WRITTEN QUESTION E-1359/02 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission. Legislation on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons in the applicant countries.
Date: 2002-05-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC Directive, enlargement of the Union, national implementing measure, personal weapon

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/209

These actions to create an environment
businesses are complemented by public funding limited to addressing identifiable market failures.

favourable to creating and sustaining new and innovative

For instance, the Growth and Employment Initiative (1998-2000) (Council Decision 98/347/EC (2)) and the
Multiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and in particular for the small and medium-
sized enterprises (SMEs) (2001-2005) (Council Decision 2000/819/EC (3)), contained measures to stimulate
the supply of risk capital in the Community, the most important of which was the European Technology
Facility (ETF) Start-up Facility.

Under ETF Start-up, the European Investment Fund (EIF), which manages the Facility on behalf of the
Commission, invests in relevant specialised venture capital funds, particularly in seed funds, smaller funds,
funds operating regionally or funds focused on specific sectors or technologies, or venture capital funds
financing the exploitation of Research and Technological Development (R & D) results.

The EIF, which became a part of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group in the year 2000, also invests
its own funds and the EIB’s funds in venture capital activities. In recent years it has become one of the
most important market players in risk capital in the Community. Given the high risk of seed and early
stage finance, support comes from the Community budget, whereas the EIF’s and EIB’s own resources will
be used for less risky later stage investments. In addition, the guidelines for 2001-2005 for the European
Regional Development Fund (ERDF) allow the co-financing of regional risk capital funds in the assisted
areas.

With regard to actions envisaged, in the near future the Commission will present the evaluation of the
Growth and Employment Initiative. In October 2002 it will also present its fourth annual implementation
report on the RCAP and, before the end of 2002, a report on best practices in the field of Business Angels.

Furthermore, the progressive implementation of the Financial Services Action Plan by 2005 will also help
to restore investors’ confidence in risk capital markets and should positively influence the supply of risk
capital for European businesses by creating deeper pools of liquidity in European Capital markets.

(1) COM(2001) 605 final.
(2) 98/347/EC: Council Decision of 19 May 1998 on measures of financial assistance for innovative and job-creating

small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the growth and employment initiative > OJ L 155, 29.5.1998.

(3) 2000/819/EC: Council Decision of 20 December 2000 on a multiannual programme for enterprise and
entrepreneurship, and in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (2002-2005) > OJ L 333,
29.12.2000.

(2002/C 229 E/241)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1359/02

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(14 May 2002)

Subject: Legislation on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons in the applicant countries

1. Which applicant countries have transposed into their legislation Council Directive 91/477/EEC (1) of
18 June 1991 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons?

2.

In which countries are improvements necessary?

3. Where exactly are the improvements necessary?

4.

By what date must improvements be completedy?

(1) OJ L 256, 13.9.1991, p. 51.

C 229 E/210

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2002)

All the applicant countries have agreed to take over the acquis of Council Directive 91/477/EEC of
18 June 1991 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (1). In general, as in the Member
States, the applicant countries already have provisions which are stricter than the minimum provisions laid
down by Directive 91/477/EEC, as regards banned weapons and those which must be authorised or
declared.

On the basis of the transposition work being carried out in all the applicant countries, the Commission has
noted that most of the difficulties encountered relate to finalising the texts on the procedures for the
transfer of weapons, and particularly the introduction of the European firearms pass. In accordance with
the undertakings given by the applicant countries, this work should be completed by the date of their
accession. In order to ensure that this is the case, the Commission is closely monitoring the progress of
this work within the framework set up by the pre-accession strategy.

(1) OJ L 256, 13.9.1991.

(2002/C 229 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1382/02

by Paul Lannoye (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(14 May 2002)

Subject: Checks on ionising radiation facilities and the foodstuffs and food ingredients treated with ionising

radiation

Article 7(3) of Directive 1999/2/EC (1) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 February 1999
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning foods and food ingredients treated
with ionising radiation states that:

[…] the Member States shall forward to the Commission every year:

> the results of checks carried out in the ionising irradiation facilities, in particular regarding the

categories and quantities of products treated and the doses administered,

> the results of checks carried out at the product marketing stage. […].

Can the Commission say:

1. What quantities of each type of foodstuff and food ingredient allowed to be treated with ionising
radiation were irradiated in 2001 in the 6 Member States which have facilities licensed to carry out
this type of
treatment. What quantities of these foodstuffs and food ingredients were destined
respectively for the European Union’s internal market and for export outside the EU;

2. Which Member States carried out, in 2001, checks at the product marketing stage in order to detect:
(a) the possible presence on their territory of foodstuffs and food ingredients whose treatment with
ionising radiation they do not allow; (b) whether the foodstuffs and food ingredients treated with
ionising radiation were labelled in accordance with Article 6 of Directive 1999/2;

3. How many checks were carried out and what their results were?

(1) OJ L 66, 13.3.1999, p. 16.