recognise womenís multiple roles, and macro-economic policies and development strategies that respond to the needs and efforts of women in poverty should be encouraged