WRITTEN QUESTION E-2735/03 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Costs of using Microsoft software.
Date: 2003-09-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, computer system, costing, office automation, software

C 84 E/36

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

(2004/C 84 E/0039)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2735/03

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(11 September 2003)

Subject: Costs of using Microsoft software

Can the Commission indicate the total annual cost of running the computer systems using Microsoft
software, and can it confirm that it has considered using Linux Open Office which could save money and
also increase security, given that Microsoft programmes come with an in-built backdoor used by US
intelligence agencies?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(31 October 2003)

The Commission estimates the current total annual cost of Microsoft products for its central office
automation infrastructure to be around EUR 226 per user.

The Commission draws the Honourable Member’s attention to the fact that this amount corresponds to
approximately 7 % of the total yearly cost of EUR 3 173 per user required for the operation of the office
automation environment; the remaining 93 % includes software from other editors, hardware, network
connectivity and the infrastructure needed to connect to information systems.

It should be highlighted that Microsoft does not sell its products directly, but through Large Account
Resellers (LARs) who can (cid:1) and do (cid:1) compete with each other. Therefore, the Commission’s expenditure
in this area is paid to a LAR selected on the basis of the Community public procurement Directives, and
not to Microsoft. The ongoing LAR contract was awarded to Siemens, but a call for tenders is running at
the moment for the selection of the Commission’s (and several other Institutions) next LAR.

Furthermore, the Commission, in co-operation with the other Institutions closely follows the evolution of
the Open Source Software solutions in general and, in particular, in the office automation area where it is
presently carrying out a pilot exercise. A detailed exposé regarding Commission’s activities in this area is
sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

(2004/C 84 E/0040)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2760/03

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 September 2003)

Subject:

‘Mexillón de Galicia’ (Galician mussels) (cid:1) protected designation of origin (PDO)

Between 260 and 300 million kg of exceptionally fine mussels are marketed every year; turnover totals
more than EUR 400 million; 2 400 families are directly involved in mussel culture; and the sector provides
13 000 jobs, of which approximately 8 500 are permanent, plus 7 000 generated indirectly. These figures
are a measure of the strength of Galician mussel culture and make Galicia the world’s largest producer of
cultivated mussels for human consumption. They are, moreover, particularly significant in view of the fact
that the proceeds of production are spread across a broad social base and, because decision-making
machinery is concentrated at the local level, reinvested in the region itself. The resulting knock-on effect on
the local economy makes for social and economic stability. The sector accounts for about 50 % of total EU
production: 35 % of its produce is sold fresh, 41 % is canned or preserved by traditional methods, and 24 %
is used for the increasingly popular alternative new ways of processing. The Galician mussel cultivation
management board has already applied for a protected designation of origin (PDO), which would
constitute a worldwide benchmark because it would be the first to be awarded to a seafood product. In his
answer of 30 October 2002 to my Written Question E-3117/02 (1) Mr Fischler stated that ‘The examination