WRITTEN QUESTION E-0175/00 by Olivier Duhamel (PSE) to the Commission. European award.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/155 (2000/C 303 E/170) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0175/00 by Olivier Duhamel (PSE) to the Commission (31 January 2000) Subject: European award When the recent storms devastated part of Western Europe, hundreds of Europeans, civilians and military personnel, came from their countries to the disaster area to offer their skills and energies in an attempt to repair what could be repaired and help the stricken inhabitants. In the light of these exemplary acts of solidarity, the European Union and the Commission in particular might think fit to establish a European award in the form of, say, a European order of merit to confer distinction on citizens or groups of citizens who had worked in one way or another to strengthen cohesion among the peoples of the Union countries or embody European public-spiritedness. Could the Commission, or more specifically its President, say whether it would consider it admissible to institute such an award for courage and solidarity in the service of the Union and, if the award were deemed acceptable, could it swiftly determine how it might be brought into being? Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (15 March 2000) Although the Commission understands and shares the Honourable Memberís concern, it feels that such action does not fall within its jurisdiction. However, it could be considered when the time comes for the Union to look in depth at the question of civil protection at European level. (2000/C 303 E/171) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0186/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (31 January 2000) Subject: Unsupervised burial of radioactive materials in Albania and the southern Balkans At a recent meeting in Rome between the Greek Minister of Public Order and the Italian Minister of the Interior (in the presence of their Albanian counterpart), the parties involved expressed concern at the possible pollution of the Adriatic from attempts to bury radioactive materials at uncontrolled sites and discussed means of stamping out the smuggling of radioactive materials and the channelling of these materials to Albania and the southern Balkans. 1. What information does the Commission have concerning the smuggling of radioactive materials in Albania and other Balkan countries? 2. What measures is it taking to limit the pollution of the Adriatic from the uncontrolled dumping of radioactive materials? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (14 March 2000) The Commission regularly receives information on cases involving illicit 1. trafficking in nuclear materials and radioactive substances uncovered by the authorities. The Commission is aware of the specific problems relating to the former Yugoslavia and Albania. The Environment DGís Radiation Protection Unit has therefore set up an extensive awareness-raising and training programme with the aim of helping the Balkan states, amongst others, to establish effective measures to combat illicit nuclear traffic