WRITTEN QUESTION P-2495/99 by Robert Sturdy (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Legal certainty in the information society.
8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/149 and almost 5 times higher than that observed in the period 1976-1987. Furthermore a reduction in the 1999 production was expected as the returning salmon were from less numerous year classes, affected by the M 74 syndrome, and hence fewer salmon would have participated in the spawning. Reduced run and catches in 1999 might not therefore be the result of the whitefish fisheries. Provided the by-catches of salmon in whitefish fisheries is properly accounted for within the available Finnish quota or released alive when caught in this fishery, these catches will not undermine management in accordance with the salmon action plan. The Commission is convinced of the need to continue with a responsible management strategy as laid down in the salmon action plan in order to achieve the objective of rebuilding of the wild salmon stocks in these rivers. (2000/C 225 E/162) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2495/99 by Robert Sturdy (PPE-DE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Legal certainty in the information society The Commission has made impressive steps (through its proposals COM(98) 586 and COM(96) 392) towards giving participants in e-commerce and the information society a firm legal basis and legal scrutiny. Can it confirm that it will do nothing which would undermine this legal security, for example by making Internet Service Providers liable in all countries, purely on the grounds that websites are accessible in those countries? it ensure that Will liability will be in line with the abovementioned proposals and avoid the possibility of lawyers being able to áshop aroundí for the national law most beneficial to them? future initiatives concerning extra-contractual Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (1 February 2000) The Commissionís objective with its proposal for a Parliament and Council directive on certain legal aspects of electronic commerce in the internal market (1) and proposal for a Parliament and Council directive amending for the third time Directive 83/189/EEC laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations (2), has been to create a coherent and predictable legal framework for the development of e-commerce within the internal market. The recogni- tion that a clearly defined legal framework based on established internal market principles is an essential element to promote e-commerce in the internal market is reflected in the political agreement on the common position on the proposed e-commerce directive reached by the Council on 7 December 1999. The directive is based on the principle of country-of-origin control of information society services, particularly Internet service providers. This principle, together with the exemption from liability for ámere conduití and ácachingí and the limitation of liability for services consisting of hosting information for third parties, will create the required legal certainty and will stimulate investments. The proposed e-commerce directive does not establish rules on private international law nor does it deal with the jurisdiction of courts. The Commission is analysing the information it has received from business and consumers alike in the context of a public hearing on the subject of electronic commerce jurisdiction and applicable law and will take it into account in presenting any new initiatives in this area. (1) OJ C 30, 5. 2. 1999. (2) OJ C 307, 16. 10. 1996