WRITTEN QUESTION E-1236/03 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Sale of PCs with preinstalled operating system.
Date: 2003-04-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU control, computer, consumer protection, information technology industry, marketing, operating system

C 70 E/34

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

The same sources state that several thousand people have been affected, notably by the overflowing of the
river Save. There have been reports, following the flooding of transport links, of communities being
effectively cut off and having to be airlifted food supplies under World Food Programme (WFP) auspices.

The humanitarian situation is critical, even more so since the communities affected had already been hit by
severe drought-induced food shortages.

Can the Commission state:

(cid:1) what information it has on the volume and effects of the flooding?

(cid:1) what measures has the Commission taken, or what measures does it intend to take, in support of the

communities affected?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(23 May 2003)

The Commission is aware that Mozambique has suffered severe adverse weather conditions in 2003, firstly
when Cyclone Delfina caused torrential rains in northern and central Mozambique during the first week of
January 2003, and secondly as a result of floods caused by Cyclone Japhet in central Mozambique in the
first week of March 2003. Effects of the flooding have included serious disruption to transport, power,
water and agricultural systems; damage to houses, schools and health centres; over 50 000 people affected
or displaced by the floods and 75 deaths. Inhabitants of villages close to the River Save, which burst its
banks on 11 March 2003, were especially vulnerable due to food shortages existing before the recent
floods, and because this area was affected by flooding in both 2000 and 2001.

The Commission responded swiftly to assist the flood victims, by means of food security and water
projects that it was already funding in the affected areas. These projects reoriented their activities rapidly in
favour of those in need as a result of the floods. Items which have been supplied include food, cooking
equipment, buckets, water treatment packages and plastic sheeting.

Moreover, staff responsible for the Community’s multi-annual food security programme (EUR 44 million)
are currently assessing the food security situation in central Mozambique, following a recent Call for
Proposals (EUR 10 million) under the food security budget line.

Close co-ordination with other relief organisations, such as World Food Programme, the Red Cross and the
Mozambique government’s National Disaster Management Institute (INGC), are an essential feature of flood
response. An important aspect of ongoing Community assistance is disaster preparedness implemented by
the National Institute of Meteorology with Commission financial support. This is extremely useful to the
Government in preparing for floods and similar events.

Concerning possible future actions,
Mozambique closely, ready to take further action if appropriate.

the Commission is monitoring the humanitarian situation in

(2004/C 70 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1236/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(2 April 2003)

Subject: Sale of PCs with preinstalled operating system

As numerous complaints from users testify, the great majority of PCs are now sold with the MS Windows
operating system preinstalled. That trading practice has reached the point where PCs with no operating
system preinstalled are virtually unobtainable without extra charge. Customers for such a machine not only

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/35

frequently have to pay for an operating system they don’t want, they are also expected to pay extra to have
it removed from the PC they want to buy. There can be little doubt that this amounts to an irregularity on
the internal market. These practices would appear to constitute a form of tied sales, not least because
consumers cannot, for example, freely chose a different operating system without incurring extra costs.

Is the Commission aware of this state of affairs?

Does it consider this manner of trading as complying with Community law in force?

What action will it take to put a stop to these practices and again allow consumers a free choice?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(22 May 2003)

The Commission is aware of the difficulties encountered by consumers in obtaining a personal computer
(PC) from PC vendors without an operating system pre-installed. The Commission understands that
Microsoft’s licensing agreements with PC manufacturers require the pre-installation on PCs of an operating
system, although this does not have to be a Microsoft operating system. The Commission intends to
examine this question in greater detail once its ongoing Microsoft investigation has concluded.

(2004/C 70 E/039)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1246/03

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(2 April 2003)

Subject: Safety of crash barriers

A report by FEMA, the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations,
indicates that somewhere
between 10 and 15 percent of fatal accidents involving motorcyclists are attributable to crash barriers.
Associations representing motorcyclists say that safe crash barriers could significantly reduce the number
of deaths. Although many safe crash barrier systems have now been developed, there are still no new
European regulations on safety requirements for crash barriers.

Can the Commission say whether it is thinking of introducing European safety requirements for crash
barriers?

What are its plans?

What is the timetable?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2003)

The Honourable Member is asked to refer to the answer given by the Commission to written question
E-3226/02 by Mrs Villiers (1).

(1) See page 10.