WRITTEN QUESTION E-0259/00 by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Commission. EU radon gas levels.
C 330 E/112 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 to identify economic areas which provide the best environment for successful launch and growth of start- up and spin-off companies. This pilot action will also promote the validation and transfer of novel strategies demonstrating best practices from the regions of the Community for the creation of innovative companies. As far as the question refers to Social Chapter legislationí, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to Article 137(2) (ex Article 118) of the EC Treaty. To this end, the Intergovernmental Conference adopted Declaration no 26, which states that: The High Contracting Parties note that in the discussions on Article 118(2) (now 137(2)) of the Treaty establishing the European Community it was agreed that the Community does not intend, in laying down minimum requirements for the protection of the safety and health of employees, to discriminate in a manner unjustified by the circumstances against employees in small and medium-sized undertakings. í (1) European Communities (1998). Report of the Business Environment Simplification Task Forceí Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. ISBN 92-828-3418-2. (2) Council Conclusions on the Action Plan to Promote Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness 29. 4. 1999. (3) Commission Recommendation 97/344/EC of 22 April 1997, on improving and simplifying the business environ- ment for business start-ups, OJ L 145, 5. 6. 1997. (4) Report from the Commission to the Council and the Parliament on Concerted Action with the Member States in the field of Enterprise Policy. COM(1999) 569 final. (5) COM(95) 688 final. (6) COM(96) 589 final. (2000/C 330 E/125) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0259/00 by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Commission (7 February 2000) Subject: EU radon gas levels Can the Commission state whether it has figures for the levels of radon gas present in public buildings and dwellings throughout the European Union and can it state whether or not these levels of gas create a possible hazard to public health in the Union? Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (23 March 2000) The Commission has carried out a survey of levels of natural radioactivity in Member States which was published in the form of an Atlas (Radiation Protection, 1993, Natural sources of ionizing radiation in Europe, EUR 14 470). It continues to collect information from national surveys. With regard to the possible hazard to public health, the Commission published in 1990 Commission Recommendation 90/143/Euratom of 21 February 1990 on the protection of the public against indoor exposure to radon (1). In this Recommendation a reference level for remedial action of 400 becquerel per cubic meter is proposed for existing buildings. The percentage of dwellings exceeding this level significant in some Member States (Finland, Sweden) and in certain regions. is in general very small, but the problem is more (1) OJ L 80, 27. 3. 1990