WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2477/98 by Astrid THORS to the Commission. Bioterrorism
Date: 1998-07-30
Institutions: European Parliament, THORS
Subjects: biological weapon, chemical weapon, disarmament, export monitoring, international convention, international security, non-proliferation of arms, terrorism

C 96/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.4.1999

(1999/C 96/142)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2476/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Pirate production in the music industry

Is the Council aware of the difficulties encountered by the music industry as a consequence of pirate
1.
production through the Internet, which is depriving the industry of income estimated at some ECU 4,5 billion
worldwide?

Is the Council aware that existing copyright legislation is much too weak to deal adequately with the

2.
problem of illegal copying of sound recordings?

3. What action is the Council prepared to take in the short term to put a stop to unlawful copying practices in
the music industry?

4. Will the Council instruct the Commission to put pressure on countries in Central and Eastern Europe to take
legal action against pirate producers?

Reply

(3 November 1998)

The Council is aware of the problems resulting from piracy in the music industry, including through the Internet.

With regard to the adaptation of copyright legislation in the Community to take account of the new digital
environment, the Council has begun its examination of the Commission(cid:146)s proposal for a European Parliament and
Council Directive on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the Information
Society, and looks forward to receiving the European Parliament(cid:146)s Opinion at first reading on this proposal in the
near future.

As far as music piracy in Central and Eastern European countries is concerned, the Council would point out that
under the terms of the Europe Agreement, countries of Central and Eastern Europe with which such an
Agreement has been concluded are obliged to improve the protection of intellectual, industrial and commercial
property rights in order to provide for a level of protection similar to that existing in the Community, including
comparable means of enforcing such rights. The Council is satisfied that the Commission is making every effort
to ensure adequate protection of intellectual property rights by Central and Eastern European countries. The
Council notes that the primary objective of the Europe Agreement and the enhanced pre-accession strategy is to
ensure that countries which have applied for membership of the European Union arrive at a position in which they
have adopted in full, and can implement effectively in all areas, the Community (cid:145)acquis(cid:146), including intellectual
property rights.

(1999/C 96/143)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2477/98

by Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission

(30 July 1998)

Subject: Bioterrorism

According to reports in a specialist periodical, medical research has ascertained that it would be relatively easy
for a ruthless terrorist organization to attack a city for example using biological agents such as anthrax. Man-
made epidemics could spread out of control.

What action does the Commission intend to take to reduce the risk of terrorist attacks using biological weapons,
and, if they did occur, to reduce their impact?