WRITTEN QUESTION P-0665/00 by Roberto Bigliardo (TDI) to the Commission. Echelon telecommunications monitoring system. Involvement of the United Kingdom.
Date: 2000-02-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: United Kingdom, United States, infringement of EU law, protection of communications

C 374 E/128

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.12.2000

(2000/C 374 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0661/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Galicia and the Transeuropean Rail Networks

(9 March 2000)

The President of Galicia, Mr Manuel Fraga, along with the President of Castille and Leon, Mr Lucas, has
announced in the Galician press that he intends to hold talks with the Commission to secure pesetas
600 000 million (EUR 3 610 million) worth of the Cohesion Fund monies earmarked for Spain, for the
purpose of incorporating Galicia, via Castille and Leon, into the transeuropean high speed rail network.

Since Mrs Loyola de Palacio, the transport Commissioner, has repeatedly said that the decision on the high
speed links for the period 2000-2006 under the Cohesion Fund would be taken by the Spanish
Government, with which President Fraga should have considerable direct influence, particularly as regards
preventing Galicia from being disciminated against in the full scale Europe-wide modernisation of the
railways, will the Commission please tell me the purpose of its possibly being approached by Mr Fraga in
this way?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2000)

The Commission is not in a position to comment on the meaning of or intention behind the statements of
presidents of the Autonomous Communities.

The Commissioner responsible for transport was referring to one of the criteria which projects must meet
to receive part-funding from the Cohesion Fund under Article 10(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1164/
94 (1) instituting the Cohesion Fund. This lays down that the priority assigned by a Member State to a
given project is one of the qualitative criteria which must be contained in any project proposal put to the
Commission. In the case of transport projects, and more particularly those relating to the development of
trans-European transport networks, the central government authorities are responsible for setting these
national priorities.

(1) OJ L 130, 25.5.1994.

(2000/C 374 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0665/00

by Roberto Bigliardo (TDI) to the Commission

(29 February 2000)

Subject:

(cid:145)Echelon(cid:146) telecommunications monitoring system. Involvement of the United Kingdom

Is the Commission aware of the revelations which have appeared in a number of newspapers and which
featured in a news bulletin broadcast on 21 February 2000 by the international French-language television
channel TV5 concerning the Campbell report, according to which the United Kingdom is involved in a
telecommunications monitoring system known as (cid:145)Echelon(cid:146) which is run by the USA and whose coverage
extends to include Europe?

Under the terms of a secret agreement concluded in 1948 with the USA, the United Kingdom provides
facilities for the equipment needed for this gigantic (cid:145)ear(cid:146), which is capable of intercepting any kind of
communication.

The Campbell report maintains that the USA has used the system not only for military purposes but also
in order to benefit US industries and companies at the expense of European ones.

Is the Commission aware of these revelations?

28.12.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 374 E/129

Does the Commission not consider that the United Kingdom has broken the solidarity pact which binds all
the EU Member States?

Does the Commission not think that, in such circumstances, it should suggest to the Council of Ministers
that the latter impose exemplary sanctions on the United Kingdom for infringement of the Amsterdam
Treaty?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(18 April 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its statement on Echelon at Parliament(cid:146)s March III
part session (1).

(1) Debates of the European Parliament (March 2000).

(2000/C 374 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0668/00

by Isidoro SÆnchez Garc(cid:237)a (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 February 2000)

Subject: Legislation to implement Article 299(2) in the framework of the common agricultural policy

With reference to the undertaking given by the Commission to include in its work programme for 2000
measures to accord special status to the outermost regions, what measures will the Commission adopt in
the framework of the common agricultural policy to introduce legislation to implement Article 299(2) of
the Treaty on European Union?

Given answer by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2000)

On 23 November 1999, on the initiative of the President of the Commission, a partnership meeting was
held bringing together Members of the European Parliament and representatives of the seven regions and
three Member States concerned to discuss implementation of the new Article 299(2) (formerly Article 227)
of the EC Treaty. In the light of this meeting and the memoranda presented by the regions and Member
States, the Commission is now preparing the report called for by the European Council of Cologne.

In the spirit of Article 299(2), the Commission intends to continue its policy of taking account of the
specific characteristics and constraints of the outermost regions, particularly as regards farming. Thus, as
indicated in its work programme for 2000, once it has adopted its report the Commission will submit a
draft to Parliament and the Council of any amendments of the Council Regulations on the agricultural
sections of the POSEI programmes which might prove necessary.

(2000/C 374 E/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0671/00

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE), Stefano Zappal(cid:224) (PPE-DE),
Giorgio Lisi (PPE-DE), Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE), Raffaele Fitto (PPE-DE),
Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE), Raffaele Lombardo (PPE-DE)
and Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2000)

Subject: Violation of EU legislation on the cloning of human beings

What action does the Commission intend to take following the decision made by the European Patent
Office in Munich to approve the grant of a patent for embryo duplication.