WRITTEN QUESTION E-2203/99 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Extreme poverty and social exclusion.
1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/117 However, the Commission takes the view that the low cost of this shuttle (DRA 250/€ 0,75 from 5 a. m. to midnight and DRA 500/€ 1,25 from midnight to 5 a. m. ) and the journey time (10 minutes) are unlikely to prompt passengers travelling to a Greek island or a provincial town in Greece served by Olympic Airways to opt for an international flight with this carrier rather than another. In any event, the Commission notes that following the liberalisation of access to intracommunity domestic links (1 April 1997) and the liberalisation of access to links with the Greek islands (1 April 1998) Olympic Airways is faced with certain competition on the domestic market from newly established Greek carriers (e. g. Cronus Airlines, Air Greece). These carriers all fly from the East terminal, so passengers using the international services of carriers operating from this terminal can take connecting flights without having to change terminal. (2000/C 219 E/148) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2197/99 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council (30 November 1999) Subject: Combating world hunger The first report recently published by the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) paints a bleak picture of the world situation since the target set in 1996 to halve the numbers suffering from hunger by the year 2015 does not seem to be materialising. 204 million people in India, 164 million in China, half the population of North Korea and Mongolia, 1/3 of the peoples of Cambodia, Laos and sub-Saharan Africa are suffering from hunger, while two in every five children are undernourished. Bearing in mind that the UN had decided that the developed countries should spend 0,7 % of their GDP on humanitarian aid to the developing countries, will the Council say whether that decision is being implemented and by which Member States of the European Union? Reply (31 January 2000) The final declaration of the World Food Summit held in Rome in November 1996 fixed the long-term objective of eliminating hunger in all countries and in particular halving the numbers suffering from hunger by the year 2015. Meeting this target would constitute a tremendous advance for humanity. For its part, the Council has given high priority, in the framework of the measures to reduce poverty, to activities aimed at increasing food security. In this context, the Council intends to study closely the results of the evaluation shortly to begin of the working of the June 1996 Regulation on food aid and food security. It hopes to be able to draw conclusions which will lead to an increase in the quality and efficiency of operations to ensure food security in developing countries. The Council has no precise information on the progress made by Member States towards achieving the target of providing 0,7 % of their GDP as development assistance. (2000/C 219 E/149) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2203/99 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Extreme poverty and social exclusion (29 November 1999) Article 137 of the Treaty of Amsterdam establishes a new legal basis for the adoption of measures to combat social exclusion. Unfortunately, hard statistics on the scale of this social reality, which might make it possible to reach all those affected by social exclusion and/or extreme poverty more effectively, are not available. C 219 E/118 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 How does the Commission intend to obtain more information on social exclusion and extreme poverty? What measures does the Commission intend to adopt to combat these problems in the light of Article 137 of the Treaty and the undertakings given at the 1995 Copenhagen summit on social development? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (5 January 2000) The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member about the importance of reliable indicators and statistics for strengthening policies and measures against social exclusion and poverty. Social exclusion and poverty are multidimensional problems which change over time and therefore require comprehensive data and indicators which can be analysed over time (longitudinal analysis). Data and indicators must also be gender sensitive. In many Member States as well as at Community level efforts are being made to make better use of existing data as well as to improve the data. Following a meeting in Stockholm in January 1998 of the Community high level think tank on social exclusion and poverty statistics, a Community task force was established. Its work has resulted in a first set of guidelines, endorsed by a meeting of directors general of national statistical offices, for improving statistics and indicators on poverty and social exclusion in Member States as well as at Community level which are now being implemented (1). Community cooperation can make an important contribution and action has been increasing and will continue to intensify as a result of the new provisions in the EC Treaty (Article 137 ex-Article 118). During 1999, the Commission has engaged in broad discussions with all concerned on a Community strategy against social exclusion and the priorities and scope of Community action to implement such a strategy. These discussions have confirmed áfull participation and social integration of all people in societyí as the fundamental principle of an inclusive and cohesive society, as also emerged from the world summit on social development in 1995 in Copenhagen. Launching the strategy and action will be a priority of the Commissionís work programme for 2000. It is envisaged that the strategy and programme will include the aim of strengthening cooperation on statistics and indicators. An issue of Statistics in focusí entitled Social exclusion in the Member Statesí will be published shortly by the Commission. (1) Statistical Programming Committee. Document No 98/31/2 - 11/98. (2000/C 219 E/150) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2206/99 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) to the Commission (29 November 1999) Subject: The fight against synthetic drugs: Community initiatives and application of Parliamentís resolution There is considerable alarm in Italy once again over traffic in and consumption of synthetic drugs, which have flooded the market and have taken particular hold amongst young people. Each year 180 000 ecstasy tablets are confiscated; this represents a mere 5 % of total consumption. In 1998 the European Parliament (in its resolution on the control of new synthetic drugs ü OJ C 167, 1. 6. 1998) urgently raised the issue of the traffic in and consumption of synthetic drugs and called on both Member States and the Commission to gather information on such drugs, notably with regard to their impact and side-effects, as well as any long-term damage they might cause, and to promote research in this field