WRITTEN QUESTION E-1476/02 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Identity theft in the US.
Date: 2002-05-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Internet, United States, computer crime, data protection, economic offence, electronic commerce, personal data, protection of privacy

C 301 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

Fifteen years ago the Trapani puppet opera ceased activities; the same had happened at Caltanissetta in the
1960s; and in Caltagirone and Sortino the deaths of the last two puppet showmen, Gesualdo Papa and
Ignazio Puglisi, have also led to the disappearance of their art.

Immediately after the second world war there were 25 puppet theatres in Palermo alone, but for five years
now there have been only three companies left.

The Commission:

1. Can it state what measures it could take to ensure the recovery and survival of the puppet opera,
given its unique characteristics as an expression of the Sicilian and European cultural tradition?

2. Can it state what initiatives it intends to promote more generally for the support and preservation of
the Sicilian dialect theatre, including the involvement of educational institutions and tourist bodies?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(5 July 2002)

Article 151 of the EC Treaty gives the Community responsibilities in the field of culture. According to
Article 151, action by the Community shall, while fully observing the principle of subsidiarity, be aimed
exclusively at contributing to cooperation between Member States, to the flowering of their cultures while
respecting their national and regional diversity, and to fostering Member States’ cooperation with third
countries and the competent international organisations in the sphere of culture.

In this connection, the EU supports initiatives in the cultural field,
including the live arts (especially
musical theatre, theatre and dance) within the framework and according to the selection criteria of the
‘Culture 2000’ programme, which is the EU’s sole financing and programming instrument for cultural
cooperation. The Commission would point out that the visual arts (cid:1) including theatre (cid:1) will figure
prominently as part of the ‘Culture 2000’ programme in 2003.

The Commission would, however, draw the Honourable Member’s attention to the fact that the ‘Culture
2000’ programme does not provide support for cultural initiatives specific to a region, but for projects for
cooperation in the field of culture at European level in keeping with the Community’s mandate under the
Treaty.

(2002/C 301 E/168)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1476/02

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(27 May 2002)

Subject: Identity theft in the US

On Saturday, 4 May 2002 the Italian daily ‘Corriere della Sera’ carried an article on a new phenomenon
which is causing concern to the US authorities. A full-blown market in personal data is in process of being
created, and the data concerned range from confidential social security codes to all fourteen digits of
credit-card numbers. Official estimates suggest that every year between 500 000 and 700 000 US citizens
suffer thefts of this kind of data. The US Attorney-General, Mr John Ashcroft, is particularly concerned at
the threat this represents from the viewpoint of terrorism (two of the nineteen persons responsible for the
attacks on the Twin Towers had false licences issued in New Jersey). Even if the problem has been raised in
the US, the means used for selling personal data are global, since the process happens on the Internet.

The Commission:

1.

Is it aware of this disturbing phenomenon?

2. Are estimates available concerning the extent of criminal activity of this kind in the Member States?

3. Has the Commission called on Europol to carry out a detailed investigation into this new type of

criminal activity?

4. Does the Commission not consider that, in view of these developments in the US, it is now essential

to ensure regulation of the Internet, at least as far as personal data security is concerned?

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/157

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 2002)

The Commission is aware of the growing phenomenon of identity theft (misuse of personal data and
1.
bank facilities of an individual) which, in the United States and Canada, threatens the financial sector.
Presentations and a discussion on identity theft recently took place within the Fraud Prevention Expert
Group, the steering group for the implementation of the Action Plan to prevent fraud and counterfeiting
of non cash payments (1).

2.
At the moment, statistics covering the whole financial sector are available only in the United
Kingdom, where identity theft is the fastest growing fraud with an increase of 165 % from 1999 to 2001
(where 53 000 cases were recorded).

3.

No, but Europol participated in the above mentioned meeting.

The Union’s legal framework on personal data protection consists of two Directives namely a general
4.
Directive and a sector specific telecommunications Directive (2). Both include provisions to limit and
protect the processing of personal data, also over the Internet. These Directives determine the scope and
nature of legitimate processing of personal data, impose security measures and require the establishment of
adequate judicial and other remedies in case of infringements. The limits to the collection and further use
of personal data are in general terms much more strict in the Union than in the United States.

Security breaches at e-commerce merchant databases where hackers gain access to customers’ personal
data and credit card numbers, are also cause for great concern. Preventive measures, such as security
requirements for online merchants accepting payment cards, are discussed under the above mentioned
Fraud Prevention Action Plan. Furthermore,
in addition to the Framework Decision of 28 May 2001
combating fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment (3), action to increase Internet security
has also been undertaken. Finally, on 19 April 2002 the Commission proposed a Framework Decision on
attacks against information systems (4), which addresses the new most significant forms of criminal activity
against
information systems and encourages information security, while ensuring that Europe’s law
enforcement authorities can take action against this type of cybercrime.

(1) Communication from the Commission ‘Preventing fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment’,

COM(2001) 11 final, http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/en/finances/payment/fraud/index.htm.

(2) Directive 95/46/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with
regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, OJ L 281, 23.11.1995; and
Directive 97/66/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 concerning the processing of
personal data and the protection of privacy in the telecommunications sector, OJ L 24, 30.1.1998, to be updated
and replaced by a new Directive that will be formally adopted by the Parliament and the Council in July 2002.

(3) OJ L 149, 2.6.2001.
(4) COM(2002) 173 final.

(2002/C 301 E/169)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1481/02

by María Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Commission

(22 May 2002)

Subject: Neutralisation of the EU’s structural policies and closure of the public company Cetarsa in Granada

inflict socio-economic harm on a seriously
In view of the fact that the closure of this company will
disadvantaged area, in the Objective 1 province with the lowest income levels in Spain, where the EU has
been investing large amounts of aid so as to stabilise the social fabric; given that the factory in question is
highly profitable, and its closure is a source of concern both to the 1 500 families who live from tobacco
growing and the 32 local authorities affected; given the plans to privatise and relocate this company with
following an investment of over
231 employees, equipped with the most up to date machinery,