WRITTEN QUESTION P-0903/04 by Ingo Friedrich (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Termination of European Documentation Centres' (EDCs) preferential subscription to the EC/EU Official Journal (printed edition).
Date: 2004-03-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Official Journal, Publications Office of the European Union, dissemination of EU information, distribution cost, documentation centre, electronic document, official document, optical medium, paper, tariff preference

C 84 E/908

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2004)

The Commission is attentively monitoring what happens to Israeli conscientious objectors and reservists
who refuse to serve in the Occupied Territories.

The Commission Delegation in Tel Aviv keeps abreast of developments and, in fact, recently received a
visit by representatives of the group for Israeli conscientious objectors, at their request.

While careful to avoid unwarranted interference in internal Israeli
legislative matters, the Commission
intends to continue monitoring developments, as it would monitor any other human-rights issue, and,
where necessary, to raise the matter in the appropriate forum. Human-rights issues relating to Israel are
usually discussed as part of the political dialogue within the Association Council, under the guidance of the
EU Presidency and the Israeli Foreign Minister.

The next meeting of the Association Council with Israel is due to take place in the winter, in late 2004 or
early 2005.

(2004/C 84 E/1003)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0903/04

by Ingo Friedrich (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 March 2004)

Subject: Termination of European Documentation Centres’ (EDCs) preferential subscription to the EC/EU

Official Journal (printed edition)

The rights and obligations of the EDCs are set out in the written agreements last concluded in 1996
between the then DG X and the individual EDCs. Article 2 of the agreement states that the Commission
shall supply publications of the European Union’s institutions to the EDCs on a regular basis and free of
charge.

Unfortunately, since 1 January 2004 and 1 May 2003 respectively, the paper editions of the Official
Journal of the EU and COM documents have no longer been supplied to the EDCs under the free
subscription system. As the sole official source of legislation, the Official Journal of the EU is legally
binding only in its paper edition. There are discrepancies between the printed and electronic versions. It is,
therefore, of great importance for EDC users. It would be desirable if the 55 European Documentation
Centres in Germany continued to receive it free of charge.

The Commission requires the EDCs to maintain archives. Having to research and print electronic EU
documents for users would entail a major additional input of staff and financial resources and would
require checks to see whether the EDCs have the necessary technology available for that purpose.

The Commission has thus far not granted the EDCs any financial aid. Would it be possible, in the public
interest and in support of transparency, to continue to supply the important publications free of charge?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(20 April 2004)

The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable Member for the adequate distribution of materials
to the European Documentation Centres (EDCs) and thanks him for his question which allows the
Commission to clarify several points.

The decision to end the EDCs’ preferential subscription to the paper edition of the L & C series of the
Official Journal (OJ) was taken by the Publications Office, whose Management Committee is composed of
the Secretaries-General of all European Institutions. In view of the high cost of distribution of the paper
edition of the OJ, the institutions represented in the Management Committee of the Publications Office
have adopted a strategy encouraging distribution of the OJ on CD-ROM.

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/909

The Publications Office decided, with effect from 2000, to provide the EDCs and other information relays
with the OJ L & C series on CD-ROM free of charge. The EDCs and information relays were given the
option of subscribing to the paper edition of the OJ at a preferential rate, on a transitional basis.

In 2004, all EDCs receive the OJ L & C CD-ROM free of charge. This distribution meets the obligation
stipulated in Article 2 of the agreement mentioned by the Honourable Member which states ‘that the
Commission shall supply publications of the European Union’s institutions to the EDCs on a regular basis
and free of charge’. The CD-ROM edition of the OJ is of demonstrably high quality and is easily archived.

EDCs and information relays can also access documents in the OJ L & C series section of the EUR-Lex
Internet portal on the day of their publication. Access to documents via the EUR-Lex site has become very
widespread for the general public as well as professional and academic circles.

EDCs have also continued to have free access to CELEX, the database on Community law, which will
become generally available and free of charge from 1 July 2004 onwards.

The question of the legal validity of information in electronic form, raised by the Honourable Member,
should only arise in the event of an action or proceedings before a court. Such cases do not fall within the
ambit of EDCs.

As regards the technology required by EDCs, access to the OJ L & C CD-ROM requires a CD-ROM drive
and daily consultation via the EUR-Lex site requires an Internet connection. The Commission would expect
EDCs to have such facilities.

As the Commission is ceasing to produce paper editions of certain categories of documents, such as COM
and SEC documents,
is endeavouring to improve the electronic provision of such materials in
cooperation with the Publications Office. The Commission maintains regular contacts with EDCs and
information relays concerning their needs.

it

(2004/C 84 E/1004)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0906/04

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 March 2004)

Subject: The Threshold for British teachers in the European Schools

Further to my questions E-2583/03 (1) and E-3295/03 (2) and the Commission’s answers, what legal advice
has the Commission received on the compatibility of the UK’s contract with Art 12.4(a) of the European
Schools’ Convention?

In Case C-6/89, Commission v Belgium (1990), ECR 1-1595, the Commission acted against the Belgian
Government for flouting Article 12 of the European Schools Statute. Will the Commission consider similar
proceedings against the Government of the UK for failure to grant eligibility for the Threshold?

(1) OJ C 65 E, 13.3.2004, p. 180.
(2) OJ C 70 E, 20.3.2004, p. 252.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

The Commission is carefully examining the issue of accessibility of the United Kingdom Threshold
assessment system to British teachers employed by the United Kingdom Government with United Kingdom
contracts but detached to the European schools. Consideration of legal issues in particular is on-going.