WRITTEN QUESTION E-1092/01 by Paul Rübig (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Licensing of SSB radio equipment.
Date: 2001-04-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, approximation of laws, market approval, radio equipment, regulation of telecommunications, waveband

C 340 E/168

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

What, in specific terms, does a revision of Directive 91/414 (1) concerning the placing of plant protection
products on the market entail, and how is that in keeping with the Commission(cid:146)s objectives?

(1) OJ L 230, 19.8.1991, p. 1.

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

(31 May 2001)

On water protection policy, the Community has just finalised a thorough review, by adopting in October
2000 the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (1). This Directive sets the legally binding objective that
all waters including groundwaters have to achieve good status within a set deadline of 15 years at the
latest. Such (cid:145)good status(cid:146) is further defined as being in compliance with quality standards applicable under
other relevant Community legislation.

Tools for achieving such good status are programmes of measures to be established and implemented in
a legally binding way, in order to achieve the defined target within the deadline. Those programmes of
measures have to follow a combined approach of addressing pollution at the source (emission control) and
quality standards for water. The programmes are complementary to existing Community legislation
relevant for water protection, including the Plant Protection Directive 91/414/EEC (2), without of course
changing their already set implementation deadlines.

The Commission is currently preparing a report to the Parliament and Council on Directive 91/414/EEC
where this issue will be addressed.

For particularly hazardous substances a (cid:145)phasing out(cid:146) is foreseen within a maximum time frame of 2020,
i.e. a cessation of discharges, emissions and losses. Details are to be addressed by specific measures as
foreseen in Article 16 of the Water Framework Directive. The Commission has already presented to the
Parliament and Council the list of (cid:145)priority hazardous substances(cid:146) including the substances to be phased
out (3). Amongst those substances to be phased out is one pesticide (lindane) where a Commission Decision
to withdraw all plant protection uses from the market was taken last December (4), others are under a re-
evaluation process at EU level.

However, meeting maximum admissible quality standards for groundwater is not sufficient. This is why the
Water Framework Directive aims at preventing any upward trends of groundwater pollution, be it by
pesticides or other pollutants. Details have to be addressed by specific measures as foreseen in Article 17 of
the Water Framework Directive, and the Commission is obliged to present to the Parliament and Council
a Proposal for a Daughter Directive on Groundwater Protection by December 2002.

Moreover the Commission is currently preparing a thematic strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides.

(1) OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.
(2) OJ L 230, 19.8.1991.
(3) COM(2001) 17 final.
(4) OJ L 324, 21.12.2000.

(2001/C 340 E/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1092/01

by Paul R(cid:252)big (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 April 2001)

Subject: Licensing of SSB radio equipment

According to the (cid:145)Nederlands Staatscourant(cid:146) (Netherlands Official Gazette) No 236, the sale and use of AM/
FM/SSB/CB radio equipment is authorised in the Netherlands with effect from 1 March. The authorisation
will cover 40-channel sets with AM, FM and SSB modulation. The maximum output power will be 4
Watts.

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/169

We are not as yet in possession of any further information. What will the effects of this be on the Austrian
market, Austrian manufacturers and Austrian consumers?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2001)

The regulations in the Community on the use of the Citizens Band (CB) have not been harmonised and
vary amongst Member States both in the amount of allocated channels and on the modulation techniques,
which are allowed in the frequency band.

The Commission is of the opinion, that the changes in the regulations in the Netherlands will not have
negative consequences for Austrian citizens or manufacturers. The regulations have become less restrictive
on the modulation techniques that are allowed implying that Austrian manufacturers can continue to
market
for
equipment with Amplitude Modulation (AM) and Single Side Band (SSB) modulation. Austrian visitors can
continue to use their CB equipment in the Netherlands under the same conditions as before.

their products in the Netherlands without modification and will have a larger market

The Commission is aware of the fact, that Austria does not allow SSB transmissions in the CB band and
might fear increased interference from Dutch citizens travelling to Austria and using their CB equipment in
SSB mode. This risk exists but is not unique to equipment designed for operation in the frequency
spectrum of the Netherlands. Such interference can also be caused by equipment designed for spectrums of
other Member States, which are not compatible with the Austrian frequency spectrum. As an example it is
probably known to the Honourable Member that Germany has allocated 40 channels to the CB which are
not available in Austria, whereas SSB is also allowed in some other Member States.

The use of SSB or the operation in non-allocated frequency bands in Austria would be illegal. Since
tourists can travel into Austria without being checked at the borders, it is impossible to physically prevent
CB equipment from entering Austria. It is imperative that users are informed of any restrictions of use of
their CB equipment within the Community. The attention of the Honourable Member is drawn to
Directive 1999/5/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and
telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity (1), which obliges
manufacturers to inform users of such restrictions on the packaging and in the users manual. These
provisions will limit the illegal use of CB equipment in Austria.

Only by harmonising the use of the radio frequency spectrum in and beyond the Community can these
problems be completely avoided. The Commission has brought the issue of CB to the attention of the
Member States and to the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications administrations (CEPT),
which are responsible for taking decisions on the harmonisation of the use of radio frequencies. However,
the CEPT, which comprises the Member States and 27 other European countries, has not concluded on the
matter. Subject to the adoption of the Commission(cid:146)s proposal for a Radio Spectrum Decision (2), which is
currently under negotiation in the Council and in the European Parliament, further Community action on
the issue can be considered.

(1) OJ L 91, 7.4.1999.
(2) OJ C 365 E, 19.12.2000.

(2001/C 340 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1097/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 April 2001)

Subject: Violation of European Treaties by UEFA rules

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) prohibits clubs which are financially linked from
playing against each other in UEFA matches (the cup-winners(cid:146) cup and champions(cid:146) league). Ajax and
Germinal Beerschot Antwerp are likely to become the first victims of this ban. On Tuesday, 16 May 2000
the Dutch club bought a majority holding of 51 % in the Antwerp club.