WRITTEN QUESTION P-2441/99 by Marco Pannella (TDI) to the Council. Chemical, biological and radiological attacks on the Kurds in Iraq.
C 219 E/164 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (6 January 2000) The definitive closure of one of Sydkraftís nuclear reactors at Barsebäck on 30 November 1999 could have led to distortion of competition on the market concerned. However, following an agreement between the owner and the Swedish Government on compensation, the Commission understands that the owner of the plant will no longer pursue any legal challenges to the Swedish Governmentís decision from the moment the agreement enters into force when approved by Parliament in the spring of 2000. The Commission is currently examining the consequences which the closure of the nuclear reactor may have under Community environmental legislation. As regards the procedural aspects related to the request for a preliminary ruling of the Court of justice, contacts have already been made by the Commission with the Swedish authorities. (2000/C 219 E/208) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2441/99 by Marco Pannella (TDI) to the Council (13 December 1999) Subject: Chemical, biological and radiological attacks on the Kurds in Iraq During the campaign against the Kurds in 1988, which has been defined as genocidal and in which tens of thousands of people were killed or disappeared, the Iraqi regime bombed more than 200 villages in northern Iraq. its kind ever carried out against civilian populations ü enormous quantities of chemical and probably biological and radiological weapons were used. These contaminated the environment, including aquifers, in northern Iraq, whose rivers pass through the whole country and flow into the Persian Gulf. In this operation ü the largest assault of In view of the reports concerning the high incidence of cancers and congenital malformations in children in Iraq, what steps has the High Representative for the CFSP taken or does he intend to take to ensure that the appropriate international organisations at long last study the condition of the water reserves to determine whether chemical, biological or radiological agents or derivatives from them are continuing to poison the population? In the same context, what steps has the High Representative for the CFSP taken or does he intend to take to ensure that, after a delay of eleven years, the appropriate international organisations begin to concern themselves with the medical treatment of the survivors and to investigate what substances Saddam Husseinís regime used and whether they continue to present risks to the population? Likewise in this light, can the High Representative for the CFSP indicate what steps he has taken or intends to take to study and assess the effects of chemical weapons and other weapons of mass destruction on agriculture in northern Iraq, including on livestock farming, forests and fisheries, as well as the impact on fauna and flora? The Halabja Post Graduate Medical Institute (HMI), which was set up in the Kurdish region of Iraq in August 1999 to develop treatments and promote programmes of research on survivors of chemical attacks, faces numerous material and technical problems which could prevent it from attaining the objectives it has set itself. Can the High Representative for the CFSP indicate whether he intends to send a delegation of experts to visit the HMI centre and see with their own eyes the specific medical requirements of the survivors of chemical, biological and radiological attacks and to assess the needs of the HMI in general? 1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/165 Reply (31 January 2000) An Evaluation Report on the Humanitarian Situation in Northern Iraq of June 1999, commissioned and financed by the European Commission, gives an overview of the humanitarian situation in Kurdish controlled areas of northern Iraq. It is clear from the report that there are numerous necessary and urgent basic humanitarian needs that must be attended to, such as mine clearance, malnutrition and rehabilitation of water plants. To these necessary activities must be added study and assessment of the effects of chemical and other weapons of mass destruction on the overall living conditions in northern Iraq. The implementa- tion of the oil-for-food programme needs to be speeded up and streamlined which requires the full cooperation of the Iraqi government. An effective implementation of humanitarian assistance would also be facilitated by an improvement of the political situation in northern Iraq. The recent normalisation measures agreed between the two main Kurdish Parties are important in this context. The Council, assisted by the Secretary General/High Representative for the CFSP, will continue to closely monitor the situation in Iraq, including the northern provinces, and contribute to ensuring an adequate response from the European Union when circumstances so permit to the needs of the Iraqi people. (2000/C 219 E/209) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2444/99 by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Early retirement scheme Has the Commission made a decision as to when farmers will be paid compensation following the 5,055 % reduction in the Early Retirement Pension Scheme arising from the introduction of the Euro in January 1999 to participants who joined the scheme prior to 1998? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (21 December 1999) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question No E-2170/99 by Mr McCartin (1). (1) See page 110. (2000/C 219 E/210) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2448/99 by Ilkka Suominen (PPE-DE) to the Council (13 December 1999) Subject: Future of the EUís Youth programme and of the Council of Youth Ministers Putting the EUís youth programme into practice has been one of the Finnish Presidencyís major objectives. However, it now appears that the implementation of the youth programme, which was intended to be launched at the beginning of next year, may be postponed owing to intervention by some Member States in the programmeís budget. In his report, the Secretary-General of the Council proposes the holding of Council meetings on an irregular basis and the abolition of the Council of Youth Ministers. This formation of the Council has brought about significant programmes which have noticeably improved the freedom of movement of young people in Europe, and this in turn has actively helped ensure that ácloseness to the citizení has found a place on the European Unionís agenda