WRITTEN QUESTION E-2197/02 by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission. Devices for blocking mobile phones.
Date: 2002-07-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, mobile phone, regulation of telecommunications, telecommunications equipment

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/207

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 August 2002)

The Commission is not considering changing the aid scheme for citrus fruits as described by the
Honourable Member in his written question.

In the coming months the Commission will launch an evaluation of all the instruments available to the
common organisation of the market in fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, starting with the aid
scheme for producers of certain citrus fruits. Without wishing to prejudge the outcome of this exercise,
which will be conducted by independent evaluators, it is no secret that one alternative to the present aid
scheme is to provide area aid per hectare. This option will be analysed as such, among others.

The only official proposal from a Member State to convert the existing aid scheme into an area scheme per
hectare was made by the Italian authorities in 1999 and again in 2002. This would indicate a consistent
willingness on their part to continue promoting this policy line.

Any accusation that the Commission wishes to change the current aid scheme for citrus fruits in the way
and to the extent described in the Honourable Member’s question is thus totally unfounded.

(2002/C 309 E/239)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2197/02

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(19 July 2002)

Subject: Devices for blocking mobile phones

More and more people are being disturbed by mobile phones ringing at inappropriate moments. The
growth in mobile phone traffic is being accompanied by the availability of an increasing number of devices
which block all mobile phone traffic. Accordingly, a large number of cinemas, restaurants, hospitals and
schools want to install such blocking devices. In Belgium, such devices are currently prohibited by law, but
they are legal in France.

Does the Commission intend to draw up an EU directive which will address and regulate at European level
the issue of devices for blocking mobile phones?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2002)

The use of devices preventing the reception and emission of GSM signals is currently forbidden in all
Member States. The national Parliament in France has passed a law paving the way towards allowing the
use of such equipment in performance halls, subject to the adoption of implementation measures by the
national regulatory authority.

The Commission is currently reviewing the situation as the use of such equipment allegedly raises a series
of questions relating in particular to the free movement of services, the protection against interference in
the frequencies allocated and assigned for GSM communications, and compatibility with the radio
equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment Directive (R & TTE) (1).

(1) Directive 1999/5/EC of

the Parliament and of

the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and

telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity, OJ L 91, 7.4.1999.