WRITTEN QUESTION E-2692/02 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Uniform European registration system for weapons.
Date: 2002-09-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: arms control, exchange of information, firearms and munitions, illicit trade, personal weapon, standardisation

C 155 E/42

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.7.2003

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2002)

The conclusions drawn in the article referred to in the question tabled by the Honourable Member are
misleading, because the Parliament and Council Directive 94/27/EC of 30 June 1994 amending for the
12th time Directive 76/769/EEC on the approximation of
the laws, regulations and administrative
provisions of the Member States relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous
substances and preparation, hereafter the ‘Nickel Directive’ refers to objects that come into direct and
prolonged contact with the human skin, such as jewellery or wristwatches. This Directive does not cover
coins. Secondly, the results were generated by sticking 1- and 2- euro coins to the skin of patients with a
known nickel allergy for 48-72 hours. These conditions clearly do not reflect the normal conditions under
which coins are used.

The recent publication does not change the Commission’s view that the normal use of euro coins does not
represent a risk for European citizens. The Commission is not aware of any particular cases of patients
suffering from nickel allergy which can be traced back to the handling or use of 1 and 2 euro coins. These
conclusions were confirmed by a recent independent study, which showed that the amount of nickel
released from the 1 and 2 euro coins is significantly lower than from the national coins used prior to the
introduction of the euro.

Consequently, there is no need to evaluate again the denominations chosen for the euro banknotes and
coins, which regarding the coins have been laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 975/98 of 3 May
1998 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation (1).

(1) OJ L 139, 11.5.1998.

(2003/C 155 E/048)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2692/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(26 September 2002)

Subject: Uniform European registration system for weapons

A good number of arms manufacturers have a system for identifying and registering the weapons they
produce. Usually serial numbers are put on one or more of the weapon’s components. Exchange of
information among the EU countries as to the method used is somewhat patchy. In addition, the markings
used at present can sometimes be removed very easily. Each of these factors adds weight to the call for a
simple, efficient and universally applicable method. The markings can be kept in a national register so that
the route taken by arms found in a conflict zone can subsequently be traced.

Does the Council share my view that the EU would do well to launch a uniform, watertight registration
system as quickly as possible? If so, what steps has it taken, and will it take, to put this into effect? Will the
Council urge the Member States in this case to set up an efficient system of data exchange and to establish
national registers so that arms which are circulating illegally can be traced? If not, why not?

Reply

(20 February 2003)

Council Directive 91/477/EEC of 18 June 1991 on the control of the acquisition and possession of
weapons lays down a comprehensive system regulating inter alia the acquisition and the movement of
firearms (1).

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/43

Article 91 of the 1998 Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 establishes a
system for the exchange of information on the acquisition of firearms which supplements Article 13 of
Council Directive 91/477/EEC. Moreover, the Decision of the Executive Committee of 28 April 1999 on
the illegal trade in firearms (SCH/Com-Ex (99)10) sets out the forms to be used for the exchange of
information between Member States on seized firearms.

Council Directive 91/477/EEC does not apply to commercial transfers of weapons and ammunition of war.
The possibilities for the Community to act in that field are limited by Article 296 of the Treaty.

The Council would, moreover, point out that at its meeting on 15 April 2002 it adopted conclusions on a
list of concrete measures with regard to the implications of the terrorist threat on the non-proliferation,
disarmament and arms control policy of the European Union. Under those conclusions, the European
Union as such and its Member States undertook to promote, in particular, implementation of the United
Nations Programme of Action on the fight against the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and of
the OSCE document on SALW, and to reinforce, where needed, the multilateral instruments, in particular
by drafting an international
instrument on marking and tracing of SALW (inter alia a French-Swiss
proposal) as a priority.

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

(2003/C 155 E/049)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2701/02

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission

(26 September 2002)

Subject: Protection of privacy in correspondence from Italian banks

Whereas banks in other European countries generally protect the privacy of their clients absolutely in their
correspondence, Italian banks continue to use envelopes that are clearly marked with the name and/or
logo of
thus unreasonably giving strangers
information about the relationship that the user has with a certain bank.

for their communications with clients,

the bank itself,

Will the Commission ask the Italian banking system to follow European banking practice by using
unmarked envelopes for correspondence with their clients, thereby complying with their duty to protect
their clients’ privacy?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2002)

According to the information available to the Commission, the use of envelopes bearing the name and/or
logo of the bank is the normal practice in a number of Member States and in others is followed by
individual banks.

In other Member States, there appears to be a clear trend towards the use of plain envelopes, either for all
correspondence or for sending particular items, such as bankcards.

The Commission would suggest that if a client feels that the use of envelopes carrying the name or logo of
the bank compromises his or her privacy in any way, he or she could request from the bank alternative
means of communication, such as plain envelopes, e-banking services or even the collection of the
documents at the bank.

The Commission is not aware of any Member State where this matter is regulated by legislation and itself
has no plans for action in this area.