WRITTEN QUESTION E-0292/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Zimbabwean defence of asbestos industry.
C 374 E/52 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 prisoners. The Council also called for the immediate release of prisoners held without charge and for prisoners to be treated in accordance with applicable international standards. After the 19 July General Affairs Council, the ICRC has been allowed access to Serbian jails by the Belgrade authorities. It has identified nearly 2 000 Kosovar Albanian prisoners during its visits on the spot. Since June, the ICRC has helped approximately 326 persons to go back home in safety after their release in Serbia. At its meeting on 13 September 1999, the Council expressed its deep concern that the issue of the disappearance of several thousand persons, predominately Kosovo Albanians, remains open. The Honourable Member can be assured that the Council will continue to do everything within its power in this context and in particular will consider progress in democratic freedoms and respect for the rights of minorities as one of the key elements for eventual lifting of sanctions against the Belgrade regime. (2000/C 374 E/061) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0292/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission (11 February 2000) Subject: Zimbabwean defence of asbestos industry In view of the fact that EU Member States have until 2005 to remove all white asbestos from the market, how does the Commission intend to deal with the claim made by the Zimbabwean government that their white asbestos mine is safe? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (29 February 2000) In August 1999, the former Member responsible for development, Mr Pinheiro, on behalf of the President of the Commission, wrote to the Zimbabwean minister of industry and commerce, Mr Shamuyarira, regarding a request for assistance to restructure the asbestos industry and communities affected by the Community ban on asbestos. The Commission maintained that the Community proposal to ban chrysolite asbestos was based on solid scientific evidence taking due regard of the independent scientific committee on toxicity, ecotoxicity and the environment, which stated that no safe threshold for crysolite asbestos can be identified; of the absence of contrary evidence to dispute the fact that all types of asbestos may cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a form of cancer of the lining of the lungs and of the fact that evidence indicates that the main substitutes for chrysolite asbestos are likely to be less dangerous and should therefore be used in all cases. In respect of Zimbabweís request for assistance for transitional arrangements for the asbestos industry, the Commission suggested that the National authorising officer contact directly the Commission head of delegation in Harare to further discuss the possibilities and resources for assistance available under the national indicative programme or the System of stabilization of export earnings from mining products (SYSMIN) facility. To date, the Zimbabwean government has not replied to this offer