WRITTEN QUESTION E-0966/00 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Health effects of mobile telephones.
26. 1. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 26 E/135 Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (26 May 2000) Since there is no Community legislation on this matter, Member States have sole responsibility for the introduction of municipal taxes levied on visitors to the municipality to help finance the additional municipally owned public facilities needed because of the influx of tourists. However, such legislation must not infringe the fundamental freedoms provided for in the EC Treaty ü for instance levying taxes only on foreign tourists or applying a higher rate to foreign tourists. Provided they do not include such discriminatory provisions, municipal taxes on visitors to the municipality are not incompatible with Community law. include discriminatory measures that (2001/C 26 E/168) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0966/00 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (31 March 2000) Subject: Health effects of mobile telephones In several of its documents the Commission has stressed Europeís leading position in the use of mobile telephones and has proposed strategies designed to maintain this position. Has the Commission ascertained by means of scientific research that the electromagnetic fields created in connection with the operation of such telephones have no negative health effects on the human brain and that they do not cause a predisposition to cancer? Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission (25 April 2000) Under the 3rd and 4th Framework Programmes of Research and Development the Commission funded several projects investigating how electromagnetic radiation (radio frequency ü RF) affects health. The first was a COST action (Cost 244 in 1992, followed by Cost 244a in 1998) on the biomedical effects of electromagnetic radiation. This action is still under way. In addition, the Biomed 2 programme provided funding for two studies of the links between electromagnetic radiation and cancer. The Measurement and Testing programme funded a project on the measurement of electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile telephones and relay stations and on the quantification of human exposure. The projectís findings will be useful for establishing measurement standards and evaluating the risk posed by mobile telephones and relay stations. The Commission granted a total of around two million euros to these studies. None of the studies (covering potential thermal effects and cellular metabolic disturbance caused by the various types of electromagnetic field) produced any evidence of adverse effects on health, though further results are still needed in order to meet public concern. Under the 5th Framework Programme, studies on the effects of electromagnetic radiation are specifically included in the work programme of the 4th key action (Environment and Health) of Theme 1 (Quality of life and management of living resources). Following the 1999 call for proposals, five proposals were selected, for total funding of around nine million euros. These projects have just got under way, and will be delivering results in three or four years. The projects include a large-scale epidemiological study (Interphone) coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which will investigate whether the electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile telephones can be carcinogenic. The study will distinguish between the various emission levels of C 26 E/136 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 26. 1. 2001 different types of mobile phone. The other projects are aiming to provide greater understanding of the biological mechanisms by which electromagnetic radiation might affect human health. One of them will also be examining the combined effect of electromagnetic radiation and chemical carcinogens. (2001/C 26 E/169) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0973/00 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council (30 March 2000) Subject: Relations between the European Union and Iran The election results in the recent parliamentary elections in Iran have demonstrated the strong desire of the Iranian electorate that Iran should emerge from the international isolation in which it has been for years. However, the European Unionís response to the changes taking place in Iran has so far been limited. Will the Council say whether it intends to take advantage of current favourable circumstances to improve relations with Iran, thus supporting the opening which Iranian society is seeking with the West? Reply (26 June 2000) The EU is encouraged by developments in Iran, including the results of the first round of the Parliamentary elections in February. Following these elections, the European Union has recalled its long-standing interest in consolidating and expanding the Comprehensive Dialogue it leads with Iran and reiterated its willingness to promote the establishment of closer ties with the Iranian Government. (2001/C 26 E/170) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0975/00 by Christel Fiebiger (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (31 March 2000) Subject: Savings to be made in Subsection B1 ü Agriculture of the 2001 budget and modification of the financial planning for 2000-2006 Numerous Commission proposals concerning savings in the 2001 budget for Subsection B1 ü Agriculture have recently been made public. Are these savings intended primarily to help achieve the funding required in the foreign policy area (reconstruction measures in Kosovo of the order of € 300 million a year)? Is the Commission also planning changes in relation to the financial framework in Agenda 2000 adopted by the European Council in Berlin? What savings in financial resources would the Commission like to make, following measures: in particular through the ü changes to the common organisations of the market (COM), inter alia for sugar, hops, rice, olives, flax and hemp; ü new legislation, e. g. creation of a regulatory fund applicable to the pig sector; ü reform of the Financial Regulation, inter alia by changing the allocation of the negative expenditure of Subsection B1-Agriculture;