WRITTEN QUESTION E-1332/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Financial aid for sarcoidosis projects.
20. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 53 E/127 The basis for the proposal includes an assessment study made by external consultants that can be 2. accessed on the Commissionís Internet site. Its conclusions were that the aid and its amount had only a limited impact on availability of milk products in schools and the level of consumption in general. 3. The Commission freely acknowledges that distribution of milk in schools can help achieve nutritional and social objectives. That is in fact why it considers that the aid should not fall exclusively to the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund but be split between it and the Member States. The Commissionís proposal confirms the Communityís financial commitment to the school milk scheme. (1) OJ C 89, 28. 3. 2000. (2001/C 53 E/161) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1322/00 by Bertel Haarder (ELDR) to the Commission (17 April 2000) Subject: Failure to pay grants promised to BíTselem In April 1998, the Commission decided to support a project devised by BíTselem (The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories) entitled Generating Commitment for Human Rightsí (project number 98mas15 B7-7050 in the MEDA democracy programme). In 1999, BíTselem was granted a further amount in a project with four other Israeli human rights organisations (project number 1998/281A B7-7050 in the MEDA democracy programme). In response to several MEPsí questions concerning BíTselemís 1998 grant, Commissioner Manuel Marín replied that the contract for the amount would be formally drawn up in early 1999. To date, no contract has been forwarded for either of the two projects. in its capacity as participant Will the Commission say when BíTselem will receive the promised contracts in respect of the grants for their two projects? Will the Commission say why the grants have not yet been paid? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (22 May 2000) All 1998 MEDA-Democracy contracts, around 40 projects, including that with BíTselem, have now been signed by the Commission and sent to the respective beneficiaries for counter-signature. In spite of their infortunate delay, these projects including that with BíTselem will mostly go ahead as planned. The 1999 MEDA-Democracy grant to four Israeli non-governmental organizations including BíTselem, was approved by the human rights management committee in October 1999. The contract will be signed by the Commission and sent to the beneficiary as soon as possible. Finally, counter-signature by the beneficiary will mark the start of the project and the disbursement of the allocated funds in compliance with all contractual conditions. (2001/C 53 E/162) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1332/00 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (27 April 2000) Subject: Financial aid for sarcoidosis projects Late last year a number of sarcoidosis patients created a website to provide information about their illness. The many contacts soon showed that there is a great need not only for information, but also for an umbrella organisation (a foundation) to represent the interests of patients. This is because many people C 53 E/128 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 2. 2001 suffering from sarcoidosis have problems with what is in any case a difficult diagnosis of their illness. The European Sarcoidosis Foundation has now received the support of Dr Alexandre Vizel, professor in the medical faculty of the University of Kazan (Tartarstan) and head of the pulmonology section. Is the Commission aware of the problems of sarcoidosis patients? If so, 1. concerned with sarcoidosis? is it financing projects Is the Commission prepared to give financial support to the European Sarcoidosis Foundation in 2. view of the specific difficulties facing sarcoidosis patients? If so, in what way can this aid be given? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (13 June 2000) 1. The Commission is well aware of the problems of sarcoidosis patients. The Commission has been informed that the prevalence of the disease is less than five affected people per 10 000 in the Community and thus it is one of the 5 000 different kinds of diseases that fall within the general definition of árare diseaseí. As the Community can provide a strong added value in the area of rare diseases, the Commission has proposed a comprehensive strategy based on three actions. Pharmaceutical policy. Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of the Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1999 on orphan medicinal products (1) was recently adopted and it will provide incentives for research, development and placing on the market of designated orphan medicinal products (pharmaceutical products for rare diseases). A committee for orphan medicinal products is set up within the European agency for the evaluation of medicinal products. The Commission has recently nominated three members representing patientsí organisations. Public health policy. Within the framework for action in the field of public health, a programme of Community action on rare diseases (1999-2003) is currently being implemented by the Commission. Transnational collaboration of organisations of those directly or indirectly affected by rare diseases is one of the four actions to be implemented. The other actions concern the promotion of a European information network on rare diseases, training on rare diseases and monitoring of rare diseases. Research policy. The fifth framework programme on research ( Quality of life and management of living resourcesí) provides for several areas in which diseases such as sarcoidosis are covered, in particular Activities of generic natureí area 7 which explicitly mentions rare diseases, and key action 4 Environment and healthí. The Commission is not currently funding any specific project on sarcoidosis, but this disease is 2. addressed under the more general actions in the above areas. Sarcoidosis patientsí organisations are eligible to take part in any of the abovementioned initiatives. This should be done following the specific rules defined for each of them (procedure defined by Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 for orphan medicinal journal for research and public health products; reply to calls for proposals published in the Official programmes). (1) OJ L 18, 22. 1. 2000. (2001/C 53 E/163) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1335/00 by Pervenche BerŁs (PSE) to the Commission Subject: Free equipment and access to the Internet in schools (4 May 2000) A major German telecommunications operator has indicated recently that it is prepared to supply, free of charge and before the end of the year, e-mail addresses, home pages and access to its Internet access provider for 40 000 German schools