WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2269/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Technical standards and regulations
Date: 1997-07-02
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: access to information, computer network, information network, interactive network, national law, services contract, technical regulations, technical standard

C 117/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16. 4. 98

(98/C 117/07)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2269/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(2 July 1997)

Subject: Technical standards and regulations

The Commission has submitted a communication to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and
Social Committee concerning regulatory transparency in the internal market for information society services,
together with a proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive amending for the third time Directive
83/189/EEC laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and
regulations (COM(96) 392 final › 96/0220 COD) (1).

The Commission communication and proposal for a Council directive are designed to introduce an information
and  consultation  procedure  at  Community  level  on  any  future  draft  rules  in  the  field  of  information  society
services.

The  services,  which  cover  a  wide  range,  are  continually  expanding  in  number.  They  include  in  particular
electronic  newspapers,  teaching  services,  remote  selling  of  tourist  services,  electronic  sales  of  goods  and
services, legal and medical advice, interactive games, entertainment, etc.

The development of these services is not occurring in a legal void at present, since the provisions on the internal
market laid down in Article 52 (right of establishment) and Article 59 (free movement of services) of the Treaty,
and the secondary legislation based on these articles, already provide a basic legal framework. However, the
wide variety of activities undertaking in this area at national and Community level in the form of research and
study group reports would indicate that existing national regulations applicable to existing services clearly need
to be adjusted to take account of the specific characteristics of these new information society services.

With  this  in  mind,  will  the  Commission  ensure  that  national  and  regional  authorities  are  involved  in  the
development of the information society?

(1)  OJ C 307, 16.10.1996, p. 11.

(98/C 117/08)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2270/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(2 July 1997)

Subject: Technical standards and regulations

The Commission has submitted a communication to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and
Social Committee concerning regulatory transparency in the internal market for information society services,
together with a proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive amending for the third time Directive
83/189/EEC laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and
regulations (COM(96) 392 final › 96/0220 COD) (1).

In order to avoid fragmentation of the internal market and pursue general interest objectives more effectively, it
is  clear  that  future  legislative  activity  needs  to  be  coordinated  at  Community  level.  Will  the  Commission
therefore  issue  a  publication  showing  who  is  responsible  within  the  Commission  for  the  development  of
information society services and what these services involve?

(1)  OJ C 307, 16.10.1996, p. 11.

(98/C 117/09)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2271/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(2 July 1997)

Subject: Technical standards and regulations

The Commission has submitted a communication to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic
and Social  Committee  concerning  regulatory  transparency  in  the  internal  market  for  information society