WRITTEN QUESTION E-3041/01 by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Use of new technology in Greece.
Date: 2001-10-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU programme, Greece, Internet, bank, computer, information society, new technology, research budget, teaching

C 134 E/184

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

(cid:1) Reductions for failure to collect the total supplementary milk levy due within the statutory deadlines.
Amounts collected by the Member State after the deadline and declared to the EAGGF are refunded.

(cid:1) Reductions for non respect of deadlines set down in the Regulations for payments to beneficiaries.

(1) OJ L 244, 29.9.2000.

(2002/C 134 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3041/01

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 October 2001)

Subject: Use of new technology in Greece

A report published by the Union of Industrial and Employers’ Confederations of Europe (UNICE), which
incorporates data from the Commission, Eurostat and other major international organisations, notes that
the rate at which new technology is being introduced in Greece is extremely slow.

In 1999, only 6 Greeks in 100 owned a computer when the Community average was 25. Not only did
Greece rank bottom in the Union, it also lagged behind applicant countries such as Poland and the Czech
Republic. According to the OECD,
in 1998 Greece also took last place in the Union for per capita
investment in research, while on-line banking represents a barely perceptible percentage of total banking
transactions at just above zero. The use of computers is also negligible in primary and secondary
education. The Commission puts the figure at zero for the primary level, while the rate of use at secondary
level is simply the lowest in the Union.

What are the Commission’s views on these disheartening figures for the use of new technologies and their
applications in Greece? Has it identified the reasons for this deplorable situation? Is the Commission
the Community funds given to Greece (Community Support Frameworks, other
satisfied that all
Community initiatives, etc.) have been spent in the most effective and transparent manner to achieve
convergence?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2001)

The statistical data published in the area of Member State expenditure on research and development as
well as on expenditure on the integration of the information society are a reflection of a more general
phenomenon at EU level, involving, more particularly, a slowness on the part of Member States to derive
greater benefits from technological
listed in order of
importance (cid:1) the following may be cited: rigidity of the economic and social structures, rigidity of the
labour market, existence of significant macro-economic imbalances resulting in a weak economic
environment, and the absence of major direct foreign investment.

innovation. Among the causes (cid:1) albeit not

As regards Member State attempts to promote the integration of the information society, the Commission
feels that the latest Eurobarometer survey results indicate that the Member State in question has made a
major effort to move closer to the Community average. A number of further initiatives still need to be
taken at national level to ensure the integration of technological change in the country. For this reason, the
Commission is supporting the Information Society programme launched by the Member State under the
Structural Funds. This programme seeks to promote the same aims as the eEurope Action Plan, viz.
cheaper, faster and more secure Internet access, promotion of Internet use, and investment in people and
skills.

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/185

The Commission believes that the encouragement of optimal use of the new technologies in all areas of
activity lies at the heart of this eEurope Action Plan. A comparative assessment of the progress achieved by
the Member States in the information society integration process would provide a more coherent and
detailed overview of developments both at European and national level. It would also ensure that any
decisions taken in the future were more focused.

(2002/C 134 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3043/01

by Elmar Brok (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 November 2001)

Subject: Importance of geo-information for economic development

1.

In the Commission’s view, how important is geo-information for economic development?

In what way does the Commission promote geo-information, particularly the collection and

2.
utilisation of geo-data?

Does the Commission share the view that geo-information is not a national matter but an important

3.
issue on a European scale?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2002)

1.
Geo-information (GI) is an area that has a substantial economic potential. The market for GI related
products and services is already well developed and the importance of GI will only increase with the move
towards mobile communications. It is, for example, an essential factor for location based services that may
become one of the key elements of the mobile Internet. The availability of high quality geo-information
also has an impact on other sectors, like transport and agriculture.

GI, furthermore, plays an increasing role in the definition, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of
Community policies, as in the disaster planning and environmental domains. In fact, the availability of geo-
information can be considered as a prerequisite for a sustainable development.

The Commission stimulates the strengthening of

2.
the structures for the creation and use of
Geographic information and applications based on GI along different lines. In collaboration with the
Member States, the Commission is developing the idea of a European GI base (ESDI), leading ultimately to
a pan-European interoperable digital map coverage.

GI is furthermore one of the sectors addressed by the Commission’s general policy on the exploitation of
public sector information. The Commission adopted on 23 October 2001, a Communication on the
exploitation of public sector information (1), giving the general policy orientations on the issue.

Financing instruments
for Geographic information projects are available in various Community
programmes like the 5th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (R & D)
and the market orientated eContent programme. The Commission is currently funding research projects in
the geo-information area for more than € 20 million.

Finally, in different Community policies and notably the Community environmental policy, geographic
information plays an increasing role for the definition, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of new
policy instruments (2). It is against this background that the idea of a European GI base is very important to
prevent overlapping and incompatible geographic information layers.