WRITTEN QUESTION E-2313/01 by Dominique Vlasto (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Aid for SMUs in the tourism sector.
Date: 2001-07-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, aid to undertakings, small and medium-sized enterprises, tourism, tourism policy

C 81 E/150

Official Journal of the European Communities

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4.4.2002

in particular through
required for Community policies,
mandates to CEPT, and make such harmonisation legally binding upon Member States. The question raised
by the Honourable Member shows the urgent need to put in place such type of mechanism.

to harmonise such use in the Community,

The 2,4 GHz band is very popular, as it is one of the few bands that is reasonably harmonised globally.
For this reason, Bluetooth is planning to operate in this band together with many other applications,
including wireless LANs following the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11b
standard but also microwave ovens and identification systems. In the Community this band is harmonised
with the exception of France, where part of the band is used for military applications. Because of its
popularity it is however also increasingly congested, thereby making it progressively less attractive for
wireless LANs.

The 5 GHz band, both in Europe and in the United States, is to be shared with feeder links for satellite
services and some radar applications. It is true to say that some Member States originally intended to
reserve the 5 GHz band exclusively for products conforming to the European Telecommunications
Standardization Institute (ETSI) Hiperlan standard. 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 (2), however ensures fair and equitable market access for all
products which meet its requirements. Such requirements are technology independent and, among others,
ensure that equipment does not cause interference to other users of the radio frequency spectrum. The
Commission has, in the context of the procedures obliging Member States to notify technical regulations,
objected to such restrictions as not complying with the EC Treaty, Directive 1999/5/EC and with
obligations of the Community in the context of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Member States have
accepted these arguments and the Commission is not aware that products complying with the IEEE
802.11a standard operating in this band have been barred access to national markets and spectrum in
Member States that implemented the recommendation from the ERC.

Products conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standards thus will be able to operate in spectrum allocated for
wireless local area networks under the same conditions as products conforming to the ETSI or other
standards. As the usage of spectrum in Europe is slightly different from that of the United States,
conditions may vary between Europe and the United States. There are no indications however that these
differences (notably linked to power levels) will have an impact on the market potential in the Community
for any type of equipment compliant to IEEE 802.11 standards.

In order to facilitate the implementation of Directive 1999/5/EC, the Commission has mandated ETSI to
develop standards, compliance with which will ensure that products meet the requirements of the Directive
and thus can properly share the spectrum in these bands. It is understood that manufacturers of IEEE
802.11 compliant products are already contributing to the drafting of these standards to ensure their
compatibility with that technology. It is true that developing such standards would be facilitated if there
was no need to take account of other users of the spectrum, e.g. military applications. It seems however,
that sharing with these other applications is technically possible without excessive extra cost for wireless
LAN products. Hence, it does not seem necessary to consider removing applications from the defence
sector from the 5 GHz band.

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

(2002/C 81 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2313/01

by Dominique Vlasto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Subject: Aid for SMUs in the tourism sector

SMUs in the tourism sector have been identified as the key factor in the sustainable development of the
regions of Europe. Such SMUs need to secure funding in order to renew their equipment and maintain
their attractiveness, thereby helping to attain the objective of sustainable development in Europe.

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However, those SMUs do not always have adequate financial resources available, or else they are unwilling
to take on the business risks involved in heavy investment.

Can the Commission indicate what Community aid is available to such SMUs to support their investment
needs?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2001)

There is no specific Community measure for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism
sector.

SMEs have access to sources of financing through programmes which are open to all SMEs and which are
not generally aimed at specific sectors but rather at achieving main Community objectives such as regional
development, rural development and employment. In overall terms, therefore, the funds available to assist
these enterprises are considerable.

The major sources of financing are undoubtedly the structural funds: the European Regional Development
Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
(EAGGF). By way of example, projects in the tourism sector received a total contribution of € 7,3 billion in
structural funds during the period 1994-1999. The need for assistance in this sector was highlighted in the
Commission Communication (cid:145)The Structural Funds and their coordination with the Cohesion Fund:
guidelines for the 2000-2006 programmes(cid:146). This assistance may take the form of subsidies,
loans or
venture capital investments. The final decision on this assistance is taken by the management authorities in
place in the regions.

The Multiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and in particular for SMEs, (2001-2005)
and the Community Research Framework Programme represent other significant sources of financing for
SMEs. € 317 million have thus been allocated to improve the financial environment of enterprises.

There is a very wide range of Community programmes, and they are not implemented centrally by the
Commission, but in cooperation with national authorities and, very often, through regional and local
authorities as mentioned above in the case of the structural funds. Sometimes the granting of assistance is
managed on behalf of the Commission by banks or venture capital organisations. SMEs looking for
information on assistance adapted to their needs are advised to contact the network of Euro Info Centres
(EICs). The members of this network are able to guide SMEs through the range of regional, national and
Community programmes available to assist them in their planned investments.

The updated list of the various EICs established in the Member States and the candidate countries can be
consulted by the public on the Commission(cid:146)s internet site at the following address: http://europa.eu.int/
comm/enterprise/networks/eic/eic.html

Moreover, operators in the tourism sector can find useful information on financing at the site of the
(cid:145)Tourism(cid:146) Unit of the Commission(cid:146)s Directorate-General for Enterprise at the following address: http://
europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/services/tourism/index_en.htm

(2002/C 81 E/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2314/01

by Dominique Vlasto (PPE-DE) to the Council

(3 August 2001)

Subject: Meeting of EU Tourism Ministers in Lille

Can the Council indicate what measures it has taken following the meeting of EU Tourism Ministers held
in Lille on 22 November 2000 under the French Council Presidency?