WRITTEN QUESTION E-2461/99

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(16 December 1999)

Subject: The Council's attitude towards the European Museum project

At the Museum for Europe symposium on 21 and 22 October, which was attended by Commission President Romano Prodi, a number of politicians promised their support for a museum in the European Parliament. The cost price is estimated at BEF 1 billion, of which Parliament, the Belgian Federation and the private sector would each pay one third. The historical starting point of the permanent exhibition is Charlemagne's empire

1. Is the Council aware of the initiative by vzw Museum van Europa (non-profit making organisation Museum of Europe) to house a museum on the premises of the European Parliament, which is what may be concluded from the Commission President's presence at the symposium? If so, when was the Council informed of this project, by whom and how?

2. (a) What objectives has vzw Museum van Europa made known to the Council concerning the construction of the museum and what is on display in it?

(b) Who, in the opinion of vzw Museum van Europa, is responsible for the way in which the museum is managed and organised?

3. Has the Council promised any financial or material support to vzw Museum van Europa for accommodating a museum on Parliament's premises? If so, what specific commitments have been made (subsidies, premises etc.) and what are the Council's reasons for granting this support? If not, why is the Council not providing such support to vzw Museum van Europa?

4. Does the Council support the decision to take Charlemagne as the historical starting point of the permanent exhibition in the museum? If so, does this not detract from the major contributions that the Greco-Roman civilisations and Byzantium have made to European ideas, as the Greek Minister of Culture has pointed out? If not, what does the Council feel is the appropriate way of realising the European museum concept in full?

5. Will the Council request vzw Museum van Europa to apply in the museum, correctly and in its entirety, the language legislation of the Belgian Federation, since such legislation can be regarded as a form of mutual respect for languages and cultures? If not, why not, given that failure to apply such legislation would detract from mutual respect for languages and cultures in the Belgian Federation?

Reply

(10/11 April 2000)

At its meeting on 23 November 1999, the Council was informed by the Greek delegation of the project for the creation of a European Museum. On that occasion, it noted the concerns expressed by that delegation regarding the objectives and priorities for the project, as conceived by the Belgian association under private law which is organising it.

The Council has never had any direct contact with the non-profitmaking organisation in question.

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that, under the Treaty, the Community is to contribute to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States while respecting their national and regional diversities and bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore.

In the context of its competence in this respect, and if the matter is directly referred to it, the Council will adopt an appropriate position.