WRITTEN QUESTION E-3332/00 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Award of UTMS frequencies.
Date: 2000-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, State aid, competition law, complaint to the Commission, free service, mobile phone, trade licence, waveband

C 163 E/90

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

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

(18 December 2000)

The Honourable Member raises the addition of chlorine and fluoride to drinking water.

Concerning chlorination, both drinking water directives, the original Council Directive 80/778/EEC of
15 July 1980 relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption (1) and the new Council
Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 (2), which has to be implemented before the end of 2003, set out
the addition of chlorine in order to avoid
requirements which oblige Member States to control
unacceptable risks for human health.

The current level of knowledge indicates controlled use of chlorine has far more positive effects than
potential negative effects. The main problem with other disinfection practices is that they are effective in
the water treatment plant but cannot guarantee effectiveness in the distribution system. Very often the
problem lies there, especially when the distribution pipelines are not in good condition. It is important that
water is safe at the consumer(cid:146)s tap.

Concerning fluoridation, there is a standard in both directives (1,5 miligramm per litre (mg/l)) which is in
accordance with the recommendations of the World health organization (WHO). At this level, according to
WHO, there is a good balance between the positive and negative effects of fluoride. Regardless of its
origin, either naturally or artificially present,
if the Community standard on fluoride is respected, the
Commission cannot intervene as the matter lies within the responsibility of Member States.

Finally, WHO in June 2000 held a five-day meeting in order to launch the revision of its drinking water
quality guidelines, which will be completed by 2002-2003. The Commission representative raised both
matters during this meeting and the above views were confirmed. Naturally, whenever there is new reliable
evidence which requires action, the Commission will act upon it.

(1) OJ L 229, 30.8.1980.
(2) OJ L 330, 5.12.1998.

(2001/C 163 E/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3332/00

by Esko Sepp(cid:228)nen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Award of UTMS frequencies

The allocation of mobile telephone frequencies to firms in the sector has taken place on different criteria in
different countries. In some countries they are auctioned off, in others they are allocated virtually free of
charge. Does the Commission consider that the free allocation of frequencies could be interpreted as
a covert state aid, which would be prohibited under Article 87 of the EC Treaty, and if so, what measures
does the Commission propose to take in this matter?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(18 December 2000)

First of all, the Commission would remind the Honourable Member that the choice of the procedure for
the allocation of third-generation mobile telephony licences is a matter for the Member States, provided
that the procedure selected complies with the principles enshrined in Community law, including the rules
on state aid.

In principle, the two procedures for the sale of licences (cid:129) beauty contests and auctions (cid:129) comply with the
rules on state aid provided that they are transparent, objective and non-discriminatory. In addition, the
conditions governing the procedure and the way in which it is organised must be such as to rule out the
possibility of aid being granted in any way, whether directly or indirectly, to the operators or the activity
in question.

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/91

Article 87 (formerly Article 92) of the EC Treaty prohibits the granting by the Member States of state aid
which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of
certain goods.

The Commission has received a number of complaints about the granting of state aid by way of certain
procedures for the allocation of third-generation mobile telephony licences. These are currently being
looked into. What needs to be established is under what conditions the issue of a licence may be regarded
as State aid: this requires detailed case-by-case analysis.

(2001/C 163 E/097)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3333/00

by Esko Sepp(cid:228)nen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Covert investigation of science funding

According to an article in the German magazine Stern of 21 September 2000, a covert investigation has
been ordered by Commissioner Schreyer into the disbursement to various projects of funds from the EU(cid:146)s
Fifth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, and into the use of the
consultancy firm of Wang for project evaluations costing DEM 10 million. The investigation showed that
the Commission(cid:146)s action was extremely inefficient and the services provided by the consultancy firm
inadequate. Is this investigation a public document, and is there any truth in the statements concerning the
inefficient handling of the projects and the low quality of the Wang consultancy firm(cid:146)s services?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(19 December 2000)

The report mentioned by (cid:145)Stern(cid:146) concerns a special financial audit of a contract for the provision of
administrative support to the process of receiving and evaluating proposals for research and technological
development (RTD) contracts. The audit was programmed and carried out by Directorate general for
financial control following problems identified during the control of financial transactions. It examined the
execution of the external service provider (ESP) contract from the time that the Commission(cid:146)s advisory
committee on procurement and contracts (ACPC) had given a positive opinion. It sought to identify the
problems experienced by the Commission in the execution of this contract.

This was not a (cid:145)covert investigation(cid:146), but part of the normal processes of examining internal management.
For the same reason, it is not intended for external publication. The version of the audit report seen by
(cid:145)Stern(cid:146) was a draft which is still under discussion and does not contain either the final comments of the
audited Commission Directorates general
Information society (INFSO) and RTD or the adaptations
introduced by the Directorate general for financial control.

The draft audit report concerns the first contractual period of the contract with Wang (now Getronics) and
the difficulties encountered following the launch of the fifth RTD framework programme (FP5). These
difficulties were largely caused by the late adoption of FP5 and the specific programmes implementing it,
and by the circumstances surrounding the resignation of the Commission, which left very little time to
prepare the evaluation sessions.

The audit report identifies several weaknesses in the management and monitoring systems of the audited
services and in the operations of the contractor, especially during the initial period of the contract.
However, the report also concludes that the evaluations were able to take place and provided meaningful
and positive results, a fact also confirmed by reports of independent observers.

The lead services took action to improve the evaluation management of the ESP. The contract was then
renewed at the end of 1999 for a period of one year.

Getronics,
standards in respect of
a demanding process, and is not given lightly.

the ESP, has been certified to International organisation for standardisation (ISO) 9002
this specific service contract since May 2000. This certification involves