WRITTEN QUESTION E-2212/03 by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Increasing EU citizens' opportunities for influence and participation through interactive information technology.
Date: 2003-07-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Internet, exchange of information, information technology, interactivity, political participation, public opinion

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/401

both their financial and institutional capacities and of the fact that refugees can put considerable strain on
their social and political structures, and to elaborate further on the use of development cooperation in the
search of durable solutions for refugees, in voluntary return and reintegration as well as local integration,
and to develop concrete proposals on how more aid could be directed towards assisting refugees in the
region, while targeting poverty reduction in host communities. In doing so, the Commission will pay
particular attention to the implementation of the UNHCR Agenda for Protection adopted in October 2002
with a view to strengthen and modernise international protection and focus on three priorities: access to
protection, durable solutions and better responsibility sharing with third countries.

In its various Communications, the Commission has stated that a legal base was needed for the proper
implementation of Budget line ‘Co-operation with Third Countries in the area of Migration (B7-667)’. The
Commission has brought forward a proposal for a Regulation of the Parliament and the Council to that
end which would establish a programme for financial and technical assistance to third countries in the area
of migration and asylum (4). The Commission recommends the Parliament examine this proposal as soon
as possible.

(1) OJ C 51 E, 26.2.2002.
(2) COM(2003) 152 final.
(3) COM(2003) 315 final.
(4) COM(2003) 355 final.

(2004/C 78 E/0423)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2212/03

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 July 2003)

Subject: Increasing EU citizens’ opportunities

for

influence and participation through interactive

information technology

During its Presidency, the Greek government has successfully promoted interactive eDemocracy by means
of its eVote initiative. 170 000 citizens expressed their views by eVote on how they thought the European
Union should develop. One particularly positive feature of this eVote initiative was that the Greek
government, current holders of
the Presidency, are incorporating feedback from citizens into their
everyday business. Citizens’ opinions and suggestions will flow directly and immediately to EU-level
meetings, negotiations and decision-making.

It would be a pity if the eVote initiative did not continue in one form or another in years to come. Hence
my question to the Commission:

Has the Commission considered how the eVote initiative could become a regular way of collecting citizens’
opinions on EU issues, thus giving decision-makers direct knowledge of EU citizens’ hopes and initiatives?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2003)

The eVote initiative of the Greek Presidency reflects a common endeavour to involve citizens in shaping
European decisions which impact them, by making full use of new communication technologies. The
Commission has actively pursued such involvement, for example, through ‘Your Voice in Europe’ (1) which
is a ‘single access point’ for European citizens for consultations, discussions and other participation tools
such as Citizen Signpost Service. This portal was developed under the Interactive Policy Making (IPM)
initiative and launched on the 16 January 2003, further to the White Paper on Governance (2) and as part
of the e-Commission initiative. It also contributes to the implementation of the Commission’s ‘General
Principles and minimum standards for the consultation of interested parties’ (3).

C 78 E/402

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

This ‘one-stop shop’ allows citizens:

(cid:1) to participate in all Commission wide open consultations (including on-line consultations);

(cid:1) to participate in on-line debates on the Union, discuss issues directly with Union leaders, and

exchange views (chat) with other citizens interested in the same topic;

(cid:1) to contact an expert, who can provide advice on all aspects of Union citizens’ rights. These networks

of experts also indirectly provide the Commission with feedback on citizens’ experiences.

The Parliament has participated in the promotion of the IPM initiative (e.g. during the Euro Info Centres
(EIC) General conference 2002 and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) (cid:1) Open
Dialogue Conference in November 2002).

The multilingual Futurum (4) website offers various discussion spaces for citizens on the Future of the
Union process.

The Commission is also committed to supporting Best Practices in e-democracy. The Commission has
organised the 2003 eEurope Awards in eGovernment, where 65 applications representing ‘the best
practices of public administrations in Europe’ (cid:1) amongst which several related to ‘eDemocracy’ including
eVote (cid:1) have been selected for exhibition at the Union’s Ministerial Conference eGovernment 2003, held
on 7/8 July 2003, in Italy.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/yourvoice/index_en.htm
(2) OJ C 287, 12.10.2001.
(3) COM(2002) 704 final.
(4) http://europa.eu.int/futurum/index_en.htm

(2004/C 78 E/0424)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2293/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 July 2003)

Subject: Discontinuation of cross-border night-trains within the EU, in response to free market pressures,
leading to high ticket prices for journeys using the rail networks of other Member States

1.
Is the Commission aware that at the end of 2003 the Belgian national rail company NMBS/SNCB is
discontinuing its night-train services to foreign destinations in order to save EUR 15 million per year, a
move which will seriously restrict the scope for passenger rail transport to the south of France, Germany,
Switzerland and Austria?

2.
Is the Commission aware, further, that the reason for this decision is that NMBS/SNCB regards the
tariffs which it has been required to pay, since the opening-up of the European market, to use other
countries’ rail networks as too high, a situation at odds with its duty to supply all services other than
domestic passenger transport on a strictly commercial basis?

Does the Commission recognise the danger that in future in the EU the only night-trains will be
3.
domestic services within larger Member States, such as Germany and France, and that cross-border services
will continue to exist only as long as, in particular, the Spanish, Polish, Hungarian and Romanian railways
are willing and able to operate them, in keeping with vital national interests and by virtue of low wage
costs?

4.
How does the contrast between the continuing availability of domestic rail services and the ever
greater restrictions on cross-border services sit with the Commission’s transport policy, which is geared
towards European integration and, as outlined in its White Paper on a transport policy for the year 2010,
sees an important role for the railways in competition with air and road transport?