WRITTEN QUESTION No. 456/99 by Concepció FERRER Customs Union with Turkey
29. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 341/115 Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (16 April 1999) The Community is already providing substantial support to immunisation activities, mostly in Africa, by ensuring the supply of priority vaccines, particularly polio vaccine, and by developing and improving immunisation activities in primary health care (PHC) facilities. There is a special programme ‘Support to reinforcing of immunisation independence’ in 8 sub-saharan countries (€9,5 million), which aims to improve the immunisation coverage of children and young women as well as to reduce states’ dependence on external financing of the Expanded programme of immunisation (EPI), in particular through the promotion of its inclusion as a budget line in the national health budgets. The Community is actively involved in the financing of the first strategy of the Global polio eradication programme (GPEP), through the support given to PHC facilities in 32 sub-saharan countries (over €250 million under the 7th European development fund (EDF)) as well as through structural adjustment support programmes, ensuring the funding of priority health budget lines (over €458 million under the 7th EDF). At the specific request of the national authorities, the Community could finance some additional expenditure linked to the GPEP. In this case, this expenditure must be included in the national health budgets. The Community is also supporting, in close collaboration with the World health organisation (WHO) regional office for Africa, the creation of an epidemiological surveillance network in West Africa (budget €500 000), which is an important contribution to the fourth strategy of the GPEP. In addition, the Community is discussing further collaboration with the WHO. (1999/C 341/162) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0446/99 by José Valverde López (PPE) to the Commission (4 March 1999) Subject: World Trade Organization Despite the Freedom to Farm act of 1996, which laid down that subsidies to US farmers would be progressively phased out, the US Government paid out over US$ 6 000 million in direct subsidies in 1998. Does the Commission intend to open the arbitration procedure provided for by the World Trade Organiza- tion? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (12 April 1999) Members of the World trade organisation (WTO) have undertaken to reduce domestic support in accordance with quantified commitments. However, subsidies complying with specific criteria laid down in the agreement on agriculture (the so-called ‘green’ and ‘blue’ box measures) are not subject to these reduction commitments. Information available does not indicate that the United States is granting aid in contradiction with the agreed criteria or beyond its commitments. Notwithstanding, the United States will have to notify its subsidies to the WTO. The Community will than carefully examine whether the American notification complies with the established rules. (1999/C 341/163) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0456/99 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission (5 March 1999) Subject: Customs Union with Turkey On 17 September 1998 the European Parliament approved a resolution (A4-0251/98) (1) on the Customs Union with Turkey, with a view to implementing action to enable Turkey to achieve economic and social development as part of the strategy to achieve alignment with the EC and strengthen relations