WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1501/98 by Daniel VARELA SUANZES- CARPEGNA to the Commission. The information society and social and economic cohesion
Date: 1998-05-13
Institutions: European Parliament, VARELA SUANZES-CARPEGNA
Subjects: EU financing, European Social Fund, action programme, co-financing, economic and social cohesion, feasibility study, information policy, library, regional aid, teleworking

C 13/38

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.1.1999

(1999/C 13/053)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1501/98

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: The information society and social and economic cohesion

(13 May 1998)

In her appearance before Parliament(cid:146)s Committee on Regional Policy on 23 January 1997 in connection with the
presentation of the Commission Communication on cohesion and the information society (COM(97) 7 final of
22 January 1997), Mrs Mathies, Commissioner, mentioned that budget resources under Article 6 of the ESF had
been made available to a certain number of regions with a view to the drawing up of a strategy and an action
programme for transition to the information society.

Could the Commission provide information regarding all the projects relating to the information society which
have so far been co-financed by the Commission under Article 6 of the ESF and also those which will be co-
financed between now and the end of the current planning period, specifying the regions concerned, the total cost
of implementation and the extent of Community co-financing?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 1998)

At the present time, Article 6 of the European social fund (ESF) Regulation (1) supports pilot projects in the field
of the information society through the regional information society initiative (RISI). Under this scheme ESF
finances a total of ten projects. Eight projects are supported in the field of RISI 1 (regional strategy and action
plans). The areas concerned are Bremen-Germany, Attika-Greece, Midi-PyrØnØes-France, South West Region-
Ireland, North Karelia-Finland, Murcia-Spain, Blekinge-Sweden, Wales-United Kingdom. Each project receives
a total of up to 250 000 ECU co-financing at a rate of 50 % for producing a strategy and action plan on the
information society. Two projects are supported in the field of RISI 2 (regional information society applications).
These are multi regional projects which aim to carry out feasibility studies before testing practical applications in
the regions concerned. The two projects are in the domain of cross-border telework (Telecentres) and libraries as
information and training centres (ISTAR). The former is receiving co-financing of 2,4 MECU at a rate of 50 %,
and the latter is supported at the same rate to a total of 1,1 MECU.

(1) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993.

(1999/C 13/054)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1510/98

by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) to the Commission

(13 May 1998)

Subject: Common defence against (cid:145)technological sabotage(cid:146)

It is clear that, these days, both public and private information systems are highly vulnerable since they are
closely dependent on technology. This dependence means that security networks, financial institutions and even
centres of power are extremely vulnerable to attacks on their computer systems.

Consideration must be given to the risks currently posed by (cid:145)technological sabotage(cid:146) and the implications which
such activities could have, particularly in the finance, energy and communication sectors.

In view of the interdependence which living in a Community involves and in view of the attacks which could be
carried out by means of the (cid:145)technological sabotage(cid:146) described above, does the Commission not consider that it
should propose a Community typology of technological contraventions so as to enable all the Member States to
defend themselves jointly against this new type of illegal activity?