WRITTEN QUESTION E-2551/99 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Financial services ombudsman.
3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/73 field of public health (1996-2000) (2) and the final report is now available. The Commission has launched an evaluation to be completed by April 2000 of the OISIN and Falcone programmes, which cover Justice and Home Affairs. The Commission has launched an evaluation of the Communityís North/South Cooperation in the fight against drugs and drug addiction since 1991, which should be completed by October 2000. In addition, the Commission has sent the Parliament the agenda and the working documents for the meetings of the committee of the programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence (1996-2000); annual reports on the activities of including a description of the projects financed each year, and annual reports in 1996, 1997 and 1998 on the implementation of Council Regulation 2046/97 of 13 October 1997 on North-South cooperation in the campaign against drugs and drug addiction. the OISIN and Falcone programmes, More detailed information on these programmes and others that concern drugs are transmitted direct to the Secretariat of the Parliament and to the Honourable Members. (1) COM(99) 239 final. (2) COM(99) 463 final. (2000/C 280 E/072) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2551/99 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission (4 January 2000) Subject: Financial services ombudsman Would the Commission please state whether it is satisfied with the adequacy of consumer redress procedures in the case of an internet bank which is based in one Member State but takes deposits or makes loans in others? If not, will it consider making proposals for means of redress for consumers/borrowers/bank depositors ü such as the ombudsman scheme in the UK or other ísoft lawí schemes ü which fall short of having to take civil action in the host country of the bank concerned? Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (24 February 2000) The possibility of obtaining out-of-court consumer redress in case of a conflict between a bank and its customer exists in nearly all the Member States. These schemes also normally cover bank services which are offered via the Internet. With regard to cross-border transactions, the present situation is unsatisfactory since there is little cross-border co-operation between the existing complaint bodies. As said in the action plan for implementing the framework for financial markets (1) the Commission is encouraging networking between these bodies with a view to resolving cross-border disputes by develop- ment of an Union-wide complaints network. The operation of this network will be based on the Commission Recommendation 98/257 of 30. 3. 1998 on the principles applicable to the bodies responsible for out-of-court settlement of consumer disputes (2). A first meeting on cross-border redress with representatives from national complaint bodies in the banking and insurance sectors was held in October 1999 and the second in February 2000. There is wide-spread support from national complaint bodies to co-operate effectively cross-border. Progress will be reported in the regular progress report on the action plan. (1) COM(99) 232 final. (2) COM(98) 198 final