WRITTEN QUESTION E-1335/00 by Pervenche Berès (PSE) to the Commission. Free equipment and access to the Internet in schools.
Date: 2000-05-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, Internet, access to information, application of EU law, competition law, educational institution, universal service

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Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

suffering from sarcoidosis have problems with what is in any case a difficult diagnosis of their illness. The
European Sarcoidosis Foundation has now received the support of Dr Alexandre Vizel, professor in the
medical faculty of the University of Kazan (Tartarstan) and head of the pulmonology section.

Is the Commission aware of the problems of sarcoidosis patients? If so,

1.
concerned with sarcoidosis?

is it financing projects

Is the Commission prepared to give financial support to the European Sarcoidosis Foundation in

2.
view of the specific difficulties facing sarcoidosis patients? If so, in what way can this aid be given?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(13 June 2000)

1.
The Commission is well aware of the problems of sarcoidosis patients. The Commission has been
informed that the prevalence of the disease is less than five affected people per 10 000 in the Community
and thus it is one of the 5 000 different kinds of diseases that fall within the general definition of (cid:145)rare
disease(cid:146). As the Community can provide a strong added value in the area of rare diseases, the Commission
has proposed a comprehensive strategy based on three actions.

Pharmaceutical policy. Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 of the Parliament and of the Council of 16 December
1999 on orphan medicinal products (1) was recently adopted and it will provide incentives for research,
development and placing on the market of designated orphan medicinal products (pharmaceutical
products for rare diseases). A committee for orphan medicinal products is set up within the European
agency for the evaluation of medicinal products. The Commission has recently nominated three members
representing patients(cid:146) organisations.

Public health policy. Within the framework for action in the field of public health, a programme of
Community action on rare diseases (1999-2003) is currently being implemented by the Commission.
Transnational collaboration of organisations of those directly or indirectly affected by rare diseases is one
of
the four actions to be implemented. The other actions concern the promotion of a European
information network on rare diseases, training on rare diseases and monitoring of rare diseases.

Research policy. The fifth framework programme on research ((cid:145)Quality of life and management of living
resources(cid:146)) provides for several areas in which diseases such as sarcoidosis are covered,
in particular
(cid:145)Activities of generic nature(cid:146) area 7 which explicitly mentions rare diseases, and key action 4 (cid:145)Environment
and health(cid:146).

The Commission is not currently funding any specific project on sarcoidosis, but this disease is
2.
addressed under the more general actions in the above areas. Sarcoidosis patients(cid:146) organisations are eligible
to take part in any of the abovementioned initiatives. This should be done following the specific rules
defined for each of them (procedure defined by Regulation (EC) No 141/2000 for orphan medicinal
journal for research and public health
products; reply to calls for proposals published in the Official
programmes).

(1) OJ L 18, 22.1.2000.

(2001/C 53 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1335/00

by Pervenche BerŁs (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Free equipment and access to the Internet in schools

(4 May 2000)

A major German telecommunications operator has indicated recently that it is prepared to supply, free of
charge and before the end of the year, e-mail addresses, home pages and access to its Internet access
provider for 40 000 German schools.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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Can the Commission say:

1. Whether it considers that

the universal service
obligations, as the European Parliament has stated, and whether it agrees that free Internet access for
schools is not covered by the Community rules on competition, in accordance with Article 86(2)
(ex Article 90(2));

free Internet access for schools forms part of

2. Whether it considers that free Internet access for schools is the best way of gradually achieving the
aim of linking up all European schools to a trans-European high-speed network, as was decided at the
Lisbon European Council meeting of 23 and 24 March?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2000)

1.
The Commission has not been called on to examine the Schulen ans Netz initiative, which was
launched jointly by Deutsche Telekom and the German Ministry of Education and Research in 1996, and
is, therefore, unable to give an opinion on whether it is compatible with Community rules. The EC Treaty
rules do not prevent public authorities from contributing to the costs of Internet equipment and access in
schools, provided that the arrangements in place are compatible with the rules on state aid and,
in
particular, that the contribution is granted on a non-discriminatory basis. However, subsidising access for
schools does not form part of the universal telecommunications service within the meaning of Parliament
and Council Directive 98/10/EC of 26 February 1998 on the application of open network provision (ONP)
to voice telephony and on universal service for telecommunications in a competitive environment (1). The
Directive makes it clear that the exception in Article 86(2) (former Article 90) of the EC Treaty regarding
services of general economic interest does apply in the area of telecommunications. Article 86(2) could
not, therefore, be cited as grounds for having a universal service fund finance the provision of services not
covered by the Directive.

2.
The Lisbon European Council urged the Member States to see to it that all schools in the Community
had Internet access by the end of 2001. It did not, however, stipulate that access had to be free of charge.
Access always involves a cost for someone. Providing subsidies may increase the demand for access and
help achieve the objective set out in the Lisbon conclusions. However, schools should not be deprived of a
genuine choice of service provider and access infrastructure. As in other areas, it is competition that makes
for high-quality products and best stimulates innovation.

(1) OJ L 101, 1.4.1998.

(2001/C 53 E/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1338/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(4 May 2000)

Subject: Transfer of jobs from the United Kingdom to Germany due to tax credits

Is the Commission aware of the transfer of jobs from Commercial Hydraulics Ultra Division in Chelten-
ham, UK, with the loss of 252 jobs and the closure of the factory, to Sachsen Hydraulics in Chemnitz,
Germany, and of the claim that this transfer is largely motivated by tax credits available in Germany and
not in the UK?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 2000)

The Commission has not previously been made aware of the facts mentioned by the Honourable Member.
However the Commission fully understands the social and economic difficulties created in regions which
lose jobs to other parts of the Community.