EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/656

(2004/C 84 E/0740)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0696/04

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2004)

Subject: Funding by the ‘Culture 2000’ programme of books or translations of books which extol nationalistic policies and their despotic practices

Has the European Commission funded, via the ‘Culture 2000’ programme, the writing of a book (or its translation, e.g. from French into Greek) on the life and exploits of Kemal Atatürk, the Turkish nationalistic politician?

Is the Commission aware of whether funding has been given in Greece or in other EU countries (and if so, which ones) for the publication or translation of such a book, which praises the nationalism of this politician and of the totalitarian regime which he established in that country, and his despotic tendencies, and libels the Greeks as ‘murderers’?

Which translations of biographies of great leaders and heroes of the Balkan peoples and of the Arabs who resisted the despotic Ottoman empire and led their peoples to freedom has the Commission funded via the ‘Culture 2000’ programme?

If such a book on the exploits of Atatürk was in fact funded via ‘Culture 2000’, what was the procedure followed and which body chose the book or its translation for funding?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2004)

With regard to books, reading and translation, the aim of the Culture 2000 programme is to raise awareness of the literature and history of the peoples of Europe and to promote the distribution of such works. This is done using funding awarded for the translation of literature, drama and reference works (particularly works in the lesser-known European languages and the languages of central and eastern Europe).

In selecting works whose translations are to be awarded funding, the fundamental criterion is the quality of the original work and of the translations, as well as the quality and reliability of the publishing house, with due respect for the principle of freedom of expression.

The arrangements for the selection of works are set out clearly in the annual calls for proposals published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The Commission provided funding under the Culture 2000 programme for the translation from French to Greek of the historical work ‘Kemal Atatürk: les chemins de l'occident’ by the author Alexandre Jevakhoff.

The Commission has not been informed of any other public financing being awarded for translation of this work into other languages in Europe.

A detailed list of all books for which funding for translation has been provided under the Culture 2000 programme since 2000 is available on the Internet at: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/culture/eac/index_en.html).

The procedure followed for awarding translation funding under the Culture 2000 programme is provided for in the Decision which established the programme (1). It is applied strictly.

The publishing house which received funding for translation of the work ‘Kemal Atatürk: les chemins de l'occident’ is Travlos éditions.

(1) Decision No 508/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 February 2000 establishing the Culture 2000 programme, OJ L 63, 10.3.2000.