WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1923/98 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Implementation of the Directive on the use of standards for the transmission of television signals
22. 2. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 50/115 With regard to the third phase of SLIM, can the Commission state when it plans to conclude the current review of the areas concerning the coordination of social insurance rules, the EMC Directive and insurance legislation? What areas will be targeted by the next phase of scrutiny, and when will it start? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (29 July 1998) The teams for the third phase of SLIM (electromagnetic compatibility, insurance and co-ordination of social security systems) started their work during April 1998 and intend to submit their reports to the Commission by the end of September 1998. The recommendations contained in these reports will be the subject of a communication from the Commission to the Council and Parliament by November 1998. This communication will reflect the Commissionís position on these recommendations and propose concrete actions for their implementation. In the next phase of SLIM (Phase IV), the sectors to be examined are company law, pre-packaging and legislation on dangerous substances. The phase IV teams will start their work in September 1998 and issue their reports in spring 1999. (1999/C 50/167) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1923/98 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (18 June 1998) Subject: Implementation of the Directive on the use of standards for the transmission of television signals Article 1 of Directive 95/47/EC (1) states: Member States shall take appropriate measures to promote the accelerated development of advanced television services including wide-screen television services, high definition television services and television services using fully digital transmission systems. í Article 8 of the same Directive provides that Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary for them to comply with this Directive by 23 August 1996 and shall communicate to the Commission the text of the provisions of national law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive. Will the Commission say whether Greece has notified it of the measures it has taken to comply with the provisions of Directive 95/47/EC and, if so, when, and if not, whether it intends to initiate proceedings against Greece before the European Court of Justice for violating the Directive in question? (1) OJ L 281, 23. 11. 1995, p. 51. Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (3 August 1998) According to a letter dated 5 December 1997 from the Greek authorities, a draft presidential decree has been prepared to implement the provisions of the Directive. This decree, in order to be adopted, has to go through the procedure before the Council of State. To the Commissionís knowledge, these measures have still not yet been adopted and since no other information has been communicated, the Commission is compelled to conclude that Greece has not yet adopted the provisions necessary to comply with the Directive. The Commission is currently preparing a reasoned opinion to be communicated as the next stage in the proceedings