WRITTEN QUESTION E-1506/00 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Cost of transferring amounts reimbursed.
Date: 2000-05-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, Member of the European Parliament, allowances and expenses, bank charges

C 53 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

The TRIPs Agreement contains certain minimum standards for the protection not only of copyright but all
categories of intellectual property. In the particular case of copyright, it requires WTO members to comply
with the major provisions of the Berne Convention. It also provides for the establishment of the TRIPs
Council to monitor the operation of the TRIPs agreement and WTO members(cid:146) compliance with it. In
carrying out its functions, the TRIPs Council may consult with and seek information from any source
including WIPO. The aim is to establish a mutually supportive relationship between WIPO and the WTO.
Moreover, on the basis of Article 68 of the TRIPs Agreement, both organisations have concluded co-
operation agreements. Accordingly, the mere fact that in relation to copyright, both treaties overlap to a
certain extent does not give rise to concern as regards question of competence and responsibility, as there
is no hierarchy between the Berne Convention, the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the TRIPs Agreement.

(2001/C 53 E/200)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1505/00

by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Subject: Interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system

Council Directive 96/48/EC (1) of 23 July 1996 on interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail
system established that the deadline for transposition would be 8 April 1999.

Would the Commission please indicated the countries which have not yet incorporated it in their
legislation?

(1) OJ L 235, 17.9.1996, p. 6.

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2000)

Council Directive 96/48/EC of 23 July 1996 on the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail
system provides that (cid:145)Member States shall amend and adopt their laws, regulations and administrative
provisions so as to authorise the use of interoperability constituents and the putting into service and
operation of subsystems which comply with this Directive no later than 30 months after entry into force
of this Directive(cid:146).

The Directive should therefore have been transposed by 8 April 1999.

To date, four Member States (Denmark, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands) have notified measures
incorporating the Directive into national law. Infringement proceedings have been brought against the
Member States which have not transposed the Directive, as provided for in Article 226 (ex Article 169) of
the EC Treaty.

(2001/C 53 E/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1506/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Subject: Cost of transferring amounts reimbursed

I recently received via Western Union/GWK a payment of BEF 5 000 as reimbursement for the costs I
incurred in attending a European Commission Conference in Amsterdam. This payment was made from
rue Montoyer to rue Wiertz and cost BEF 630.

Does the Commission have any similar programmes for providing financial assistance to Belgian banks?
Has it considered delivering such sums by taxi, as it would be cheaper?

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/157

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2000)

The Commission used the services of an external contractor to assist in the organisation and management
of the conference at which the Honourable Member spoke. In normal circumstances the contractor pays
daily allowances to speakers by bank transfer, but as the Honourable Member had been invited at short
notice and had not spoken previously at a conference organised by this contractor, the bank account
details would not have been available in time to ensure payment before the beginning of the conference.

In such exceptional circumstances the contractor uses an agreed procedure which involves the use of
Western Union to make funds immediately available at any one of its offices.

(2001/C 53 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1507/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Subject: EN 469

What steps are available to ensure that fire safety equipment that fails to meet EN 469 is withdrawn from
the market? How do concerned individuals make complaints in the event of failure to comply?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Personal protective equipment (PPE), including fire safety equipment, is covered by Directive 89/686/EEC
as amended and must therefore meet the basic health and safety requirements stipulated by this Directive.

Due to the gravity of the risk involved, fire safety equipment is also subject to a type examination by an
approved body, and the manufacturing process is monitored.

The standard EN 469 (cid:145)Protective clothing for fire-fighters (cid:129) Requirements and test methods for protective
clothing for fire-fighting(cid:146) is a harmonised standard under the PPE Directive and confers a presumption of
conformity on protective clothing manufactured in accordance with the Directive. Use of this standard is
not compulsory, and non-application in no way implies that the product is not in conformity with the
requirements of the Directive. At present, there is no dispute concerning this standard.

The national governments are responsible for applying the Directive on personal protective equipment in
the Member States, and it is up to them to take the necessary measures where products which are not in
conformity with European rules are put on the market. However, the Commission has received no
information from the administrations responsible concerning problems of this kind on their national
markets.

(2001/C 53 E/203)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1509/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Subject: DVD players and free competition

Is the Commission aware that DVD players are deliberately designed to prevent free competition in the
pricing of DVD discs by being segregated into six global regions? That means that European Union citizens
cannot benefit from purchasing cheap DVD discs available in many parts of the world? Does not the
Commission feel that this anti-competitive behaviour should be prohibited?