WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4066/98 by Esko SEPPÄNEN The Wassenaar Regulations
6. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 320/111 1. Does the Commission have figures on the number of solariums in the Member States? 2. What is the Commission’s view of the health risks of improperly operated sun beds? 3. Would it not be appropriate to draw attention to this problem, at least in the form of a recommendation to the Member states, and to make more stringent monitoring incumbent on the Member States? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (16 March 1999) The Commission has no information as to how many solariums there are in the Member States. Besides, 1. it is difficult to put a number on them, since in addition to dedicated solariums there are other centres in which sunbeds are just one of the services on offer. Although the Member States bear primary responsibility for the safety of their citizens, the 2. and 3. Commission has already taken a certain number of initiatives with an eye to improving the safety of equipment of this kind and reducing the associated risks. For further details the Honourable Member should consult the Commission’s reply to Written Question E-1602/98 put by Mr Siso Cruellas (1). Currently the Commission does not plan to take any other specific initiatives. (1) OJ C 50, 22. 2. 1999, p. 54. (1999/C 320/148) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4066/98 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (14 January 1999) Subject: The Wassenaar Regulations The Wassenaar organisation, which continues the work carried out by COCOM during the Cold War, has decided to agree, in accordance with the interests of the USA and its secret services, that the export of confidential technology should be subject to restrictions. This decision infringes the principle of the freedom to purchase services within the EU. How does the Commission intend to prepare the regulation on the licensing of exports of confidential technology, which was agreed at Wassenaar? On what legal basis does the Commission justify approving this kind of restriction on free trade? Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (8 February 1999) The Commission is not aware of any changes in the control scope of stealth technology which has always been subject to export controls, especially because it is considered to have far more military than civil applications. In its proposal for a new Council regulation regarding the export of dual-use items (1), the Commission proposes the abolition of licensing procedures for stealth technology in intra-Community trade. According to the Commission proposal, companies will however have to notify their authorities about intra-Community transactions with such products, in order to ensure effective controls and consultations in case such products are subsequently to be exported to third countries. (1) COM 257 final, 15. 5. 1998