WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1171/98 by Antonio TAJANI to the Commission. Sale of the Rome milk marketing board
22. 12. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 402/87 (98/C 402/111) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1171/98 by Antonio Tajani (PPE) to the Commission (2 April 1998) Subject: Sale of the Rome milk marketing board Is it true that notice of infringement proceedings has been served against Italy and Rome city council over the privatization of the milk marketing board? Were all procedures followed in connection with the sale of the milk marketing board in order to publicize the sale and guarantee observance of European regulations and compliance with the principle of free competition? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (6 May 1998) The Commission can confirm that it decided on 30 March 1998 to initiate the infringement procedure provided for in Article 93(2) of the EC Treaty with regard to the aid granted by Italy to clear the annual operating debts of the Centrale de Latteí (milk marketing board). Furthermore, while the Commission is not opposed to the privatisation of this company it does have doubts concerning the conformity with competition rules of certain aid payments which were apparently granted as part of the privatisation procedure. Under this procedure, the Commission will be inviting the Italian Government to submit comments within a month from the date of notification of its decision. The other Member States and interested third parties will also be invited to submit their observations by notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities. (98/C 402/112) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1177/98 by Ulf Holm (V) to the Commission (29 April 1998) Subject: Swedish language under threat For a number of years, the European Patent Organization, EPO, has persistently raised the question of changing the rules governing patent applications in Europe. The EPO is now proposing that only a small part of a patent should need to be translated into the language of the country in which the application for a patent is made. Under the proposal, it should in the main be sufficient to translate the whole of the patent into English, German and French. The implications of the proposal are that the position in the EU of languages such as Swedish would be severely restricted. It is also an attack on our democratic principles. Swedish citizens would lose their right to read documents nationally applicable in Sweden in their own language. Does the Commission consider that this proposal is in keeping with the democratic principles whereby every EU citizen should have the right of access to applicable documents in their own language? What does the Commission intend to do to prevent the marginalization of certain languages in the EU? Does the Commission consider that the number of official languages in the EU should be limited with the forthcoming enlargement in view? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (11 June 1998) The cost of obtaining a patent in Europe is at present extremely high, and this seriously damages the competitiveness of innovatory firms, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, which are unable to obtain effective protection for their inventions. This has a harmful effect on firms, but also on the European economy in general and on employment. One of the factors which contribute most to the cost of a European patent is the requirement that the patent holder translate the whole of the patent into all the languages of the relevant countries (some DEM 22 500 or ECU 11 000 on average per patent)