WRITTEN QUESTION P-0371/00 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission. Presence of the alga caulerpa taxifolia in the Mediterranean.
20. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 53 E/3 Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (20 March 2000) 1. In an interview published in Commission en Directí (No 150, 21-27 January 2000) Mr Nielson is reported to have remarked on the fact that his furniture had been stuck in a container in transit from Denmark for two months. Contrary to the reference made in the question, Commissioner Nielson did not say that he had been prevented from working because of this delay. Neither that nor anything else would prevent Mr Nielson doing his job. 2. The new Commissioners were preparing to start to work before the departure of the previous Commission and Mr Nielson, like the other proposed new members of the Commission, was first provided temporarily with new furniture of the same type available to Directors in the Commission. After the departure of the previous Commission, he was able to make use of the furniture of a former Commis- sioner. This furniture was less than five years old. Mr Nielson was given the opportunity to indicate his preference for having part of it replaced. 3. and 4. All new members of the Commission were provided with office furniture left by former Members. Those whose predecessorís furniture was more than five years old were given the possibility of receiving new furniture to be used throughout their period of office at a maximum cost of € 25 000. Those who received furniture which was less than five years old had the possibility of renewing a part of it up to a cost of € 12 500. 5. Those items of furniture from former members that have not been kept by their successors have since been re-used by the services, either to equip areas such as reception halls and waiting rooms for visitors, or, where necessary, to meet the office furniture needs of officials, mainly directors-general. As the above replies demonstrate, the Commission has a clear policy on the provision of furniture 6. for members of the Commission which facilitates replacement on a satisfactory basis. Any expenditure made from the budget of the Commission is subject to strict adherence to the rules laid out in the Financial Regulation. The average time needed to pass the financial procedures for standard furniture ordered in Belgium through the relevant services of the Commission is at least two weeks plus delivery time. Mr Nielsonís furniture was ordered in Denmark directly which caused a further delay. The length of delay in transit experienced by Mr Nielson is regretted. (2001/C 53 E/005) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0371/00 by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission (8 February 2000) Subject: Presence of the alga ácaulerpa taxifoliaí in the Mediterranean In view of the fact that the alga ácaulerpa taxifoliaí is spreading in the Mediterranean Sea and causing serious damage to coastal fishing and marine flora and fauna, Can the Commission say: 1. what steps it has taken or intends to take to combat the harmful effects of this alga? 2. what measures it envisages to provide compensation to fishermen operating in the areas affected by the alga? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (20 March 2000) The Commission is aware of the problem mentioned by the Honourable Member. Demonstration projects have been funded by the LIFE instrument in 1992 and 1995 in the Mediterranean countries concerned by C 53 E/4 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 2. 2001 the expansion of Caulerpa taxifolia. These projects aimed to raise the awareness of public bodies, private interested parties and the general public, to map the areas covered by the algae, to carry out experiments on means of controlling this expansion and to design a possible strategy of control or containment. The project results confirmed that the spread of Caulerpa taxifolia in the Mediterranean Basin constitutes a potential threat for biodiversity, mainly at the cost of other algae or at cost of marine plants (e. g. posidonia oceanica, cymodocea nodosa), and for some human activities, in widely affected areas. Moreover such studies have mapped the areas covered by Caulerpa taxifolia, at least those known at present, and monitored the rate of expansion of such colonisation. There is some scientific evidence of effects on fish but mainly not on species targeted by commercial fisheries. With regard to a possible impact on artisanal fisheries, at present no scientific documentation reports negative effects on fisheries. Fishermen can play an important role in preventing dissemination and slowing down the spread of the algae, by inspecting their anchors and fishing gear and not throwing the fragments of the seaweed back into the sea. Concerning the issue of compensation measures for fishermen operating on fishing grounds affected by this algae, the Commission is of the opinion that the problem of caulerpa taxifolia does not meet the criteria for compensation measures envisaged within Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector (1). (1) OJ L 337, 30. 12. 1999. (2001/C 53 E/006) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0445/00 by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission (24 February 2000) Subject: Air quality institute The Health Effects Institute (HEI) has been set up in the USA to assess problems relating in particular to air quality and their possible implications for human health. Half its funding comes from the US Environ- mental Protection Agency (EPA) and half from industry. HEI analyses offer an excellent an independent basis for decision-making. What is the Commissionís assessment of the work of the Health Effects Institute in the USA? Is the Commission contemplating the establishment of a similar institute in Europe? Has any action been taken to that effect? Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (7 April 2000) The Commission is aware of the work of the Health effects institute. Research and other work organised by the Institute has been an important input to the United States-Environment protection agency (EPAís) recent analyses of the risks of air pollution to human health. This outcome of the Institute has also been taken into account by the World health organisation and by Member States in similar work in Europe. The Commission is presently developing plans for a new integrated clean air programme. It intends to make a first report concerning the programme in 2004, covering risks to health and the environment, and any further action that should be taken to reduce them. The Commission has engaged consultants to provide advice on aspects of programme organisation. It will consider a range of options, including options for how best to obtain information on health effects, in the light of the results later this year