WRITTEN QUESTION E-0838/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Use of chemical substances against demonstrators.
13. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 46 E/57 (2001/C 46 E/061) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0835/00 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council (20 March 2000) Subject: Environmental damage inflicted on the Danube and neighbouring regions by NATO bombing The Romanian Minister for the Environment has alleged that the Danube has suffered greater environ- mental damage from NATO bombing which destroyed bridges, oil refineries and chemicals plants than from the recent cyanide spill. The environmental, economic and cultural damage to the Danube and the local population extends beyond Serbia and affects all the regions through which the Danube flows and will have distressing consequences for many years to come. Will the Council say whether it is aware of the extent of the damage and, if so, what measures it proposes to assist the countries concerned, so that the environment, the economy and the culture of this sensitive region rapidly recover? Reply (10 July 2000) 1. The report submitted at the end of 1999 by the United Nations Balkan Task Force clearly stated that some of the bombardments during the Kosovo conflict contributed to pollution of the Danube but also noted that the Danube had for a long time (and certainly since before the conflict) been one of the most polluted waterways in Europe, affected by a considerable number of sources of pollution directly attributable to the countries bordering it. The report also noted that owing to the high level of pollution of the region before the conflict it 2. was difficult to carry out a comparative assessment of damage. The Council also notes that, following the Baïa Mare accident, Hungary and Romania have set up a committee of experts to assess the damage to the Danube. The Council will certainly study their conclusions with interest, together with the conclusions of the Task Force organised by the Commission following that same accident. In any case, as stated by the CFSP High Representative when opening the Regional Financing 3. Conference on 29 March 2000, the EU commitment towards South Eastern Europe cannot be disputed. That commitment, in the framework of the Stability Pact, already includes a financial aspect which is important both to the Community and to its Member States, and may take the form, inter alia, of support for the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern Europe, which is currently being drawn up. That programme is also an illustration of the cooperation effort between those countries, which is encouraged by the EU and which is necessary if we wish effectively to restore the environment in the region. (2001/C 46 E/062) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0838/00 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Use of chemical substances against demonstrators (21 March 2000) In repressing demonstrations the Greek police use chemical substances which affect the respiratory system, the skin and the mucous membrane, causing breathing difficulties, muscular contractions and impaired C 46 E/58 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 2. 2001 vision for all those who happen to be in the vicinity when they go into action. Journalistic sources report that the grenades and spray used by the police contain CS and CN-type chemicals and the particles remain in the environment for a long time, penetrate deep into human lungs and seriously contaminate the skin. Will the Commission say: 1. What are the substances involved, where are they produced and what is their composition? 2. How long do they remain in the human organism and the environment generally and what damage do they cause to health? Is there any truth to the allegations that they cause cancer? 3. Does the Commission intend to look into this matter, particularly from the point of view of public health? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (23 May 2000) The Commission has no information on the substances mentioned by the Honourable Member. Conse- quently, it cannot assess the possible effects on human health which may arise therefrom. (2001/C 46 E/063) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0843/00 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission (21 March 2000) Subject: Human resources in the Commissionís Transport Directorate-General In view of the expanding role being played by the Commission in seeking to bring about the improvement of passenger rail services and reverse the decline in rail freight, is the Commission satisfied that it has the staff resources in its transport division to do the job required effectively? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (15 May 2000) The new organisational structure resulting from the merger of the former Transport and Energy DGs, as approved by the Commission on 22 December 1999, broadly reflects the emphasis of European policy. The merger entailed a redeployment of staff, notably towards rail transport. Should this prove insufficient, further redeployment may be undertaken in the new Directorate-General, without prejudice to requests for additional staff. (2001/C 46 E/064) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0844/00 by María Rodríguez Ramos (PSE) and Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission Subject: Exports of tomatoes from the Kingdom of Morocco (21 March 2000) Because tomato exports from Morocco to the Community exceeded the total quantities allowed by 190 % in October 1999 and 37 % in November 1999 (something which the leading Spanish agricultural organisations had already been pointing out for months) a system of import certificates had to be introduced, as set out in the Regulation of 23 December 1999