WRITTEN QUESTION P-0272/01 by Christian von Boetticher (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Electronic postage stamps and compliance with EU data-protection directives.
Date: 2001-02-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Germany, Italy, Netherlands, data protection, electronic commerce, personal data, stamp duty

C 174 E/256

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

(2001/C 174 E/276)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0196/01

by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 January 2001)

Subject: Tobacco Control Directive

Would the Commission please confirm that Article 3 of the draft Directive is the only article in the draft
which applies to products manufactured in the EU and exported therefrom?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2001)

Article 3 of the proposal for a Directive of the Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the
the Member States concerning the manufacture,
laws, regulations and administrative provisions of
tobacco products (1) concerns inter alia all products manufactured in the
presentation and sale of
Community including those intended for export. There are other provisions in the proposal which could
also concern products for export, such as those relating to additives and to misleading descriptors, for
example.

(1) OJ C 150 E, 30.5.2000.

(2001/C 174 E/277)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0272/01

by Christian von Boetticher (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 February 2001)

Subject: Electronic postage stamps and compliance with EU data-protection directives

The German post office service, Deutsche Post AG, and the Netherlands and Italian Post Offices are
planning to introduce electronic postage stamps, with stamps being downloaded directly from the Internet
and printed on the envelopes. To that end, however, specific data concerning the user, such as sender,
addressee, cost of postage, creation date, etc. would have to be stored. Further conclusions could then be
drawn from such data (frequency of postal traffic with certain addresses and, subsequently, private
information such as membership of a trade union, name and address of general practitioner, etc.).

Does the Commission take the view that these plans comply with the EU directives on the protection of
natural persons when personal data is being processed (cid:129) especially the issues of the storage of data which
is not exclusively required for the forwarding of items by post and of security against counterfeiting? Does
it further take the view that it is possible to preclude the danger of trade in the addresses thus acquired?
Finally, does it take the view that a system which does not require the storage of data of this nature is
preferable to the systems developed by the postal services?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(2 March 2001)

The Commission has no detailed information about how the German, Dutch and Italian postal authorities
intend to process personal data, as mentioned by the honourable Member. In general terms, Article 6 of
Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection
of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (1)
states that personal data must be (cid:145)collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further
processed in a way incompatible with those purposes(cid:146). In addition, the application of the principle of
proportionality means that if there are alternative methods of attaining the same result, the method must

19.6.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/257

be chosen that involves processing the least amount of data to achieve the stated purpose. Article 6 of
Directive 95/46/CE explicitly states that data must be (cid:145)adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to
the purposes for which they are collected(cid:146).

(1) OJ L 281, 23.11.1995.

(2001/C 174 E/278)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0274/01

by Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(2 February 2001)

Subject: The United Kingdom Census in Wales

In its 2001 census forms, the United Kingdom Government(cid:146)s Office of National Statistics recognises the
existence of a Scottish national identity in its form for Scotland and the existence of an Irish nationality on
the census form throughout the United Kingdom. The same opportunity does not exist for the people of
Wales to register their nationality as (cid:145)Welsh(cid:146) in Wales nor in the other countries of the United Kingdom.

Does the Commission agree that the people of Wales are being denied the freedom to express their
national identity (or ethnicity) and that this is a case of discrimination against almost 3 million people
resident in Wales and against Welsh people resident in other parts of the United Kingdom. If so, what
action does the Commission intend to take?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2001)

The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the question asked, which is a matter solely for the
national authorities concerned.

(2001/C 174 E/279)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0301/01

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 February 2001)

Subject: Demolition of a building in Viana do Castelo

In Viana do Castelo (Portugal), the local council has announced its plans, as part of the POLIS programme,
involving Community funding, to demolish a building known as (cid:145)Edificio Jardim(cid:146) or (cid:145)PrØdio Coutinho(cid:146) in
the city centre. It was built around 27 years ago, but is still in good condition and houses some 90
families, mostly elderly people.

The residents have taken various forms of action against this position, but have been ignored. They
questioned the priority given to demolishing a building in a good state of preservation, at a time when
there are many other problems to be dealt with.

The Commission:

1. Was it sent any proposal for action to be taken under the POLIS programme in Viana do Castelo,

including the demolition of the above building?

2.

If so, what was or will be the Commission(cid:146)s position on the matter?