WRITTEN QUESTION E-2948/01 by Paul Rübig (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Compatibility of hands-free kits for mobile telephones.
Date: 2001-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: mobile phone, motor car, road safety, safety device, technical standard, vehicle parts

C 93 E/212

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

Could the Commission clarify the process by which the European CE-standard marks are awarded? Could
the Commission also explain how many stun-weapon manufacturers are using CE markings on their
products? Finally, what action is the Commission taking to prevent stun-weapon manufacturers from using
CE markings to promote the sales of their products?

(2002/C 93 E/254)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3191/01

by Elizabeth Lynne (ELDR) to the Commission

(20 November 2001)

Subject: European CE standard markings on stun weapons

It has been brought to my attention that non-European Union manufacturers have been advertising that
their stun weapons are marked with the CE safety standard mark. These weapons are frequently used as
torture devices in prisons and detention centres. Could the Commission clarify the process by which
European CE standard marks are awarded? Also, could the Commission explain how many stun weapon
manufacturers are using the CE markings on their products? Finally, how is the Commission taking action
to prevent stun weapon manufacturers from using CE markings to promote the sales of their products?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2934/01, E-2965/01, P-3012/01, E-3108/01 and E-3191/01
given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2001)

The Honourable Members are referred to the Commission’s answer to Written Question P-2783/01 from
Mr Ford (1).

(1) OJ C 81 E, 4.4.2002, p. 209.

(2002/C 93 E/255)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2948/01

by Paul Rübig (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 October 2001)

Subject: Compatibility of hands-free kits for mobile telephones

Over the last few years, because of drivers’ ever increasing use of mobile telephones, the use of hands-free
kits has been made mandatory in almost all European Union Member States, above all on road safety
grounds.

Attendant on the mandatory use of hands-free kits is the problem that, because of the rapid pace of mobile
telephone development, mobile sets and hands-free kits, which are expensive, usually have to be replaced
at the same time, since the latter will be virtually incompatible. That is bound to result in less self-
discipline in hands-free use, less safety and more accidents brought about because of mobile telephone use.

Does the Commission therefore think that regulating this area makes sense?

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/213

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(21 December 2001)

The Commission considers that the development of voluntary standards in this area makes perfect sense,
but would point out that there are already hands-free kits which can be used with various mobile
telephones. The Commission would also point out that basic hands-free kits are now available on the
market for as little as € 20. There are therefore no economic or technical reasons for not using hands-free
kits. As in the case of seat belts, it seems that it will be necessary to bring home to the public the
importance of using this equipment and to monitor the regulations effectively.

(2002/C 93 E/256)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2949/01

by James Nicholson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 October 2001)

Subject: Spending on health and personal social services in Member States of the European Union

1. What was spent as a percentage of GDP on health and personal social services in each of the
Member States during the last four years?

2. What was the per capita spent on health and personal social services (excluding capital projects) in
each of the Member States during the last four years?

3. What percentage of that was funded:

@ directly by government,

@ privately,

@ through insurance schemes?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(14 December 2001)

The Commission does not collect all the information that the Honourable Member requests. In particular
data on health expenditure is not collected routinely at the moment and the same applies to data on
personal social services.

Data on health expenditure is collected by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD), but great caution should be exercised in making comparisons between countries on the basis of
this data because of the important differences in definitions between countries. The Commission is
working with OECD to improve the quality and comparability of the data for example in relation to
introducing a new framework,
(SHA). Moreover, a key objective of the
proposed public health programme is to provide a more comprehensive health information system for the
Community.

‘System of Health Accounts’

Specific issues concerning the data provided in response to the Honourable Member are set out in the
following paragraphs for health expenditure. Personal social services however are not a specific function in
the European System of Social Protection Statistics. For this reason these data are not available.

The following data come from OECD and are sent direct
Parliament’s Secretariat general.

to the Honourable Member and to the

The most recent reference year varies across Member States; data from 1994-1999 are provided to

1.
ascertain sufficiently long time series for each of the Member States.

2.
The funding of health expenditures by (a) government, (b) private parties, and (c) through insurance
schemes as requested is only available for Total Health Expenditure (THE). Per capita expenditures are
provided in National Currency Units.