WRITTEN QUESTION P-0898/00 by Umberto Bossi (TDI) to the Commission. Suppliers of services to Community institutions.
28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/181 (2000/C 374 E/213) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0898/00 by Umberto Bossi (TDI) to the Commission (16 March 2000) Subject: Suppliers of services to Community institutions the new commitments concerning transparency in the work of In the context of the Community institutions (also sanctioned by the recent publication of the Commissionís White Paper on reform) the European Parliamentís Internet website provides information on public contracts for services awarded by Parliament and other Community bodies. Those interested can also use this website to subscribe to an update notification system. This service is managed by the American private company Netmind, whose site is automatically accessed during the subscription process. Can the Commission therefore say: 1. Whether the American company was chosen by the Community institutions and, if not, what selection procedures were used? 2. Whether the Community institutions have access to the personal data recorded when a user registers, whether it is the property of the American company or of the institutions and what use is made of the data? 3. Why one of the institutions opted for a service offered by an American private company, in view of the fact that other information servers in the European Union offer exactly the same service, but using Community IT structures? 4. In view of the fact that the American companyís service which Parliament is using is still in a beta version, whether it considers that this offers sufficient guarantees as regards efficiency, accessibility, performance and, above all, confidentiality? 5. Whether this choice should not be considered questionable, not least in view of the recent hearing on the Echelon network? Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (17 April 2000) The content of the website to which the Honourable Member refers is managed directly and exclusively by the Parliament. It is thus to the Parliament that the Honourable Member should address his request for information. (2000/C 374 E/214) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0901/00 by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission (21 March 2000) Subject: Tour Managers and Tour Guides I understand that the European Commission has had some involvement in this issue in the past and is well aware of the difficulties Tour Managers experience in attempting to exercise their right to work in other EU countries. London members of the International Association of Tour Managers have contacted me. Whilst recognis- ing the clear difference of the qualification Tour Guide, in being able to guide in áhistoric monumentsí and museums, they feel that both the stretching of this definition and excessive demands for qualification as a Tour Guide (in some places including residence), are unreasonable restrictions