WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3746/98 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. EC mark for electric shock batons
Date: 1998-12-11
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: Community certification, EC Directive, Taiwan, electrical equipment, personal weapon, torture

C 207/122

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.7.1999

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 1999)

With regard to the questions raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission would point out that the
conditions under which Member States grant nationals who are resident abroad the right to vote in the various
national elections fall within the exclusive powers of those Member States. The legislation referred to by the
Honourable Member does not therefore violate Community law. Under the terms of Article 8b of the EC
Treaty, every citizen residing in a Member State of which he is not a national shall have the right to vote and to
stand as a candidate at municipal and European Parliament elections in the Member State in which he resides,
under the same conditions as nationals of that State.

As regards the Honourable Member’s inquiry as to legislation in the other Member States, the Commission
regrets that it does not have sufficient information at its disposal to provide an answer.

(1999/C 207/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3746/98

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: EC mark for electric shock batons

Is the Commission aware that The Huang Plastic Co. Limited, of 5/f no 210 Ming Fung Street, His-Chih-Cheng,
Taipei, Taiwan, produces an electric shock device for which they claim EC certification?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(2 February 1999)

The Commission was not aware of the matter described by the Honourable Member.

The safety of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (between 50 and 1 000 volts
for alternating current and between 75 and 1 500 volts for direct current) is regulated by Council Directive
73/23/EEC of 19 February 1973 on the harmonization of the laws of Member States relating to electrical
equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (1). The Commission does not possess enough
information to determine whether or not the device in question is covered by this Directive.

Further, the control of the acquisition and possession of weapons is regulated by Council Directive 91/477/
EEC of 18 June 1991 (2), which lays down the categories of weapons the acquisition or possession of which by
private persons are either prohibited or subject to authorisation or declaration. In this context, national
legislation may also be of relevance.

With a view to a possible initiative in respect of combatting torture or other cruel, degrading or inhuman
treatment, the Commission is presently gathering more precise information regarding the classification of
electric shock devices under the national arms/weapons legislation of Member States.

(1) OJ L 77, 26.3.1973.
(2) OJ L 256, 13.9.1991.

(1999/C 207/165)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3751/98

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Financial support for educational charities

Is the Commission aware of the financial assistance being given to educational charities such as the Council for
Education in World Citizenship, which purports to be non-partisan and yet, under the banner of Europe 2000,
presented a platform of elected representatives recently at North Devon College which included no