WRITTEN QUESTION E-0317/00 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) and Minerva Malliori (PSE) to the Commission. Effective measures to combat AIDS.
C 303 E/174 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 (2000/C 303 E/196) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0317/00 by Anna Karamanou (PSE) and Minerva Malliori (PSE) to the Commission Subject: Effective measures to combat AIDS (11 February 2000) Some 95 % of persons infected with AIDS live in the developing countries of Africa and Asia, the disease is responsible for one in five deaths in Africa and average life expectancy has dramatically fallen owing to the huge scale of the epidemic and the inability of sufferers to meet the high financial cost of drugs to combat the disease. In response to this situation, Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General of the WHO, has launched an appeal to all the industrialised countries in which she stresses that, while the northern hemisphere has a near monopoly of anti-AIDS drugs the disease is predominantly found in the southern hemisphere, and calls for an end to the inequality in the prevention and treatment of AIDS. Given the recent aid granted by the USA and Canada ($ 150 m. and 50 m. , respectively), will the Commission say by what means and what special programmes the European Union intends to help the developing countries as regards both AIDS prevention and treatment, so that those suffering from the disease have access to drugs treatment, thereby bringing about a dramatic decline in the number of AIDS deaths, as has occurred in the industrialised countries? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (30 March 2000) The Commission is perfectly aware of the increasing difficulties faced by the developing countries in coping with the human immunodefficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV-AIDS) epidemic. In recent years, developments in treatment have meant that patient care and survival in the industrialised countries have improved considerably, but this progress remains inaccessible to the poorest countries. The Commission Communication to the Council and the European Parliament (1) For increased solidarity to confront AIDS in developing countries confirms that the Commission is willing to increase cooperation with the international community and stresses that the effort must include the whole range of public and private institutional actors. The Commission is working closely with the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) as well as the pharmaceutical industry to develop mechanisms allowing easier access to patient care and new forms of financial solidarity. The Commission is also aware that patient care can only be viable if the healthcare systems are improved at the same time and international medical aid must be targeted and extremely well structured to achieve the long-term aim of reducing morbidity and mortality connected with HIV-AIDS. It is important to remember that the new anti-retroviral treatments involve considerable constraints for the patient and perfectly trained staff and rigorous follow-up techniques are needed. If there is not strict compliance with treatment protocols, the whole effectiveness of the treatment will be jeopardised in the long-term and on a large scale. This is why the Commissionís strategy in this field involves both specific targeted actions through the special HIV-AIDS budget heading and more general aid programmes to improve the healthcare systems. Over the last ten years the Commission has committed more than EUR 200 million to this special budget to support national and regional programmes in countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America worst affected by the epidemic. The programmes prioritise preventive action but also support the improvement in care, especially for opportunist infections which can be fairly simply and efficiently treated. The specific measures are supplemented by broader cooperation programmes to tackle the improvement of healthcare systems, as this is the only way to ensure sustainability. EUR 23 million is available under the special budget heading for 2000 to develop innovative research and measures contributing to more effective and sustainable policies in this field. Priority will be given to 24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/175 preventing transmission from mother to child, developing the system of high-quality sustainable patient care and studying the economic mechanisms of public healthcare influencing the capacity to develop adequate vaccines and raise awareness among private and public bodies of the need to develop microbiocide products accessible to all. The Commission has just signed a financing agreement with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States for EUR 20 million taken from the resources of the 8th European Development Fund (EDF) earmarked for All ACP Statesí. It envisages applied research, education and training projects aiming to develop institutional capacities and implement prevention strategies, especially at regional level. (1) COM(98) 407 final. (2000/C 303 E/197) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0327/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: Health implications of mobile telephony transmission units (11 February 2000) In certain parts of Spain the mobile telephone companies operating in the country are installing transmission units in an anarchic fashion and with total disregard for the environment and for aesthetic, landscape, safety and public health considerations. Their activities are not covered by any specific rules governing the terms and conditions relating to the installation of the infrastructure associated with such units (although there are rules relating to the automatic mobile telephony service and the government requirement for infrastructure to be shared for public interest, safety or environmental reasons). The decision to allow such units to be installed is often entirely at the discretion of the local government official responsible for such matters in the area concerned, although no study may have been carried out into the impact on the environment or on public health and, in many cases, an installation licence may not have been issued. At Community level (see the Commissionís replies to Written Questions Nos 274/95 (1) 3142/95 (2) 737/ 96 (3) and 2304/96 (4) relating to mobile telephony transmission units and the harmful effects which emissions of non-ionising radiation given off by such units may have on human health) the Commission undertook to have a study on the matter carried out by experts. The harmful effects which such units may have on human health have already been examined by the World Health Organisation. Is the Commission intending to introduce Community rules governing the siting of GSM mobile telephone transmission stations? Can the Commission demand that Spain carry out studies and draw up rules concerning the effects which the installation of mobile telephone networks may have on the environment and on public health? (1) OJ C 179, 13. 7. 1995, p. 11. (2) OJ C 137, 8. 5. 1996, p. 3. (3) OJ C 217, 26. 7. 1996, p. 13. (4) OJ C 60, 26. 2. 1997, p. 140. Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (28 March 2000) On 12 July 1999, acting on a proposal from the Commission, the Council adopted Recommendation fields 1999/519/EC on the (O Hz to 300 GHz) (1). This text contributes to ensuring a high level of health protection for all European citizens as far as possible. The text of the Recommendation does not refer to any specific appliances. It covers all sources of non-ionising radiation, including mobile telephony systems. the general public to electromagnetic limitation of exposure of The Council and the Parliament have also adopted a Directive on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity (the R&TTE Directive (2)). This lays down the requirements that radio transmitters need to meet in order to be placed on the market and be operated, i. e. the requirement that products should be safe and not endanger health when used for their intended purpose. It envisages that Member States may restrict operation for health reasons, e. g. by