WRITTEN QUESTION E-1111/02 by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Benefits of the Galileo programme.
Date: 2002-04-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Greece, intelligent transport system, public service, satellite navigation, space technology, type of business

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?

6.2.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/71

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(24 May 2002)

The Galileo satellite positioning programme will be operational from 2008.

The Commission has carried out several studies on the benefits and advantages generated by this
programme for the EU as a whole.

The Commission’s view is that all regions of the EU, be they central or peripheral, will benefit from the
Galileo programme. By its very nature, the space technology used by the system means that less well-
equipped geographical areas are able to have access to services with a high added value. It must be
underlined that the numerous advantages brought by Galileo to the general public will go far beyond the
financial gains made by the various investors in the programme. The latest study estimates Galileo’s
benefits at EUR 17,8 billion in net present value for the period 2002-2020, against an outlay of
EUR 3,9 billion in net present value for manufacturing, deployment and operation costs.

In fact, the signals emitted by Galileo will offer a real public service, not only in Europe but throughout
the world. Galileo will be of particular interest
for areas such as civil protection, public health,
environmental protection, transport safety and sustainable mobility. It will generate direct benefits for
society as a whole. In Greece, the Galileo programme should benefit in particular sectors such as maritime
transport, agriculture, leisure and tourism.

On a strictly commercial level, it will be essentially up to the private sector to develop and market various
applications in sectors as diverse as health, vehicle guidance, safety, public works, etc. Small and medium-
sized enterprises, which are very common in the peripheral regions of the EU, should benefit considerably
from these opportunities.

A Greek company, Ktimatologio, took part in the definition phase of Galileo (1999-2001). Moreover,
several Greek companies are participating in a contract which is currently being signed. This contract
concerns the development of various experimental pilot projects to find solutions to the heightened
ground and maritime security needs of cities hosting the Olympic Games, in particular Athens in 2004, by
providing an initial level of service using the signals from the existing test-beds.

More generally, the Commission considers that Greek companies will be able to contribute substantially to
the programme. In this respect, it is prepared to take any action which could contribute to raising the
awareness of companies in all Member States as regards the advent of satellite radionavigation.

(2003/C 28 E/079)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1112/02

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(18 April 2002)

Subject: Trade relations (USA, Singapore and the EU)

Is the Commission aware of the state of negotiations between Singapore and the USA to establish a Free
Trade Agreement between the two countries?

Has it considered whether the EU should similarly negotiate an agreement with Singapore in order to
ensure equality between Europe and America with regard to access to the Singapore market?

Given the impossibility of a FTA between ASEAN and the EU, does it consider that a FTA with Singapore
alone would be feasible?