WRITTEN QUESTION E-0745/01 by Michel Hansenne (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The information society.
Date: 2001-03-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC recommendation, dissemination of EU information, information society, report

C 340 E/84

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

(cid:129) The EWL followed very closely the policy developments linked to the modification of Council
Directive 76/207/EEC of 9 February 1976 on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment
for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and
working conditions (1). A joint letter and press release were drafted with the European Trade Union
Confederation on the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace in June 2000.

(cid:129) The EWL has been working in the field of women and globalisation (international trade) since June
2000, taking an active part in the civil society meetings organised by the Directorate General for
Trade. Two position papers have been prepared.

(cid:129) In September 2000, the EWL launched its new web-site (2). A wide range of documents, news and
information on urgent action campaigns is now available, and there has been a significant increase in
the use of the EWL web-site.

(cid:129) The EWL is intensifying its working contacts and activities with women(cid:146)s organisations from the
accession countries. Following unanimous agreement at the General Assembly in 2000, the EWL is in
the process of developing a Policy Centre on Women and Enlargement.

(cid:129) Funding possibilities for other non governmental organisations (NGOs): NGOs and other organisations
can obtain funding for their activities under the new (cid:145)Programme relating to the Community
framework strategy on gender equality (2001-2005)(cid:146) (3). This Programme shall co-ordinate, support
and co-finance the implementation of horizontal activities under five fields of intervention: economic
life, equal participation and representation, social rights, civil life, gender roles and stereotypes. The
financial reference amount for the implementation of the Programme for the period 2001-2005 will
be € 50 million.

(cid:129) Besides this gender equality targeted programme, there are numerous other funding possibilities, like
the Structural Funds, EQUAL, Leonardo, Socrates, the Fifth framework programme for Research and
Technological Development, Daphne and STOP, to name just a few.

(1) OJ L 39, 14.2.1976.
(2) http://www.womenlobby.org/.
(3) OJ L 17, 19.1.2001.

(2001/C 340 E/097)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0745/01

by Michel Hansenne (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 March 2001)

Subject: The information society

The Forum for the Information Society recently published a report entitled (cid:145)A European Way for the
Information Society(cid:146). That report highlights all the economic, societal, cultural and citizenship challenges
arising from the emergence of the information society and its associated technologies.

Is the Commission planning to publish a communication on the basis of that report?

What action does it
recommendations set out in the report?

intend to take, within the limits of

its powers and responsibilities, on the

What is the agenda of the Forum for the Information Society in 2001?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2001)

The Commission welcomed the latest report of the Information Society Forum (ISF) (cid:145)A European Way for
the Information Society(cid:146)
in a press conference held in Brussels on 23 March 2000, attended by the
member of the Commission responsible for Enterprises and Information Society and the ISF President. The
report was also discussed in the dedicated conference on (cid:145)Information Society, Globalisation and
Sustainable Development: The Promise of the European Way(cid:146), held in context of the Hanover EXPO on
6 October 2000.

4.12.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/85

About 7 500 copies of the report have been distributed to professional and trade federations, as well as to
some institutions of national and local government, libraries, schools, and universities.

A number of the recommendations, which are part of the latest ISF report, have been taken up and turned
into concrete actions in the context of the eEurope initiative, and in particular those concerning cheaper
access to electronic networks, life-long learning, government on-line and European digital content.

For the time being the Commission is not planning a specific Communication on the basis of such a report
but it is studying alternative ways of implementing its main recommendations.

The Commission is currently examining the ways to raise the profile of the Information Society Forum in
the context of diminished human and financial resources at its disposal for the support of the Forum.

(2001/C 340 E/098)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0748/01

by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Council

(15 March 2001)

Subject: Launching a case under the WTO(cid:146)s dispute settlement procedures (133 Committee decision)

When a decision is taken in the 133 Committee to launch a case within the WTO(cid:146)s dispute settlement
procedures, are the details of the decision recorded in writing? If not, why not? If such records to exist, are
they made available to the public? If not, why not?

Reply

(13 July 2001)

1.
The Council would give a reminder that decisions concerning the common commercial policy are
adopted, in accordance with Article 133 of the Treaty, by the Council acting on the basis of Commission
proposals or recommendations.

2.
The Council would also point out to the Honourable Member that the results of the Article 133
Committee(cid:146)s proceedings are recorded in writing in documents of the Council General Secretariat and that
public access to Council documents is covered by Council Decision 93/731/EC of 20 December 1993, as
amended by Council Decisions 96/705/EC of 6 December 1996 and 2000/527/EC of 14 August 2000,
laying down the cases in which confidentiality must be maintained, especially in commercial and industrial
matters.

(2001/C 340 E/099)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0749/01

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 March 2001)

Subject: The role of the Commission(cid:146)s Representations to third countries

What instructions as the Commission given to its representatives in its foreign missions throughout the
world concerning the reception of visiting parliamentarians?