WRITTEN QUESTION No. 155/99 by Caroline JACKSON Red squirrels and Warfarin
C 341/58 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 11. 1999 In this context, the application of this principle arises within the framework of national regulations which must reconcile the principle of free movement with grounds for protecting the general interest (such as public health), which may be invoked with regard to burial. (1999/C 341/081) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0153/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (27 January 1999) Subject: Establishment and operation of National Blood-Donation Centre in Greece Measure 1. 5 of the ‘Health and Welfare’ operational programme 1 part of the sub-programme for health under the second Community Support Framework for Greece 1 is entitled ‘Blood-donation facilities and equipment for the establishment and operation of a National Blood-Donation Centre’, one of the aims of which is to improve the testing of blood to prevent infection. After the recent revelations concerning a baby who was infected with AIDS following a blood transfusion, it is vitally important that such a centre be set up. In view of the fact that there is a timetable, which runs from 1994, for implementing this particular measure of the sub-programme, will the Commission say: 1. what progress has been made and how much funding has been taken up for this measure, 2. whether there are delays in using the funds and, if so, what the reasons are for the delays, and 3. what measures it intends to take to get the centre operating more quickly on the basis of the Council’s resolution concerning the safety of transfusions and the self-sufficiency of the Community in blood? Supplementary answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (31 March 1999) According to information communicated by the Greek authorities with regard to the project for the establishment and operation of a National Blood Donation Centre, the situation is as follows: 1. The project was accepted for part-financing under the ‘Health and Welfare’ operational programme at the Fourth meeting of the Monitoring Committee held on 10 July 1997. The notice of invitation to tender for the works was published on 15 December 1997. In January 1999, after assessment of the tenders received, a contract was signed by the agency in charge of implementing the project (Depanom) and by the contractor chosen (the company INSO-Verdot) for the sum of €9 590 000. 2. The time required for the preparation of the tendering procedure and the signing of the contract is due to the fact that it is a high-tech project requiring technological and scientific expertise and the assistance of scientific advisers for the assessment of the tenders received. 3. Under the contract, 24 months are required for the completion of the centre (January 2001). The Commission will see to it that the project under consideration is completed by the deadline stated. (1999/C 341/082) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0155/99 by Caroline Jackson (PPE) to the Commission (11 February 1999) Subject: Red squirrels and Warfarin Can the Commission indicate whether it has any intention of banning the use of the substance marketed as ‘Warfarin’? This has proved to be one of the most effective instruments in reducing the number of grey squirrels within the United Kingdom and may therefore prove to be a useful means of conserving the dwindling red squirrel population. As there may well be no satisfactory poison of a similar potency available, a ban would have serious consequences