WRITTEN QUESTION No. 105/98 by Marjo MATIKAINEN-KALLSTRÖM to the Commission. Classification of tobacco smoke as a carcinogenic agent
17. 7. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 223/113 (98/C 223/143) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0103/98 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission (30 January 1998) Subject: Urgent European aid to mitigate the consequences of the serious communication problems affecting the city of Ferrol (Galicia, Spain) due to storm damage On 13 January 1998 a violent storm caused an oil platform to break loose of its moorings, damaging the As P ·as bridge, which is the only direct route to the city of Ferrol (Galicia, Spain). The city and surrounding district have been experiencing a serious economic crisis for some time, and the enclave has benefited from a number of economic plans geared to industrial recovery as part of the Objective 1 region comprising the Autonomous Community of Galicia. In view of this serious situation, solidarity on the part of the EU is called for in the form of aid to mitigate the acute problems caused in this city and district. Can the Commission provide information on urgent and extraordinary aid which might be supplied by the EU with a view to alleviating the consequences of these new problems? Can it say what steps it intends to take in this connection? Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (19 March 1998) Given the nature and purpose of the Structural Funds, there is no line of funding expressly dedicated to urgent and extraordinary aid. Nevertheless, consideration would be given by the Commission to any proposal made by national or regional authorities requesting specific funding for this project within the framework of a programme under the Community support framework for Spain. With regard to the possibility of emergency aid for those affected, the Commission must point out that this form of symbolic assistance has not been possible since the removal of Community budget line B4-3400 with effect from the current financial year. (98/C 223/144) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0105/98 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstro¤m (PPE) to the Commission (30 January 1998) Subject: Classification of tobacco smoke as a carcinogenic agent In his answer to my question E-2247/97 (1), Commissioner Flynn stated that the Commission does not at present propose to classify tobacco smoke as a carcinogenic agent. There is a great deal of undisputed scientific evidence about the link between tobacco smoke and cancer. However, the Commission does not intend to take account of this in its programme on protecting non-smokers from the effects of passive smoking. In view of the above, I should like to put a follow-up question: How does the Commission justify the fact that it does not intend to classify tobacco smoke as a carcinogenic agent even though the link between tobacco smoke and cancer is at the very heart of the debate on passive smoking? (1) OJ C 76, 11. 3. 1998, p. 82. Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (17 March 1998) The Commission has no doubts in agreeing with the Honourable Member that there is convincing scientific evidence that there is a increased risk of cancer and other diseases for people systematically exposed to tobacco smoke. The Commission also agrees that this justifies measures to protect non-smokers from the health effects of breathing tobacco smoke of other people