WRITTEN QUESTION E-0328/00 by Georges Berthu (UEN) to the Commission. Courtesy titles conferred by non-member countries on European officials.
Date: 2000-02-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Commission Delegation, diplomatic immunity

C 303 E/176

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

24.10.2000

imposing certain minimum distances between the transmitter and the public. This Directive does not lay
down any requirements on local environmental
installations of base stations for mobile
telephones which remain a responsibility of Member States.

impact of

To facilitate operation of the low voltage Directive 73/23/EE (3) 3 (LVD) and the R&TTE Directive, the
Commission mandates the European standardisation bodies (the European committee for standardisation
(CEN), the European committee for electrotechnical standardisation (Cenelec) and the European telecom-
munications standard institute (ETSI)) to draw up European harmonised standards covering safety aspects
of electromagnetic fields (0 hertz (Hz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz) generated by products, in accordance with
basic restrictions and reference levels of Recommendation 1999/519/EC regarding human health protec-
tion. Those standards will have to be transposed into national standards and conflicting national standards
will have to be withdrawn.

It will then be possible to perform measurements of environmental fields which, should they show that the
lead to technical adaptation
population is exposed to values higher than those recommended, will
measures to avoid any adverse impact on public health and the environment due to exposure to any
source of non-ionising radiation.

(1) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.
(2) Directive 1999/5/EC of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the

mutual recognition of their conformity (OJ L 91, 7.4.1999).

(3) Council Directive 73/23/EEC of 19 February 1973 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to

electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (OJ L 77, 26.3.1973) as amended.

(2000/C 303 E/198)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0328/00

by Georges Berthu (UEN) to the Commission

(11 February 2000)

Subject: Courtesy titles conferred by non-member countries on European officials

In its reply to Written Question P-0224/99 (1) concerning the title of (cid:145)Ambassador(cid:146) assumed by certain
Commission heads of delegation, the Commission states that (cid:145)it is customary (in view of the delegations(cid:146)
diplomatic privileges and immunities) for the accrediting State to accord the head of delegation the rank,
and courtesy title, of ambassador(cid:146).

Does the Commission consider it normal that foreign countries should be the ones to confer titles on
European officials, rather than the EU Member States? What action is it planning in order to ensure that
European officials, in the course of their duties, do not make official use of titles (even courtesy ones)
conferred by non-member countries?

(1) OJ C 289, 11.10.1999, p. 143.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2000)

It is in the nature of diplomatic practice that the accrediting State requests from the host State the level of
accreditation it wishes for its diplomatic agents there. It is in this sense that the accrediting state grants the
title to the official.

This rule also applies to heads of the Commission(cid:146)s delegation, representation or office who are accredited
at head of state level. Member States are informed by the Commission of its intention to appoint a head of
delegation and are informed of the rank and courtesy title which will be sought in the country of
accreditation.

Commission heads of mission receive guidance as to the occasions when it is appropriate to use the
courtesy title.