WRITTEN QUESTION E-0858/03 by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission. Printer cartridges.
Date: 2003-03-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC Directive, European Commission, advertising malpractice, consumer information, drafting of EU law, electronic equipment, environmental protection, information technology industry, printer, waste management

C 11 E/140

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

Thirty other Italian local authorities are represented as principal partners in the ‘ECOS-Ouverture II’
programme. This is the highest number of principal partners per country in this programme.

Until the Commission has completed examination of the ECOS-Ouverture projects’ final reports in the
coming months, it will not be possible to say whether all of these Italian principal partners were able to
use all their funding. However, the experience with the projects that are already closed shows that it is
seldom the case that the funds available under the ECOS-Ouverture programme are under-spent.

(1) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993.

(2004/C 11 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0853/03

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 March 2003)

Subject: Auditors’ recommendations

In its reply of 8 April 2002 to my Written Question E-0329/02 (1) of 12 February 2002 concerning a
letter from the Director-General of the Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional Policy to the Greek
authorities regarding failings in the management of the third ESF, the Commission indicated that ‘in their
reply of 14 November 2001 to the Commission’s observations, the Greek authorities confirmed that the
major part of the auditors’ recommendations had been implemented’.

How is the Commission ensuring that the Greek authorities have in fact taken account of the auditors’
recommendations?

From June 2001 to date, how many checks have been carried out for which programmes or initiatives?
What were the findings for each programme or initiative? What were the replies from the Greek
Government and what action was taken by the Commission?

(1) OJ C 205 E, 29.8.2002, p. 117.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(22 April 2003)

there have been three audit missions by the Commission concerning the
Since November 2001,
management and control systems of
the Community Support Framework as well as a number of
Operational Programmes. Within the framework of the partnerships, the findings of the audits are subject
to discussion with the Greek authorities. It is too early to draw conclusions on these findings.

(2004/C 11 E/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0858/03

by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission

(20 March 2003)

Subject: Printer cartridges

Is the Commission aware that many ink jet printer cartridges currently on the market in the EU are fitted
with ‘Smartchip’ technologies that give an inaccurate indication of the amount of ink in the cartridge,
leading to significant waste of ink and loss of value to the consumer when they mistakenly discard an ink
cartridge that still contains a considerable amount of useful and valuable ink?

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/141

Does the Commission not think that it should take action to protect the environment and consumers’
rights by firstly ensuring that the public are informed that ‘smartchips’ in ink cartridges do not in any way
measure the amount of ink in the cartridge, but simply report via software to the user an estimated value
based on an algorithm created by the manufacturer?

Will the Commission also investigate the possibility of malpractice by the manufacturer? If not why not?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2003)

The issue of ‘Smart-Chip’ technologies featured prominently in the final discussions prior to the adoption
of Directive 2002/96/EC (1). The Commission is therefore well aware of the issues surrounding the
environmental impacts of their manufacture and use. However, from an environmental perspective there is
no European legislation that governs the use or design of such products. Nevertheless, the Commission is
in the process of developing two initiatives which may provide a suitable framework for addressing such
issues.

The first is the forthcoming proposal for a directive on the Eco-design of Energy-Using Products, which
should set a framework in which it is possible to address, through legislation, products that have
significant environmental impacts within a life-cycle perspective.

The second is Integrated Product Policy (IPP) (2), which will seek to increase the environmental performance
of all products through their life-cycle. The main focus of this will be on promoting the integration of life-
cycle thinking into all policy areas and promoting the use of tools to reduce the environmental impacts of
products, such as Life-Cycle Assessment and the Union Eco-label. It will also focus on products with the
greatest environmental impact.

it should be
As far as protecting the consumer from alleged inaccurate information is concerned,
emphasised that it is a general principle of Community law that labelling should provide clear, accurate
and understandable information in a language easily understood by the consumer. That notion includes
that the consumer is entitled that the information displayed on the product itself is accurate. Should
advertisement give insofar a false impression, Directive 84/450/EEC (3) as amended by Directive 97/55/
EC (4) on misleading and comparative advertisement could be infringed. The forthcoming proposal for a
framework directive on unfair commercial practices, which is programmed by the Commission before the
summer 2003, will deal with and clarify these matters.

(1) Directive 2002/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on waste electrical and electronic
equipment (WEEE) (cid:1) Joint declaration of the Parliament, the Council and the Commission relating to Article 9,
OJ L 37, 13.2.2003.

(2) This was the subject of a Green Paper (COM(2001) 68 final)) and will shortly be the subject of a Commission

Communication.

(3) Council Directive 84/450/EEC of 10 September 1984 relating to the approximation of the laws, regulations and

administrative provisions of the Member States concerning misleading advertising, OJ L 250, 19.9.1984.

(4) Directive 97/55/EC of Parliament and of the Council of 6 October 1997, OJ L 290, 23.10.1997.

(2004/C 11 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0860/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(20 March 2003)

Subject: Use of funds under the Sport for the Disabled programme by the City of Frosinone

In September 2002, the monitoring committee of the Italian Ministry for Economic Affairs issued a report
on the spending of EU funds. The report reveals the alarming slowness and inefficiency with which EU
funds are allocated to projects by some regional authorities.