WRITTEN QUESTION E-3806/02 by Karin Junker (PSE) to the Commission. Commission and Member State ICT projects in developing countries.
Date: 2003-01-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: ACP countries, EU Member State, European Development Fund, developing countries, development aid, information technology

C 33 E/24

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2004

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2003)

The Commission has not so far received any application from the Greek authorities under Article 4 of
Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity
Fund (1) for aid to make good damage caused by the natural disasters to which the Honourable Member
refers.

For aid from the Fund to be granted the requirements of Articles 2 and 4(1) of the Regulation must be met,
namely that estimated damage (unless exceptional circumstances as indicated in the last subparagraph of
Article 2(2) apply) is more than EUR 3 billion or 0,6 % of the Member State’s gross national income and
that application is made within ten weeks of the date of the first damage caused by the disaster. Help from
the Fund is given for action of the types listed in Article 3 of the Regulation. Compensation for loss of
agricultural production is not included.

This Regulation is of very recent date and has not yet been used to help Greece.

(1) OJ L 311, 14.11.2002.

(2004/C 33 E/023)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3806/02

by Karin Junker (PSE) to the Commission

(7 January 2003)

Subject: Commission and Member State ICT projects in developing countries

Access to global communication, in particular to modern information and communication technology
(ICT), can play a crucial role in enhancing sustainable economic and social development in the ACP
countries and make an important contribution to the democratic forming of opinions.

Speeding up the introduction of ICT can considerably improve the chances of sustainable development and
aid EU development cooperation in fundamental areas such as fighting poverty, health, education, training,
the environment and strengthening the private sector.

The Commission and the Council understand the importance of ICT, as emerged from the Commission
communication (1) and the Council of Development Ministers’ Decision of 30 May 2002 on the
Commission communication. In its report, the Commission outlines the current programmes and future
activities, albeit in a very general way.

At the Palermo Conference in April, the Italian Government outlined its ICT initiative for developing
countries. Italy has made more than USD 100 million available for projects to advance e-government in
five developing countries.

What specifically is the Commission doing for developing countries, especially for ACP countries in terms
of ICT?

What programmes and activities are there and of what nature?

What are other Member States doing for developing countries with regard to ICT?

(1) COM(2001) 770.

6.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 33 E/25

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2003)

The Communication on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Development highlights
the importance of ICT as an instrument in support of the six Community development priorities. ICTs are
a tool not a means in themselves.

the 9th European Development Fund (EDF), all

Indicative
In the framework of
Programmes contain references to ICTs. The Commission is now working with the competent regional
organisations to put into practice these components as far as possible. Moreover, as a follow up to the
Union-African, Caribbean and Pacific States (EU-ACP)
Joint Parliamentary Assembly and following a
request by the ACP Group, the Commission is preparing a feasibility study for an ACP ICT programme. As
a result of this study, an operational programme could be set up and implemented over the 9th EDF
implementation period.

the six Regional

the Community budget, budget

line B7-623 (Capacity building for information and
In terms of
communication technologies and sustainable energy), the Commission is presently finalising a contract
with the International Telecommunications Union to support several ICT programmes with a multiplier
effect. It will be focused on low-income countries, principally ACPs.

For Asia, the Mediterranean and Latin America, the Commission is implementing the Asia IT & C, Eumedis
and @LIS programs respectively. The first two programmes are near completion and a phase II is being
considered.

The Commission is also trying to develop operational guidelines on how to mainstream ICT in the six
focal sectors.

In parallel, under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha Development Agenda, as well as in the
negotiations such as ACP-Union Economic Partnership Agreements, the Commission invites developing
countries to adopt appropriate regulatory frameworks and to allow private investment (whether local or
foreign) in the sectors that are key for the ICT sector: telecommunications, computer related services,
financial services, etc. Competition and investment in those sectors, along with financial and technical
assistance to help the implementation of appropriate regulation, would promote ICT infrastructure in those
countries and the development of e-commerce and e-government.

The Commission and Member States interact on ICT for development in the context of an expert group
that has now met
four times. The Commission, however, does not possess detailed and complete
information about Member States’ ICT for development programmes.

(2004/C 33 E/024)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3845/02

by Ieke van den Burg (PSE)
and Wilfried Kuckelkorn (PSE) to the Commission

(9 January 2003)

Subject: European law aspects of German benefits to encourage private supplementary pension schemes

In Germany,

1.
there are a number of measures designed to encourage people to subscribe to
supplementary pension schemes (‘Zusatzversorgung’/‘Riesterrente’). The encouragement takes the form of a
basic benefit (‘Grundzulage’) and a child benefit (‘Kinderzulage’) to which German workers are entitled if
they subscribe to a supplementary pension scheme.