WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3424/98 by Karin RIIS-JØRGENSEN to the Commission. Implementation of the Machinery Directive
Date: 1998-11-24
Institutions: European Parliament, RIIS-JOERGENSEN
Subjects: EC conformity marking, EU control, European standard, directive (EU), free movement of goods, harmonisation of standards, machinery, standardisation, technical regulations, technical standard

21.7.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 207/67

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3421/98, E-3447/98, E-3448/98 and E-3449/98
given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(13 January 1999)

The strategy set out in the Commission’s communication on the action plan concerning the competitiveness of
the textile and clothing industry forms part of the supportivel aspect of industrial policy. Against this backdrop
the Commission is currently putting the final touches to a management chart whose main purpose will be to
identify specific activities which can support any action by economic operators in the textile and clothing
industry that is able to prompt better utilisation of the opportunities offered by the Structural Funds, the
research and development (R&D) programmes and the programmes intended for small and medium-sized
businesses (SMBs).

In view of the research being carried out, more particularly on new working methods, electronic commerce
and the use of multimedia tools (34 % of the funds available) a substantial part of the future framework R&D
programme put forward by the Commission is devoted to support for innovation. The part concerning the key
‘Innovative industrial products, processes and organisations’ project will absorb roughly 4 % of the budget for
the framework programme. In addition the Commission has stated that 10 % of the budget for the framework
programme would be allocated to SMBs. In cooperation with the major economic operators the Commission
has identified a number of projects, under the action plan, which may be funded via the future framework
programme.

The Commission is closely monitoring developments in the economic situation in the South-East Asian
countries. The industry concerned had considered that area to be a promising market for textile and clothing
products. This is illustrated by its growing prominence in the sales abroad of European textile and clothing
products. According to the analyses conducted by the Commission the Asian crisis will have an impact on the
foreign trade in those products, above all in up-and mid-market products. Since the funds available are limlited
the Commission does not intend to carry out a study in this area, but it is keeping a close eye on the
developments taking place.

The action plan put forward by the Commission has enabled it to identify a certain number of areas to be given
preference. These should inspire action by those involved in this industry, namely companies, trade
associations and the trade unions, and also the national public authorities and those of the Community.
The dialogue begun with both sides of this industry has enabled the Commission to conclude that the intended
action is likely to receive financial support under existing financial programmes and instruments, including the
action launched at the Luxembourg European Council in November 1997.

(1999/C 207/087)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3424/98

by Karin Riis-Jørgensen (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 November 1998)

Subject: Implementation of the Machinery Directive

The EU Machinery Directive was adopted about nine years ago, but surveys reveal that little more than 200 of
the approximately 900 standards for machinery have been adopted. Commission surveys also show that, in
general, two thirds of the approximately 2 900 technical standards have not yet been approved and that, on
average, it takes six years and three months to draw up a CEN standard.

Will the Commission, in such a vast and important sector of trade in the EU as machinery, be able to make
additional efforts, speedily and effectively, given that only about one quarter of the standards for which the
Machinery Directive provides have been finalised?

Will it also explain what specific action it intends to take in order to step up the pace of standardisation
generally, so as to reduce the average time needed for the adoption of standards?

Has it given any thought to how in future, even when all the standards have been finalised, it will be possible to
ensure that the goods concerned may bought and sold without checks being duplicated and in accordance with
internal market rules, so that Member States and regions cannot keep invoking special circumstances and thus
obtain derogations from the EU rules that have been adopted and are in force?