WRITTEN QUESTION E-2096/99 by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The Y2K problem.
Date: 1999-11-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, EU policy, data protection, operation of the Institutions, public awareness campaign

3.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 280 E/9

Since 1988, Community type approval for wheeled agricultural or a forestry tractor has been optional (cid:129)
see Council Directive 74/150/EEC of 4 March 1974 (2). The Commission is working on a complete
overhaul of the type approval legislation for tractors to make Community type approval compulsory. This
would ensure the single market in this sector. The draft directive will be submitted in 2000 to Council and
to Parliament.

The Commission has recently granted a contract to independent management consultants to evaluate the
functioning of procedures to authorise medicinal products in the Community. This includes the procedures
to evaluate veterinary medicinal products. The consultants are expected to talk to representatives of all
Concerned. The report is expected to be ready by the end of 2000. Depending on the outcome of the
report the Commission will reconsider existing Community legislation and the authorisation procedures
therein.

Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the
market (3), and in particular its Annex VI, provides a harmonised framework for the safety review of active
substances and for national authorisations of plant protection products. It has been implemented in
national
law in all Member States. Working group discussions with Member States are under way to
provide guidance on remaining open questions, which concern, for example, parallel imports. Overall, in
the sector of plant protection products, a high degree of harmonisation and transparency has been
achieved.

(1) OJ L 24, 30.1.1976.
(2) OJ L 84, 28.3.1974.
(3) OJ L 230, 19.8.1991.

(2000/C 280 E/008)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2096/99

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 November 1999)

Subject: The Y2K problem

The YTK problem is caused by the inability of many computer systems correctly to process dates after
31.12.1999, owing to the widespread practice of having only two digits to indicate the year.

Since the problem may have consequences for the internal functioning of the Community institutions and
also for the implementation of certain Community policies, such as for example, the internal market,
e-commerce, banking transactions, etc., will the Commission say:

1. What measures does it intend to take to address the Y2K problem and publish information about it?

2. How does it intend to notify the authorities of the Member States and public opinion about matters
which fall within the Community(cid:146)s purview and to take coordinating measures, where appropriate?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(10 January 2000)

The Commission has published on the Europa server at http://europa.eu.int/comm/y2k/preparation a
summary of the measures it has taken to ensure its own internal preparedness and continued functioning.

As for the other institutions, the inter-institutional committee for informatics (CII) continues to co-ordinate
year 2000 (Y2K) activities to ensure a common approach to the problem. The Commission also organised
in July 1999 a symposium with Member States and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on the
adaptation of European information systems to the year 2000 and the Euro.

C 280 E/10

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.10.2000

In general, the responsibility for resolving the Y2K problem within the Community as a whole lies with
the individual enterprises and organisations concerned, whose progress is monitored by Member State
authorities. Nevertheless, in recognition of the need for co-ordination between countries in critical services
with a cross-border aspect, such as finance, telecommunications, energy, and transport, the Commission
has carried out several activities.

Firstly, workshops involving Community industry and public authorities have been taking place since
1997. In particular, two large workshops with infrastructure providers from all major sectors throughout
the Community were organised in April 1999 and September 1999 to examine cross-border issues,
especially contingency planning. The results of these workshops are posted on the Commission(cid:146)s special
Y2K website at http://www.ispo.cec.be/y2keuro/y2k.htm.

Secondly, since July 1999, the national Y2K co-ordinators in the Community and European economic area
(EEA) countries have met on a monthly basis to share information and exchange ideas on how to address
various issues associated with the problem. Specific attention has been paid to the co-ordination of
contingency plans between Member States.

Finally, the Commission has recently published communications (1) which provide an overview of the
evolution of the situation of critical infrastructure sectors in the Community in the first, second and third
quarters of 1999.

(1) COM(99) 545 final COM(99) 639 final COM(99) 651 final.

(2000/C 280 E/009)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2129/99

by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 November 1999)

Subject: Fisheries policy of the European Commission in the next Millennium Round

What is the policy of the European Commission in the next Millennium Round regarding the Common
Fisheries Policy?

Having in mind that some of the contracting parties of the WTO and some NGOs criticise the Common
Fisheries Policy, has the Commission planned a negotiating strategy to counterbalance this criticism?

Is the Commission ready to stand and follow a strategy that points out the positive effects that the
Common Fisheries Policy has in the management of the fisheries stocks and in the contribution of the
economic development of some developing countries?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 2000)

Notwithstanding the unsuccessful outcome of the Third WTO Ministerial Conference in Seattle as regards
timing and subjects for negotiation, the Commission has performed preparatory work on a possible
Community negotiating strategy for further trade liberalisation.

In its communication on (cid:145)The EU approach to the WTO Millennium Round (1)(cid:146) the Commission set out a
possible Community agenda for the round, which should among other things include further liberalisation
or rule-making in the fields of agriculture and services, non-agricultural tariffs, investment, competition,
trade facilitation, and trade and environment. Results in all areas should support and contribute to
sustainable development. This comprehensive programme was endorsed by the Council in its conclusions
of 25 October 1999.