# CE2004088EN.01029401.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/294 |
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8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/294

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(2004/C 88 E/0301)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3361/02

by Maria Sanders-ten Holte (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 November 2002)

Subject:   Insurance

Subject:

Large museums in all the Member States regularly organise exchanges of their collections so that the public in their respective countries can enjoy the great European artistic tradition. Unfortunately, such exchanges are seriously hampered by insurance problems. When, for example, the Teylers Museum in Haarlem and the British Museum wanted to hold a joint exhibition of the Michelangelo drawings in their respective collections, the British Museum did not have to spend anything on insurance premiums, whereas the Teylers Museum had to pay several million euro as a result of the Netherlands Finance Ministry's limited indemnity arrangements. European museums would be able to share Europe's cultural heritage with the public in their respective countries much more easily if a comprehensive indemnity arrangement was in place in every Member State.

| 1. | Does the Commission agree that exchanges of cultural treasures make a contribution to European integration? |
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1.

Does the Commission agree that exchanges of cultural treasures make a contribution to European integration?

| 2. | Is the Commission aware that insurance arrangements vary from one Member State to another, and that some have none at all? |
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2.

Is the Commission aware that insurance arrangements vary from one Member State to another, and that some have none at all?

| 3. | Does the Commission agree that the present situation is undesirable, not least from the point of view of free movement of goods and ideas in Europe? |
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3.

Does the Commission agree that the present situation is undesirable, not least from the point of view of free movement of goods and ideas in Europe?

| 4. | If so, is the Commission prepared to take steps to place this issue on the European agenda? |
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4.

If so, is the Commission prepared to take steps to place this issue on the European agenda?

| 5. | If so, is the Commission willing to put in place interim provisions as a temporary solution? |
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5.

If so, is the Commission willing to put in place interim provisions as a temporary solution?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(27 January 2003)

(27 January 2003)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that exchanging works of art can contribute to European integration.

The Commission knows that the insurance schemes available in the Member States vary considerably – this being a direct result of the differences between national policies.

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that the present situation is not ideal from the point of view of the free movement of goods and ideas in Europe.

As part of the efforts to implement the single market, the Commission is therefore willing to launch a discussion on the measures required to promote the coordination and exchange of good practice as regards insurance schemes which cover works of art.

As far as the purely cultural aspect of the problem is concerned, the Commission wishes to draw the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that, owing to the small size of the budget for the ‘Culture 2000’ programme (the sole Community instrument for promoting cooperation in the cultural sphere), there is no prospect of any financial support being provided by the Community for this purpose.

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