WRITTEN QUESTION E-3752/02 by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission. Palladium.
Date: 2002-12-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, application of EU law, computer piracy, information technology industry, information technology user, malware, protection of privacy, restriction on competition, software

C 242 E/70

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

9.10.2003

Given that Euronews is a pan-European channel which receives EU support:

1.

Is the Commission aware of
continuation of Portuguese-language broadcasting by the channel?

these developments at Euronews? Does any threat exist

to the

2. What measures have been taken or will be taken to ensure the continuation of the Portuguese-

language version of Euronews?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 2003)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written P-3364/02 by Mr Ribeiro e
Castro (1)

(1) See page 54.

(2003/C 242 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3740/02

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 December 2002)

Subject: Annual accounts for the financial year 2001

In Official Journal (1), the Commission published the European Communities’ annual accounts for the
financial year 2001 (consolidated statements on budget implementation and balance sheet).

Can the Commission forward a list of all the changes made to the annual accounts as now published in
relation to the version forwarded to Parliament on 30 April 2002?

(1) OJ C 296, 28.11.2002.

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2003)

No changes have been made. The annual accounts are published in the Official Journal on the same day as
the Court of Auditor’s annual report.

(2003/C 242 E/075)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3752/02

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(20 December 2002)

Subject: Palladium

In its next version of Windows, Microsoft wants to incorporate a ‘virtual lock’ called Palladium. Microsoft
claims that this will protect PCs against viruses and filter spam. It may also provide a means of preventing
the illegal copying of software. Palladium is also supposed to provide PCs with a unique identification
code. There is a fear that an identification code of this nature developed by Microsoft will make the
running of competitors’ software impossible.

9.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 242 E/71

How will the Commission ensure that Microsoft does not misuse Palladium in order to eliminate

1.
competitors? Will Palladium jeopardise the development of free software/open source development?

PCs equipped with Palladium will be able to operate only with Palladium-compatible software. It is
2.
for a company which itself sells software to make the rules relating thereto? Does not the
lawful
Commission see it as its role as the authority in charge of competition issues to lay down the requisite
rules?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 2003)

1.
The Commission is aware of Microsoft’s Palladium initiative. This project is still in its early stages.
As such, and in the absence of any formal complaint, the Commission is not investigating Palladium. The
Commission is nevertheless fully aware of the potential impact of technologies such as Palladium on a
range of areas, including the development of open source software, user control and user rights issues,
privacy issues and content provision. The Commission is committed to act within its powers in favour of
innovation and is actively engaged in dialogue with all parties expressing views on Palladium.

2.
Palladium is not currently incorporated in any Microsoft products on the market, and it is therefore
premature for the Commission to make an assessment of its effects. As the authority in charge of
competition issues, the Commission is committed to ensuring that conduct in the market is in compliance
with the Community’s anti-trust rules, such that market outcomes which are beneficial to consumers,
competition and innovation are attained.

(2003/C 242 E/076)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3770/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 December 2002)

Subject: Conversion of the arms industry

Before the reform of the Structural Funds, the Konver programme was implemented. It made funding
available to the arms industry, if the latter so wished, to enable arms manufacturers to switch to civil
production. Such conversion measures for the arms industry now form part of the normal budget for the
Structural Funds.

How much money has been spent on assisting conversion measures in the arms industry in the past 15
years? Can the Commission indicate, for each Member State, how these funds have been used?

In the specific case of Belgium, can it indicate which companies or authorities have taken advantage of this
assistance?

Has overall assistance with the conversion of the arms industry been evaluated, and can the Commission
accordingly state how many jobs have been transferred from the arms industry to the civil sector?

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(11 March 2003)

The Konver Community Initiative was set up in 1993, carrying on from the Perifra I and II special
measures adopted in 1991 and 1992. It was devised at the end of the Structural Funds’ 1989-93 budget
period, as part of an annual programme linking with the 1994-99 period. This Community Initiative was