WRITTEN QUESTION E-1985/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Failure of Euronews to present objective information

Euronews is a television channel financed by European taxpayers. However, it unfortunately often uses terms and forms of wording which are offensive to European citizens; moreover its ratings are consistently mediocre. As far as the misuse of terms is concerned, it often shows maps of the Balkans on which the territory of the FYROM is labelled "Macedonia'; in a different context, the head of the Turkish Cypriots, Rauf Denktash, is called the 'President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus". Moreover, coverage of Greece often contains curious barbs aimed at its foreign policy, even though Greek citizens also make very substantial contributions towards maintaining the channel.

Will the Commission say:

1. What measures does it intend to take to ensure that the channel provides full and authoritative information about events in Europe and the rest of the world?

2. Has it considered the problem of the biased coverage provided by this channel about the euro and Economic and Monetary Union - it persistently highlights the advantages, while barely mentioning the disadvantages?

3. Is there any cooperation - and, if so, of what kind exactly - with illegal television channels, such as "Bayrak", based in the Turkish-occupied territory of Northern Cyprus?

4. What initiatives is the Commission considering to boost the ratings of Euronews?

5. Is it considering beginning broadcasts in the so-called less widely used languages of the EU, such as Greek, Danish, Finnish and Portuguese, which would be a key step towards respecting the cultural diversity of Europe?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 1998)

1. As an independent channel, Euronews enjoys full editorial freedom as regards the production and broadcasting of information - a freedom which the Commission, which respects the freedom of the press, would naturally not wish to question. A partnership has been set up between Euronews and the Community relating to co-production, joint projects and the broadcast on Euronews of information campaigns aimed at the general public and dealing with various aspects of European current affairs. The Commission can insist on the guarantees referred to by the Honourable Member only in the limited context of those programmes of which it is co-producer. It does so mainly at monthly follow-up meetings with the station.

2. The Commission does not agree that Euronews is biased in its treatment of the euro and economic and monetary union. It feels that this treatment reflects all shades of opinion and considers both the advantages of the single currency and the problems which may have to be solved.

3. The Commission is not aware of any activities which might have given rise to the Honourable Member's question about cooperation with the media based in the North of Cyprus.

4. The Commission's partnership with Euronews is linked to a programme to expand the channel with the aim of boosting ratings. Recent audience figures for Europe are very encouraging.

5. The partnership with Euronews is also linked to an increase in the number of languages used in its programmes and Euronews is working hard on this objective.