WRITTEN QUESTION E-0665/04 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission. Safety standards for image editing of scanned banknotes.
Date: 2004-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: digital technology, industrial counterfeiting, paper money, reprography, safety standard

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/199

(2004/C 88 E/0205)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0660/04

by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: NGO funding

Can the Commission please tell me:

(cid:1) the total budget the EU allocates to fund NGOs, civil society groups and political or information

movements on a one-off or revenue funding;

(cid:1) which specific NGOs receive grants, funding or expenses from the EU, how much and how often?

(cid:1) on what criteria NGOs are considered eligible for grants, funding and/or expenses from the EU?

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2004)

The Financial Regulation (FR) and its Implementing Rules do not provide for special rules for non-
governmental organisations (NGOs), therefore they are not treated distinctly from other natural or legal
persons. Thus, they have to comply with the general exclusion and selection criteria applicable to all
beneficiaries. However, Part Two, Title IV of the FR contains special rules for external actions. Furthermore,
specific eligibility criteria may be established in the action programmes and calls for proposals linked to
the various actions.

NGOs are collaborating with the Commission in the implementation of a great number of actions both
within and outside the EU. As they are normally not treated distinctly from other organisations, bodies or
firms, the Commissions records do not determine the level of NGO funding. In many cases, NGOs are
implementing partners and not the end beneficiaries of community actions. Hence the Commission cannot
provide answers to the first two questions of the Honourable Member.

However, a lot of information on cooperation with NGOs can be found on the Europa internet site.
Examples include actions within the EU on education and culture (http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/
education_culture/civilsociety/fr.htm) or in the area of international development (http://europa.eu.int/
comm/europeaid/projects/ong_cd/index_fr.htm).

(2004/C 88 E/0206)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0665/04

by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Safety standards for image editing of scanned banknotes

The latest versions of Adobe Photoshop CS and Paint Shop Pro do not allow images of banknotes to be
imported or edited. The mechanism involved, which has been developed by the Central Bank Counterfeit
Deterrence Group (CBCDG), a consortium of central banks from around the world, is a major step forward
in preventing the counterfeiting of banknotes.

1.

2.

Is the Commission aware of this mechanism?

Is the Commission planning to introduce this mechanism as a mandatory safety standard?

C 88 E/200

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2004)

The Commission is aware of the efforts of the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group (CBCDG) to
develop counterfeit deterrence technology aimed at preventing the digital reproduction of banknote
images.

The Commission considers it important that the counterfeit deterrence technology be applied.

The Commission has been in contact with the European Central Bank (ECB) on the issue of initiating
legislation making mandatory the use of the counterfeit deterrence technology in products capable of
handling digital images.

In agreement with the Commission, the ECB is currently preparing a preliminary assessment directly with
the industry.

(2004/C 88 E/0207)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0666/04

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Breach of environmental legislation

By Decision 1070 of 13 May 2002, the Directorate for Forests of the region of Thessaly approved the
establishment of a quarry for the extraction and processing of inert materials at Xera in the district of
Potamia, municipality of Agia, on an area of pastureland covering 30 615 hectares.

Given that:

(cid:1) the area in question has been designated a protected area within the meaning of the Natura 2000

network,

(cid:1) the Ministry of Development delivered an opinion (APD10/B/F6.12 Gen/6422 of 9 May 2000) to the
Directorate for Industry in Larissa stating that Article 4 of Law 2115/93 prohibits the establishment of
quarries within a two-kilometre radius of designated archaeological sites or protected areas and that,
therefore,
it is not possible to set up a quarry within an area forming part of the Natura 2000
network,

(cid:1) the extractive industries produce an exceptional volume of waste which affects the environment in
terms of the quality of surface and ground water, natural stability, dust and erosion, and the quality of
terrestrial and aquatic habitats,

(cid:1) the siting of the quarry at a short distance from communities will affect sheep-rearing and apple-

growing in the region, thereby creating problems in relation to farmers’ incomes,

(cid:1) traffic problems will be created on the main route linking the town of Larissa, Agia and the coastal
area of the Prefecture of Larissa since this road network, which is already congested, particularly
during the summer months, will carry the entire volume of HGV traffic transporting the inert material,

what measures will the Commission take to stop the development of an activity which is contrary to both
Community and Greek environmental legislation?