WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2216/97 by Robin TEVERSON to the Commission. Satellite technology
22. 1. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 21/143 Another point worth mentioning, due to its significance to society, is that women entrepreneurs tend to exhibit more socially oriented goals. As for the available statistics on women entrepreneurs in each Member State, statistics gathered reflect the available statistics on national level. Due to the fact that more quantitative and up to date statistics are required (the available statistics date back to 1994-1995) in order better to identify the sector, the third multiannual programme for SMEs (1997-2000) (Council Decision 97/15/EC (1)) stresses the importance of statistical data so as to identify the number of enterprises, their size, structure and demography. Specific credits are intended to be foreseen for the elaboration of statistics in the proposed budget of 1998 on budget line B5-3201. (1) OJ L 6, 10. 1. 1997. (98/C 21/266) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2216/97 by Robin Teverson (ELDR) to the Commission (30 June 1997) Subject: Satellite technology The use of satellite technology is of great assistance to those remote rural regions whose economies are often dependent on SMEís. It is therefore important for them to follow this technologyís development in order to benefit from it. However, there have been claims that price agreements are common practice among satellite space segment sellers which have kept prices high and uniform. Is the Commission aware of such a practice and if so, has this been taken into account in the preparation of the new action plan for satellite technology? Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (30 July 1997) The Commission Communication entitled European Union Action Plan: Satellite Communications in the Information Societyí (1) is a response to the urgent need for political action to create the conditions necessary for the rapid development of a competitive market in European satellite communications. The Action Plan, in keeping with the principle of subsidiarity, concentrates on completing the Community’s internal market, strengthening the European position at an international level and increasing support for the European research and development sector. Actions A1 and A6 refer, among other things, to provisions on competition law, in particular to provisions on pricing agreements (Article 85 of the EC Treaty): › A1 The Commission will step up efforts to achieve full implementation of all EU legislation relevant for satellite communications [. ]í, › A6 á[. ] The Commission will continue to review developments concerning the International Satellite Organisations and [to] take the appropriate steps with a view to ensuring that these developments contribute to the achievement of a fully competitive satellite communications marketplaceí. The Commission is indeed seeking to increase the level of competition amongst satellite operators and the satellite service providers. One way in which it is doing this is to support the restructuring of the intergovernmental satellite organisations (Intelsat, Eutelsat and Inmarsat) on a more commercial basis in the light of the entry of new satellite operators into their markets. In addition, the Commission will investigate fully any complaint about practices which appear to infringe the Community’s competition rules. (1) Doc. COM(97) 91