WRITTEN QUESTION P-1646/02 by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission. MHP digital television standard.
Date: 2002-06-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: ETSI, European standard, harmonisation of standards, high-definition television, regulation of telecommunications

C 301 E/198

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

1. What is the Commission’s view of South Korea’s policy on the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease?

2.

How great is the likelihood of contamination for the EU?

3. What measures have and are being taken to prevent tourists, football supporters and footballers from
bringing contamination with foot-and-mouth disease back to Europe?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(22 July 2002)

With reference to the questions raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission wishes to refer to its
reply to written questions P-1535/02 by Mr Böge and P-1544/02 by Mr Maat (1) and P-1682/02 by
Mr de Roo (2) on the same subject.

In addition to those 12 outbreaks predominately in pigs which were reported until 20 May 2002 and to
which reference was made in the above-mentioned replies to the Parliament, new outbreaks continue to
occur since 3 June 2002 affecting also cattle and small ruminants.

The competent authorities of the Republic of Korea carried out an awareness campaign to inform soccer
fans and provide information on the Internet (http://www.nvrqs.go.kr).

Equally, the competent authorities in the Member States have launched information campaigns for people
returning from foot-and-mouth disease infected countries and the Republic of Korea in particular.

A draft Commission Decision on the reinforcement of controls on the luggage carried by travellers arriving
in the Union from third countries will be presented to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and
Animal Health shortly.

(1) See page 172.
(2) See page 209.

(2002/C 301 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1646/02

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission

(4 June 2002)

Subject: MHP digital television standard

On 12 December 2001, the European Parliament voted at second reading on the telecoms package,
including Directive 2002/21/EC (1) of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory framework for electronic
communications networks and services. It has not yet proved possible to impose a standard for digital TV
in Europe, but in December 2001, at the time of the vote on the telecoms package, the European
Parliament inserted Article 18 in the framework directive. This requires Member States to monitor open
standards and interoperability one year after the entry force of the directive. On this basis, new proposals
may be put forward. Commissioner Liikanen promised that he would publish the MHP standard in the List
of Standards and promote it by adopting concrete measures in order to arrive at a uniform standard in
Europe as soon as possible.

Has the Commission taken any steps vis-à-vis the Member States and the relevant markets with a view to
securing the adoption of MHP as the standard?

If so, what measures has it taken to promote MHP as the standard?

If any such measures have been taken, have they had a measurable impact yet? If so, what?

(1) OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 33.

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/199

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2002)

Article 18.1 of Directive 2002/21/EC requires Member States to encourage openness in respect of the
applications-programming interface (API) provision. Article 18.3 requires the Commission to report on
how far interoperability and freedom of choice for users have been achieved one year after the date of
application i.e in July 2004.

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) adopted an initial version of Multimedia
Home Platform (MHP) as a Technical Specification (TS 101 812) in July 2000, well prior to the adoption
of the Framework Directive. At the December 2001 Plenary, the Commission undertook to include MHP in
the list of standards to be encouraged by Member States. The list is in preparation and will be published in
the autumn.

The Commission has launched a dialogue with industry players on interoperability in interactive television.

Three actions are already underway:

1. The Commission has requested the Digital Video Broadcasting Group to investigate technical

interoperability in relation to interactive television.

2.

3.

Second, the Commission has launched a study on the policy aspects of interoperability which is to
provide an analysis later this year. This will include consumer welfare issues.

Finally, the Commission is requesting the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation
(Cenelec) to undertake,
in co-operation with ETSI, a preliminary study on digital television and
interactive television standardisation with the view to support an implementation of Article 18 of the
Framework Directive that is cost-effective for industry and consumers. This will survey the current
technical situation as well as the standards situation, and produce recommendations for standard-
isation work.

These actions to promote a dialogue on interoperability (cid:1) including migration to MHP (cid:1) have started to
engage market players’ attention. It is too early, however, to predict their outcome.

(2002/C 301 E/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1647/02

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(4 June 2002)

Subject: Assessment of foot-and-mouth disease compensation funds

According to reports in the press, various provincial authorities in the Netherlands,
including that of
Friesland, set up funds in response to the foot-and-mouth crisis in 2001 to provide compensation for the
industries affected by it. In order to ensure that these practices did not violate Article 87 of the EC Treaty
concerning unlawful State aid, in which case they would have to be prohibited, these regional authorities
submitted the arrangements to the Commission for assessment pursuant to Article 88 of the EC Treaty. An
early decision by the Commission is called for, inter alia in the light of the precarious emotional and
financial state of those directly concerned.

In view of the above, will the Commission accelerate the relevant decision-making?