(2004/C 84 E/0829)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3470/03

by Catherine Stihler (PSE) to the Commission

(21 November 2003)

Subject:   Health risk reports relating to Tetrapol use

Could the Commission inform us whether there have been reports in any European countries of health risks and illnesses as the result of the use of Tetrapol in relation to the use of handsets and/or from people working or living near the masts?

Joint answer

to Written Questions E-3464/03 and E-3470/03

given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(18 December 2003)

GSM, TETRA, Tetrapol (and UMTS) technologies are used by networks providing mobile communications services.

Tetrapol is a technology, which competes in the market for private mobile communications services, for instance with the TETRA technology. Information on the roll-out of Tetrapol is published on the Tetrapol Forum website. Information on the networks in Europe is found under: (http://www.tetrapol.com/www/corp/references.php?id_zone=4&id_industrie=0&x= 10&y=13).

The Commission is not aware of any reports of health risks and illnesses relating to the use of Tetrapol handsets and/or from people working or living near the Tetrapol masts. The existing regulatory framework in the Union and in Member States, such as applied for GSM and TETRA masts and handsets, is technology neutral and also appropriate for the Tetrapol technology. It provides for a high protection of health for our citizens. The Honourable Member is further referred to the response of the Commission to the large number of questions on this matter, recently to written questions E-3076/03 by Mr Meijer (1), E-3042/02 by Mr Miller (2) and H-0594/03 by Mr Papayannakis during question time at Parliament's October 2003 session (3).

(1)  OJ C 70 E, 20.3.2004, p. 211.

(2)  See page 499.

(3)  Written reply, 21.10.2003.