WRITTEN QUESTION P-1097/02 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission. Inclusion of Hungary in the list of non-cooperative countries and territories (NCCT) in connection with the fight against money laundering.
Date: 2002-04-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Hungary, accession negotiations, cooperation policy, fight against crime, money laundering

C 28 E/70

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

(2003/C 28 E/077)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1097/02

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(9 April 2002)

Subject: Inclusion of Hungary in the list of non-cooperative countries and territories (NCCT) in connection

with the fight against money laundering

In its report of 22 June 2001 (most recent update: February 2002) the Financial Action Task Force on
Money Laundering classifies Hungary as a non-cooperative country.

As a member of the Financial Action Task Force, could the European Commission answer the following
questions:

(cid:1) On what grounds has Hungary been classified as a non-cooperative country?

(cid:1) What view does the Commission take of this step in the light of the accession negotiations and the

third pillar?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2002)

In June 2001 the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) added Hungary to the list of
non-cooperative countries and territories (NCCTs) whose anti-money laundering defences were judged to
be inadequate.

The main reason for the inclusion of Hungary on the list was the continuing practice of issuing bearer
savings passbooks anonymously.
the accession negotiations Hungary had already
undertaken to discontinue this practice as from its accession to the Union. The FATF was of the view that
this action should be taken sooner.

In the context of

Since its listing, Hungary has taken resolute action to satisfy the FATF. In its press release of 1 February
2002 (available on the FATF website at http://www.fatf-gafi.org),
the FATF ‘notes with particular
satisfaction the rapid and significant progress made by Hungary to eliminate the deficiencies previously
identified’.

Assuming that the FATF continues to be satisfied with the ongoing implementation of these reforms,
Hungary can hope to be removed from the NCCT list in the relatively near future.

The Commission is thus confident that this matter will be fully resolved well ahead of accession.

(2003/C 28 E/078)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1111/02

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 April 2002)

Subject: Benefits of the Galileo programme

According to Commissioner Loyola de Palacio, the European satellite network ‘Galileo’ will create 150 000
new, highly skilled jobs in the Union and will boost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by EUR 10 billion a
year.

When exactly will Galileo be fully operational? Has the Commission established exactly in which Member
States these new jobs will be created? How will the additional GDP of EUR 10 billion a year be divided
among the less wealthy ‘cohesion countries’ (Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Greece)? Has an assessment been
made of how the programme will benefit Greece in particular, a peripheral country separated from the
main body of the Union which has a per capita GDP of less than 70 % of the Community average and a
level of technology in need of upgrading? Which Greek companies have expressed an interest in taking
part or could contribute towards the implementation of the Galileo programme?