WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1126/98 by Marjo MATIKAINEN-KALLSTRÖM to the Commission. The spread of tubercolosis
11. 12. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 386/85 3. What will its role be in coordinating the support of reproductive health policies and programmes? 4. How will the creation of such a unit dovetail with the Commissionís Scoop programme? Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (5 May 1998) 1. The creation of the common service will serve the global objective of improved consistency, coherence and efficiency in the management of the implementation of development cooperation programmes presently managed by the different directors general in charge of external relations (DG I, DG IA, DG IB and DG VIII). En ce qui concerne ECHO (aide humanitaire), le service commun assurera les aspects administratifs et financiers de la gestion du personnel díassistance technique sur le terrain. 2. The common service will be staffed by around 650 officials and the personnel is to be transferred to it from the other directorate generals in charge of external relations. The director general of the common service will be Mr Philippe Soubestre. The common service will be responsible for the technical, administrative and financial implementation of 3. the programmes in all third countries, in different sectors, including the health sector. 4. The common service and the so-called « SCOOP » are the same organisation. (98/C 386/113) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1126/98 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE) to the Commission (8 April 1998) Subject: The spread of tubercolosis According to recent information from the WHO, there are 16 States worldwide which have neglected measures to prevent and treat tuberculosis among their people. The WHO says that such negligence represents a threat to the whole world. Some of the negligent countries are close to the Unionís external borders. What will the Commission do to ensure that citizens of the Union can continue to be protected against tuberculosis, and how is it seeking to assist countries outside the Union with the aim of finally suppressing the disease? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (3 June 1998) The Commission is aware of the increase in the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) and of the factors that are associated with this phenomenon, including crumbling medical systems, deteriorating socio-economic condi- tions, and inappropriate practices leading to anti-microbial resistance threats. Through the Community programme on acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other communicable diseases the Commission is giving support to projects on surveillance and response on TB involving all Member States. These projects aim at enhancing the capacity of the Member Statesíauthorities to fight against this disease. Within the Communityís enlargement framework, applicant countries have been encouraged to participate in this programme. The Commission is also co-operating on this issue with the United States in the context of the Community Task Force and with international organisations, in particular the World Health Organisation and the World Bank, and in some cases in providing financial assistance to developing countries to implement immunisation campaigns