WRITTEN QUESTION P-2369/99 by Luís Queiró (UEN) to the Commission. Support for the reconstruction of East Timor.
18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/169 by itself. Thus, the prevention of outbreaks of the kind reported, should be based on a number of measures attempting to minimise the various risk factors involved (e. g. inappropriate water quality, closed water systems, water temperatures, insufficient decontamination systems). These two recent outbreaks have highlighted a new area of risk for acquiring legionnairesí disease, 3. namely national and international trade fairs where the public is exposed to whirlpools and other equipment from which legionella could be spread. The Commission is therefore, together with technical experts in Member States, assessing the need for Community health and safety rules or guidelines for the control of legionnairesí disease to protect the public in these kind of premises. It is too early to say whether the conclusion of the assessment will point to inspection of water or focus entirely on other more efficient control measures. 4. Transnational co-operation in the field of legionella infections is already well developed. The specific network dealing with legionnairesí disease (European working group for legionella infections (EWGLI)) in fact predates Decision 2119/98/EC and the Commission has supported its activities since 1986. This surveillance scheme presently involves 31 participating countries and the scheme aims to collect informa- tion on cases of legionnairesí disease occurring in travellers so that sites associated with more than one case can be detected and the authorities in the relevant country informed. Recently the reporting of non- travel associated clusters of cases was included in this scheme mainly as a response to the outbreak in the Netherlands earlier this year. All cases reported to EWGLI are reported back to the country of infection and all other collaborators. These procedures have led to the rapid identification of outbreaks, and early intervention of control and prevention measures and this system is now included as a disease specific network in the Community network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases. (1) OJ L 268, 3. 10. 1998. (2000/C 203 E/218) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2369/99 by Luís Queiró (UEN) to the Commission (1 December 1999) Subject: Support for the reconstruction of East Timor It has been announced that the Joint Assessment Mission led by the World Bank has already completed its job of assessing the short-term needs (for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002) for the reconstruction of East Timor. The Commission has initially estimated the cost of the relevant reconstruction work at approximately US $ 200 million. the EU definitely intends to offer effective assistance and support In view of the fact that both the Commission and the High Representative for the CFSP have stated on several occasions that for the reconstruction work in East Timor and Parliament promised appropriate financial support when it debated and adopted the 2000 budget at first reading, can the Commission say how it intends to coordinate with the World Bank and the UNTAET the measures for the support and reconstruction of East Timor and, in particular, what position it will adopt at the conference of donors to be held in Tokyo on 17 December next? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1999) As regards the Commissionís position on support for the reconstruction of East Timor, the Honourable Member should be aware that the Community provided immediate humanitarian assistance for the return of refugees and food aid to East Timor. C 203 E/170 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 The Commission is also committing M€ 10 to the new trust fund of the United Nations transitory administration in East Timor (Untaet), offering basic administrative and logistical support for future transitional administration and humanitarian assistance. From a development perspective, a coherent rehabilitation and reconstruction strategy for the relatively small territory of East Timor will require extensive co-ordination among all parties. The recent joint assessment mission led by the World Bank ü in which the Commission participated actively ü will provide a basis for developing a blueprint for concrete long-term action that will be discussed at a donorsí meeting in Tokyo on 17 December 1999. The Commission is currently evaluating the joint missionís summary report with a view to identifying areas where the Community can best contribute in order to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of its aid. (2000/C 203 E/219) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2376/99 by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Esperanto Would the Commission give consideration to the inclusion of Esperanto as one of the EU working languages? Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (6 January 2000) In accordance with Article 290 of the EC Treaty, The rules governing the languages of the institutions of the Community shall [ ] be determined by the Council, acting unanimously. í That Article does not provide for any proposal on the part of the Commission. (2000/C 203 E/220) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2389/99 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: Threats to European investments in Cuba (1 December 1999) According to information from official sources, the Spanish undertaking Sol-MeliÆ has recently been subjected to pressure from the US authorities over its investments in Cuba. Is the Commission aware of this pressure? Does it share the view that pressure of any kind on undertakings from a Member State amounts to a clear gesture of hostility to the European Union as a whole? Has the Commission taken steps to examine the matter? Should the existence of this pressure be confirmed, does the Commission intend to take any form of action in the framework of the agreements subscribed between the EU and the US? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1999) The Commission is aware that the American authorities have been conducting enquiries under the Helms- Burton Act into the activities in Cuba of certain Community companies, including Sol-MeliÆ