WRITTEN QUESTION P-0522/02 by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Commission. Transmission by Internet and recording of Commission deliberations.
Date: 2002-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, Internet, access to EU information, dissemination of EU information, electronic document, provision of documents

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/209

The risk to consumers from exposure to HBCD and TBBPA in major consumer products therefore forms
part of a risk assessment pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93.

(1) OJ L 84, 5.4.1993.
(2) OJ L 231, 28.9.1995.
(3) OJ L 273, 26.10.2000.
(4) OJ L 161, 29.6.1994.

(2002/C 172 E/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0522/02

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Commission

(19 February 2002)

Subject: Transmission by Internet and recording of Commission deliberations

In view of Article 1 of the TEU on transparency, Article 255 of the EC Treaty on access to documents,
Article 42 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, Regulation No 1049/2001 (1) of 30 May 2001,
the Commission decisions of 5 December 2001, 29 November 2001 and 23 January 2002 amending the
Commission’s Rules of Procedure and the fact
in Regulation
No 1049/2001 of 30 May 2001 covers any kind of content whatever its medium (for example audiovisual
recordings of meetings or events), what meetings or deliberations of the Commissions or events organised
by it or connected with it are public and which are not?

the definition of

‘document’

that

What measures is the Commission drawing up to ensure that European citizens can follow these
deliberations, meetings or public events via Internet transmission or the creation of audiovisual archives
accessible by Internet?

(1) OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(12 March 2002)

Without exception the Commission meets as a College once a week outside holiday periods (1). In addition
to its weekly meetings, the Commission, still acting as a College, holds seminars or special meetings. Under
Article 9 of the Commission’s Rules of Procedure (2), these meetings are not public and discussions are
confidential.

Minutes are kept of Commission discussions and decisions. These minutes used to be internal documents.
Since the entry into force of the Commission Decision of 5 December 2001 amending its Rules of
Procedure (3), they have been among the documents which are automatically made accessible to the public;
they are also available on the Europa website at
the following address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/
secretariat_general/meeting/index_fr.htm.

Records are kept of Commission discussion seminars, at which no decisions are taken but which are
designed to organise the Commission’s work and to lay down the major strategic guidelines for its
activities, but they are not published since they are preparatory acts.

Since the Commission’s meetings are not public, there are no plans to make use of the new technologies
with a view to disseminating them to the general public. However, a video is produced at the start of each
meeting. It is broadcast on ‘Europe by Satellite’ (EbS), the Community’s televised information service, and
in some cases by the Eurovision network of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). These pictures and
the thematic picture banks produced by the Commission are intended to enable television journalists to
the
illustrate the decisions announced at press conferences by the President or the Members of

C 172 E/210

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

Commission responsible; these press conferences are broadcast on EbS, usually live, and repeated regularly.
All ‘Europe by satellite’ programmes are directly available on Europa, the Community’s internet site.

On 20 December 2001, to mark the launch of euro coins and notes, the Commission held an open session
which was broadcast in its entirety by EbS and in part by the EBU.

(1) Last week of December and all of August.
(2) OJ L 308, 8.12.2000.
(3) OJ L 345, 29.12.2001.

(2002/C 172 E/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0534/02

by Pernille Frahm (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 February 2002)

Subject: Brominated flame retardants in toys

There are at present no regulations on the use of brominated flame retardants in toys. What action does
the Commission intend to take to ensure that toys do not contain brominated flame retardants which are
harmful to health?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(22 April 2002)

Brominated flame retardants are used in certain consumer products to prevent fire from taking hold
quickly. They are most commonly used in housings of electric and electronic goods, in foams for vehicle
upholstery, furniture and insulation and in certain textiles.

The most widely used brominated flame retardants are subject to risk assessments in the framework of
Council Regulation (EEC) 793/93 of 23 March 1993 on the evaluation and control of existing
substances (1). The risk assessment of pentabromodiphenyl ether (pentaBDE) is finalised and concluded
that
the substance poses risks to health and the environment. The Commission has proposed an
amendment to Directive 76/769/EEC on restrictions on the marketing and use of dangerous substances
and preparations introducing a ban on pentaBDE in all articles, toys included (2). Following completion of
the other risk assessments the Commission will, if appropriate, and with particular attention to children’s
health risks propose risk reduction measures.

Council Directive 88/378/EEC of 3 May 1988 amended by Council Directive 93/68/EEC of 22 July 1993,
on toys safety (3) sets the essential requirements that any toy has to fulfil before being placed in the
Community market. One of the essential requirements that concerns chemicals is that toys must not
present health hazards or risks of physical injury by ingestion, inhalation or contact with skin, mucous
tissues or eyes.

The toys safety Directive requires that toys do not contain dangerous substances or preparations within the
meaning of Council Directives 67/548/EEC of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations
and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous
substances (4) and 88/378/EEC of 3 May 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States
concerning the safety of toys (5) in amounts that may harm the health of children using them. The toys
safety Directive itself sets limit values for the bioavailability resulting from the use of toys.

In the field of standardisation work, the Commission has given a mandate to the European Committee for
Standardisation (CEN) to prepare three European standards concerning the risks associated with the
presence of organic chemical compounds in toys. This standardisation work includes among other