WRITTEN QUESTION P-0199/04 by Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Ethnic census.
Date: 2004-01-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, European Commission, Italy, administration of the Institutions, equal treatment, ethnic discrimination, infringement procedure (EU), personal data, population census, protection of privacy

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/547

In the light of the above, would the Commission not consider it appropriate to promote and coordinate
research and information on unexplained atmospheric phenomena at a Europe-wide level, possibly
assigning this responsibility to a specialised and experienced body such as SEPRA (Service d’Expertise des
Phénomènes Rares Aérospatiaux) in Toulouse or the European Space Agency?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 2004)

Following an extensive consultation for the development of the European Space Policy (‘Green Paper’) (1)
the Commission adopted in December 2003 a White Paper entitled ‘Space: a new European frontier for an
expanding Union’ (2).

The White Paper, which has been prepared in close collaboration with the scientific community and the
European Space Agency, sets an action plan for implementing the future European Space policy. The
actions recommended by the Commission to strengthen European excellence in space science are
presented in Section 4.2.

On 28 January 2004, the Commission had the opportunity to address some of these issues in its oral reply
to the oral question O-84/03 during Parliament’s January 2004 session (3) on the content of the White
Paper.

One specific activity which may be of particular interest to the Honourable Member concerns an action
recently launched in the context of the 6th Framework Programme for Research (4). This action aims at
promoting cooperation between Europe’s national research funding agencies and national research
organisations. It includes a task specifically addressing European solar terrestrial and atmospheric research.
This endeavour should help to improve the level of understanding of atmospheric phenomena and to
provide space weather services.

(1) COM(2003) 17 final.
(2) COM(2003) 673 final.
(3) Oral reply, 28.1.2004.
(4) Specific Support Action: European Science Foundation Collaborative Research Programmes Scheme (Eurocores).

(2004/C 84 E/0624)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0199/04

by Giacomo Santini (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 January 2004)

Subject: Ethnic census

The European Commission has launched Community infringements proceedings against the Italian State
with regard to the application, in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, of rules relating to the ethnic
census that are considered to conflict with the Treaty on European Union. The grounds for these
proceedings include serious violations of the privacy of citizens, who are obliged to declare, alongside their
names, the ethnic group to which they belong and to supply other cultural and political information
relating to their persons. The compulsory nature of this declaration is also considered to entail violations
of the principles of non-discrimination and equal opportunities, proclaimed in the Charter of Fundamental
Rights, for citizens belonging to ethnic groups and different cultures or religions and speaking different
languages.

C 84 E/548

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

In the light of the above and since the whole process of integration and cohesion in the European Union is
based on the principle of mutual dialogue and the dismantling of differences and that formal notice was
served to the Italian State on 10 December 2003, with a hearing on 15 January 2004, can the
Commission state:

1. What violations of the Treaty provide the grounds for the Community infringement proceedings?

2. Why the proceedings were suspended and postponed for three months, who requested this suspension

and on what grounds?

3. Whether it is true that Austria exerted significant pressure on the Commission, via the political

apparatus and diplomatic sources, to secure that suspension?

4. How it views the anti-historical presumption of a tutelary role for Austria in Alto Adige/South Tyrol

(Italian territory) based on the obsolete Treaty of Paris?

5. Whether it can foresee a reversal of the decision to postpone proceedings, with these continuing in

accordance with the time limits and procedures laid down, which are equitable to all?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2004)

The Commission is analysing the legislation relating to the linguistic census of the Province of Bolzano on
the basis of Directive 95/46/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the
protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such
data (1), in particular Articles 6.1.c and 8 thereof. Article 6.1.c states that: ‘Member States shall provide that
personal data must be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purposes for which they are
collected and/or further processed’. Article 8 offers enhanced protection to sensitive data such as data
revealing ethnic origin. The Directive aims to ensure the functioning of an internal market in accordance
with the EC Treaty, in particular Article 49 thereof, providing for the free flow of personal data between
Member States while at the same time safeguarding the fundamental right to privacy. However, it should
be noted that the Commission has not yet taken any decision on an infringement procedure concerning
the compatibility of the rules on the linguistic census with the provisions mentioned above.

The case is being dealt with under the normal Commission proceedings rules currently applicable to the
handling of complaints.
In the investigation of complaints and established infringements, sincere
co-operation and a climate of mutual confidence between the Commission and the Member State
concerned are required to allow both parties to engage in appropriate discussions in search of a
the Commission has raised with the
Community-compatible solution. With this objective in view,
competent authorities,
in this case the Italian authorities, the different issues that might constitute an
eventual breach of the above-mentioned provisions, and contacts are still on-going.

The Commission has nothing to state on the Treaty of Paris, the provisions of which are not subject to
scrutiny in this case.

(1) OJ L 281, 23.11.1995.

(2004/C 84 E/0625)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0204/04

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 January 2004)

Subject: Financial reporting

What benefits does the Commission see for Parmalat shareholders and debtholders in the fact that the
company was reporting on a quarterly basis?