WRITTEN QUESTION E-2303/01 by Pere Esteve (ELDR) to the Commission. European agency for islands.
Date: 2001-07-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU office or agency, EU regional policy, economic analysis, island region, operation of the Institutions, seat of institution, single market

C 81 E/148

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

The Commission would also like to recall the fact that the anti-dumping investigation concluded that the
Community industry had suffered from injurious dumping caused by imports of compact florescent lamps
originating in China. Moreover, Community producers cannot be expected to suffer the consequences of
proven unfair trade practices at the expense of the Community energy and environment policies.

(1) OJ L 195, 19.7.2001.

(2002/C 81 E/173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2303/01

by Pere Esteve (ELDR) to the Commission

(31 July 2001)

Subject: European agency for islands

The European Community(cid:146)s first pillar encompasses the creation of a single market in order to fulfil its
objectives, which include a high degree of competitivity and convergence in economic performance,
economic and social cohesion and solidarity between Member States.

The competitivity of firms in island regions which are not among the most remote in the Community but
are nonetheless separate from mainland Europe is seriously compromised by the fact that they incur much
higher transport costs than firms situated elsewhere on the continent and by their lack of access to
railways, motorways and other overland transport systems. This represents a serious handicap in the free-
trade area that is the EU(cid:146)s single market.

One of the functions of European agencies is to facilitate the operation of the European single market by
acting as regulators, offering various services to sectors of industry, etc. The creation of a European agency
for islands is a necessary and appropriate step to compensate for non-remote island regions(cid:146) lack of access
to the free-trade area. Such an agency could also provide assistance on technical matters in connection
with the very specific problems experienced by island regions. It should be noted that more than 14 million
people in Europe live in island regions.

With the creation and management of Imedoc, the Balearic Islands have an experience unique in Europe.
Imedoc is an official institution that has been in existence for a number of years and which brings together
the islands of the western Mediterranean, namely, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and the Balearic Islands. The
Balearic Islands also participate in the Conference of European Island Regions and, through tourism, are
known throughout the Community.

What is the Commission(cid:146)s view of the fact that it is difficult for certain European regions to benefit on
equal terms from one of the EU(cid:146)s key principles,
i.e. the free market and free competition? Does the
Commission agree with the need to establish a European agency for islands? Will it support the creation of
such a body? Would the Commission consider siting such an agency in the Balearic Islands?

How can the Balearic Islands become an official candidate for the seat of the European agency for islands?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(19 September 2001)

As the Honourable Member knows, the Commission has initiated a study of the situation of islands in the
Union. As part of this study, a database on island regions is to be set up and their situation is to be
analysed objectively: this will involve the measurement and assessment of the problems arising from the
geographical position of islands and of their special needs. The study will include an examination of any
problems which might prevent island-based businesses from taking full advantage of the single market.
There will also be an analysis of the measures and policies developed by the Member States and the Union
to counter any delays in development arising from the geographical position of islands. However, this
scientific study, will not attempt to assess the merits of setting up a European agency for islands.

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/149

The initial results of the study are expected to be available in the first six months of 2002. The study has
been extended to take a year. The Commission hopes that a discussion will ensue once the results are
made public.

Pending these results, the Commission notes the Honourable Member(cid:146)s suggestions, on which, however, it
cannot give its views for the moment. This is because questions on the setting up of a European agency for
islands and the idea of siting such an agency on the Balearic Islands are premature at the present stage.

(2002/C 81 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2306/01

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: IEEE 802.11a standard for wireless networks

(31 July 2001)

Wireless networks for computers and other devices are becoming increasingly popular, particularly in
companies because recabling when they move premises is expensive and because there are increasing
numbers of mobile workers.

In the United States products are being developed to the IEEE 802.11a standard for wireless networks. This
is a technology that provides very high speed wireless links between PCs. At the moment the IEEE 802.11b
standard is being used in Europe. This technology is slower and interferes with Bluetooth. In the near
future most mobile telephones will be fitted with Bluetooth. Wireless networks will operate extremely
slowly if a mobile telephone fitted with Bluetooth is in the vicinity. The changeover to IEEE 802.11a is
therefore imminent. Unfortunately, the frequency for this standard is not available for general use in
Europe. Consequently, ETSI is working on its own standard HiperLan2. However, because of the small
market, this makes IEEE 802.11a cards more expensive (perhaps three times as expensive) as in The United
States, and it will therefore be introduced slowly.

1.

Is the Commission aware of the anticipated developments in the area of wireless networks?

Is the Commission aware that the IEEE 802.11a bandwidth is reserved for military purposes in

2.
Europe?

3.
If so, is the Commission planning to bring about any changes in this area? Or is the Commission
going to allow Europe to lag further behind the United States in the ICT field by imposing protectionist
requirements on wireless LANs?

Does the Commission agree that the expenditure that would have to be made in the defence sector

4.
should not outweigh the economic advantages of 802.11a?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 2001)

The Commission is aware of the various types of equipment for wireless networks and the technological
developments in this area.

In the Community, spectrum for wireless local area networks (LANs) is available in the 2,4 Gigaherz (GHz)
Industrial Scientific and Medical frequency band and in the less congested 5 GHz band, which is also used
by some military applications, however not on an exclusive basis. A common allocation in the latter band
is being recommended by the European Radiocommunications Committee (ERC) of
the European
Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), where radio regulators of the
Community and other European states confer. This allocation is however not legally binding upon Member
States in the absence of Community instruments. Its application is currently incomplete. A proposal for a
Parliament and Council Decision on a regulatory framework for
radio spectrum policy in the
Community (1) has been presented by the Commission and should soon be subject to second reading in
Parliament. This Decision will enable to assess at Community level the use of radio spectrum where