WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1402/98 by Gerhard HAGER to the Commission. Enfopol
18. 1. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 13/31 The expenditure incurred by the Greek authorities amounted to ECU 205 million at the end of May 1998, i. e. 32 % of the OPís total budget. On the basis of the Greek authoritiesí forecasts, the full amount of ECU 639,67 million will have been spent by the end of 2001, which is the deadline for payments under the CSF. Negotiations between the Commission and the Greek government for the CSF III have not yet started. At this stage, we can therefore only confirm that priority will be given in the negotiations to the completion of the Thessaloniki-Athens-Patras line. (1999/C 13/042) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1401/98 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission (7 May 1998) Subject: Cyberpolice According to press reports, a form of ácyberpoliceí is being set up in the United States. Its purpose is to counteract the threat posed by hackers and their ability to use their personal computers to penetrate protected databases. There are also increasing reports of hacker activity in Europe, where the threat posed is rising with the growing economic interconnectedness made possible by the Internet. 1. 2. Is the Commission also making efforts to set up any such form of Europe-wide ácyberpoliceí? If so, what progress has been recorded and with what substantive results? Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (16 July 1998) The Commission is not considering the creation of a ácyberpoliceí or any other kind of Europe-wide police force. The Commission is, however, aware of the seriousness of the threats posed by hackers described by the Honourable Member and other type of improper use of computer networks technology and it is, in the context of the group of eight most industrialised nations (G8) and of the Union as well as in the framework of the Council of Europe, looking at ways to ensuring an efficient public protection, in particular against the use of new means of telecommunication for the benefit of criminal organisations. In this context, and following on a recommendation contained in the Union action plan to combat organised crime, the Commission launched a study on the subject of criminality liked to high technology. The findings and eventual follow-up of this study are currently under discussion in the Commission. The study is found under address http://www. qlinks. net/comdocs/washcomm. htm. The G8 communiquØ is found under http://www2. e- cho. lu/legal/en/comcrime/sieber. html. For further information the Commission would also refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question No 1510/98 by Mr Robles Piquer (1). (1) See page 38. (1999/C 13/043) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1402/98 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission (7 May 1998) Subject: Enfopol According to press reports, an organization known as Enfopolí has been set up at European level under the third pillar which, it is claimed, will have a far-reaching impact on technological development with fundamental