WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2500/98 by Joaquín SISÓ CRUELLAS to the Commission. Anorexia and bulimia
C 96/106 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 4. 1999 Also, as part of talks at the World Trade Organisation, and more especially as part of the GATS agreement on services, the Community is playing a prominent role in securing commitments to open third countriesí markets and improve the terms governing investments and ventures by European undertakings in the sector of tourism. As part of policies for development and cooperation with non-member countries, financial instruments such as ECIP, EBAS and Alinvest can promote the internationalisation of European tourism undertakings outside the Community and make it easier to export their knowhow. The latest reports on Community measures affecting tourism (2) contain a review of the main actions that have benefited tourism undertakings in this context. (1) Eurostat, Balance of Payments › Quarterly Statistics 2-98, p. 70; European Union Direct Investment › Yearbook 1997, p. 73. (2) COM(97) 332 final and SEC(97) 1419. (1999/C 96/148) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2500/98 by Joaquín Sisó Cruellas (PPE) to the Commission (30 July 1998) Subject: Anorexia and bulimia The Association against Anorexia and Bulimia (ACAB) recently presented itself to the public in Spain and called on advertisers to refrain from using impossible stereotypes in their advertising and to use other models, so that young people would no longer seek to imitate the stereotypes. The Association also appealed for an increase in resources for treating this illness. According to the figures provided, the number of consultations linked to anorexia and bulimia is increasing by 20 % each year in Spain, the majority of victims of this disorder being girls. Given that the impact of these illnesses is growing constantly and is particularly affecting our young people, has any initiative been taken in the European Union with a view to tackling these disorders? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (20 October 1998) The Commission shares the Honourable Memberís concern about the increasing number of those, especially girls, suffering from anorexia or bulimia in Spain and in the Community in general. The Community action programme on health promotion, information, education and training (1) covers this important public health issue, and the 1998 work programme provides for áattention to be given to the issue of bodyweight as a broad concept affecting the well-being of people, as well as eating disorders and other problems related to body imageí. The Commission is at present funding two projects related to the prevention of eating disorders. One investigates the frequency and distribution of sub-clinical eating disorders in six European countries in order to develop preventive measures for these disorders. The second aims to improve the knowledge of this disease, to set up a database on specialised centres and an internet site, and to organise a conference at European level to disseminate the results. (1) Decision 645/98/EC › OJ L 95, 16. 4. 1996. (1999/C 96/149) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2501/98 by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission (30 July 1998) Subject: Construction of an artificial island near the Bay of CÆdiz The Spanish Ministry of Defence intends to build an artificial island 700 metres from the boundary of the Bay of CÆdiz Natural Park, which would contain a platform for logistical exercises. No information is available on the