WRITTEN QUESTION E-1513/00 by Imelda Read (PSE) to the Commission. Data on incidences of dwelling fires.
Date: 2000-05-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU statistics, accident in the home, fire

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/159

Under these circumstances, the refusal by a manufacturer to extend the guarantee of its DVD player that
has been deliberately modified by the user to illegally copy DVDs cannot be seen as an anti-competitive
behaviour.

(1) Notification of a licensing system, Case No IV/C-3/37.506 (cid:129) DVD Patent Licensing Programme (OJ C 242,

27.8.1999).

(2001/C 53 E/205)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1511/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Subject: Domain names

What steps are being taken at European level to prevent the registration of generic names as domain
names, a practice which leads to unfair advantages for certain companies and individuals?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2000)

The Commission is fully aware of the difficulties experienced within the Community in combating
speculative and abusive registration of names, thus including (cid:145)generic names(cid:146) as domain names.

As announced in the communication from the Commission on the organisation and management of the
Internet (1), the Commission will
initiate public consultation on the principles against speculative and
abusive registration of names.

(1) COM(2000) 202 final.

(2001/C 53 E/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1513/00

by Imelda Read (PSE) to the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Subject: Data on incidences of dwelling fires

In the light of the 3000 dwelling fires in my constituency (East Midlands, UK)
in 1998, could the
Commission inform me which other Member States keep records of dwelling fires? In the interests of
safety, what steps does the Commission plan to take to ensure that data collection in this field is
harmonised across the EU?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2000)

The Commission is aware of the weaknesses as regards information on dwelling fires. Indeed, the data
collected in this area by the Member States are far from being exhaustive and comparable.

However, safety in the event of major fires is one of
the intended priorities accompanying the
implementation of the Community action programme in the field of civil protection adopted by the
Council on 9 December 1999 via Decision 1999/847/EC (1). Action in this area, together with the work
currently being carried out at professional level and more particularly by the federation of fire-brigade
associations within the Community, should enable the situation to be improved.

C 53 E/160

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

Moreover the Commission is currently giving thought to a new more comprehensive approach towards
preventing natural and technological hazards.

Finally, it should also be pointed out that the community cooperation on civil protection is currently
expanding. On 30 May 2000 the Commission decided to lay a proposal before the Council with a view to
boosting the Union(cid:146)s resources in this area. More detailed information on civil-protection activities within
the Community is available on the following website:
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/civil/.

(1) OJ L 327 E, 21.12.1999.

(2001/C 53 E/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1514/00

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Subject: Haemophiliacs

Does the Commission have any plans to rectify the fact that settlements made to haemophiliacs suffering
from viral infection after receiving contaminated blood products vary widely across the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(9 June 2000)

With regard to compensation for haemophilia patients who may have been infected by contaminated
blood, the Commission(cid:146)s long established position remains unchanged. This is a matter for the Member
States. The Commission has no plans to intervene in this matter.

(2001/C 53 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1515/00

by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Subject: Composition and duties of the European Scientific Diving Supervisory Committee

With reference to my Written Question E-1817/99 and the Commission(cid:146)s reply to it (1):

Who belongs to the ESDSC (European Scientific Diving Supervisory Committee) and when did it last meet?

Which of the duties mentioned in the previous reply has the committee performed?

(1) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000, p. 57.

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(21 June 2000)

The mandate of the European scientific diving supervisory committee is contained in the draft standard for
a European scientific diver. It reads as follows: (cid:145)It is therefore proposed that a self-monitoring is done in
some way, but decisions could be taken at a higher level by an already existing committee like the
programme committees associated to the European research programmes like MAST-III or a committee
linked to some Europe wide scientific organisation. It was therefore proposed to establish a European
Scientific Diving Supervisory Committee (ESDSC).(cid:146)