WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2072/98 by Luigi CALIGARIS to the Commission. Integration of the WEU into the EU
C 50/128 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 22. 2. 1999 Since Europe Direct offers a full information service for all European citizens, including senior citizens, the Commission does not consider it necessary to establish a separate information service only for older people. (1999/C 50/184) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2072/98 by Luigi Caligaris (ELDR) to the Commission (7 July 1998) Subject: Integration of the WEU into the EU Given the European Unionís intention, stated in the Treaty of Amsterdam, of fostering ácloser institutional relations with the WEU with a view to the possibility of the integration of the WEU into the Unioní, appropriate action should be taken to prepare properly for this eventuality. With this in prospect, it would seem advisable not merely to follow the established practice of setting up ad-hoc delegations on both sides but also to establish a framework in which issues of mutual concern connected with the possible incorporation of the WEU into the EU could be examined on the basis of continuity. To this end, it would seem advisable to equip the EU with an institute for security matters similar to the existing WEU institute of that nature, not only for the purpose indicated but also to provide intellectual support for the activities of the European Institutions in the difficult area of the common foreign and security policy. Should the WEU be integrated into the EU, the two institutes would be merged. Will the Commission state its position on this matter? Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (28 July 1998) The Commission has always advocated the integration of the Western European Union (WEU) into the European Union. In the light of the Treaty of Amsterdam, the Commission shares the Honourable Memberís view that steps should now be taken to establish a suitable framework for examining issues relating to the WEUís possible integration into the Union. To that end, the Commission has set up a think tank on security issues, which cooperates closely with the WEUís institute for security matters. Both organisations recognise the benefits of such close cooperation, inter alia for the WEUís possible integration into the Union. There does not, therefore, appear to be any pressing need at this stage for the Union to set up an institute comparable to the WEUís. (1999/C 50/185) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2106/98 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (10 July 1998) Subject: Violation of EU rules Wind-ENEL came first in the competition for the third manager of mobile telephony, beating its competitors Pcenne and Telon. Wind, the Italian-French-German giant set up in November last year at the initiative of ENEL (51 %), Deutsche Telekom (24,5 %) and France Telecom (24,5 %), has more than 8 million clients and a turnover of 100 000 billion. The announcement by Dr Tato, managing director of ENEL, that Wind has increased its capital from 600 to 2 500 billion raises a series of questions about the procedures being followed by the Italian energy monopoly ENEL. So far it has been said that ENEL has not paid out any money but merely granted infrastructures. Now, to preserve the 51 % share the company will have to pay some 1 000 billion, which can hardly cover only infrastructures