WRITTEN QUESTION E-0519/01 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Procurement of computers versus environmental criteria.
Date: 2001-02-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Sweden, application of EU law, award of contract, computer, dangerous substance, environmental protection, heavy metal, single market, technical barriers to trade

C 261 E/134

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.9.2001

The OP(cid:146)s structure is:

Priority

Description and targets

1

2

3

Protection of and capitalisation on cultural heritage
(cid:129) modernisation and construction of museums: 60 000 m2
(cid:129) increase in visitors to museums and archaeological sites: 25 %

Expansion of modern culture
(cid:129) modernisation and construction of cultural centres: 30 000 m2
(cid:129) completion of two metropolitan culture centres: 120 000 m2
(cid:129) increase in audiences: 15 %

Technical assistance

€ millions

Community con-
tribution

267,75

134,25

12,30

The programming complement, to be drawn up by the Monitoring Committee for the programme after its
adoption by the Commission, will contain the detailed financing plan and a precise list of the measures to
be part-financed.

The Commission has been informed by the Greek authorities that the draft OP was drawn up by the
Ministry for Culture in close cooperation with the regions, the Ministries for Economic Affairs and Labour
and agencies such as the Secretariat for Equal Opportunities and drafting committee for the Information
society programme. During the preparatory stage various ministerial circulars invited all potential
recipients under the programme to submit proposals and observations.

The projects to be part-financed under the OP will be chosen by its managing authority using appropriate
criteria. Technical maturity and correspondence to the priorities are prime considerations. Project selection
can potentially spread over the whole OP period (2000-2006). Thus no project list is available at present.

The exact take-up rate of the appropriations assigned to Culture in the 1994-1999 CSF will not be known
before the payment period ends on 31 December 2001. As all appropriations have been committed and
the projects appear to be advancing satisfactorily the take-up rate will probably be 100 %.

(2001/C 261 E/144)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0519/01

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 February 2001)

Subject: Procurement of computers versus environmental criteria

The Swedish Agency for Administrative Development has been commissioned by the Swedish Government
to procure 400 000 new personal computers for government ministries, agencies and local and regional
authorities. In its invitation to tender the Agency has specified that the computers must not contain certain
toxic chemicals such as flame retardants and heavy metals such as cadmium and antimony.

The Commission has questioned whether the Agency has specified the environmental criteria in the proper
manner in what is the biggest PC procurement contract yet in Sweden. The Commission reportedly
claimed that the criteria might constitute obstacles to trade. The Agency claims that the environmental
criteria are reasonable and balanced.

18.9.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 261 E/135

Can the Commission explain why it does not consider that the Agency has specified its environmental
criteria in the proper manner?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 2001)

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that, in the specifications for the contract in question,
Statskontoret provides for the exclusion of bidders whose tenders do not meet certain minimum technical
requirements concerning the presence in the plastic mechanical parts of the computers of certain heavy
metals, such as cadmium and antimony, and certain substances such as brominated flame retardants. Only
insofar as including these criteria in specifications had discriminatory effect would the Commission have to
consider them unlawful pursuant to Articles 28-30 (ex articles 30-36) of the EC Treaty.

The Commission notes that at least one of the substances that the Swedish authorities do not accept,
antimony, is unregulated both at Community level and in Sweden. Other substances are only partially
regulated. Consequently, products containing this and other substances forbidden in the tendering
procedure can be legally sold and marketed in all Member States (cid:129) including Sweden, and no information
has so far been presented to justify the exclusion of this substance. Against this background, such a
limitation, which could favour or eliminate certain suppliers or products, may be contrary to Articles 28-
30 of the EC Treaty.

The Commission still has to examine the various supplementary pieces of information conveyed to it by
the interested parties in this case before taking a position on the action to be taken and proposing, if
appropriate, to initiate infringement proceedings on the basis of Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the EC
Treaty. In its examination, the Commission will also take account of the Proposal for a Directive of the
European Parliament and of the Council on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in
electrical and electronic equipment (1).

Applying criteria bound up with considerations relating to tenderers(cid:146)
in
evaluating offers is only compatible with the rules on public supply contracts (2) if these criteria concern
the deliverables or the implementing rules and contribute to the choice of the tender offering the best
value for money.

(cid:145)environmental capacities(cid:146)

(1) OJ C 365 E, 19.12.2000.
(2) Council Directive 93/36/EEC of 14 June 1993 coordinating procedures for the award of public supply contracts

(OJ L 199, 9.8.1993).

(2001/C 261 E/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0520/01

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 February 2001)

Subject: Team Europe

Can the Commission provide details of the current situation of Team Europe? How many people in
Sweden are currently involved in information work? Who are they? What is the recommended lecturer(cid:146)s
fee? How is Team Europe marketed? What was the Commission(cid:146)s expenditure on Team Europe for the
financial year 2000 and what are the estimated costs for the year 2001?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2001)

Team Europe has 540 speakers throughout the Member States. They tend to be academics, researchers,
consultants or people from different economic sectors, specialising in various aspects of European policy.
The Team members give lectures on the various aspects of Community policy, by request only, to schools