Moreover, theCommissionhasalreadyannounceditsintentiontoamendtheRegulationcreating the
EuropeanMaritimeSafetyAgency(EMSA)inordertoenableEMSAtopurchaseorleaseanti-pollutionshipsincasesofmaritimepollutionintheUnion.
(1) Writtenreply,11.3.2003.
(2) OJC242E,9.10.2003,p.63.
(3) OJC280E,21.11.2003,p.121.
(4) Oralreply,8.4.2003.
(5) CouncilDecision2001/792/EC,Euratomof23October2001establishingaCommunitymechanismtofacilitate
reinforcedcooperationincivilprotectionassistanceinterventions,OJL297,15.11.2001.
(6) CouncilDecision2850/2000of20December2000settingupaCommunityframeworkforcooperationinthe
fieldofaccidentalordeliberatemarinepollution,OJL332,28.12.2000.
(2004/C58E/101) WRITTENQUESTIONE-1664/03
byCristianaMuscardini(UEN)totheCommission
(19May2003)
Subject:Cancellationofthecolloquyonmultilingualism
Ifmyinformationiscorrect,theCommissionagreed tofinanceacolloquyonmultilingualisminthe
EuropeaninstitutionsandinEurope,tobeheldon5/6May2003.Apparently,theCommissionsuggestedholdingapreparatorymeetingtodrawupthelistoftopicstobediscussed.Themeetingwasheldon27/28January2003andwasattendedbyexpertsfromtheMemberStatesandeminentpeopleinthecultural sphere. Despite the apparent successofthe preparatory meeting, the Commissiondecided tocancelthescheduledcolloquy.
1. CantheCommissionstatethereasonsforthecancellation?
2. Does it not consider that by taking this decision it failed to exploit one of its institutional
prerogatives,thatofidentifyingthegeneralinterestandmakingproposalsforsafeguardingit,andalsofailedtomeetthecommitmentitmadetoexpertsandrepresentativesofcivilsocietywithwhomtheideaofholdingthecolloquyoriginated?
3. Doesitnotconsider,intheinterestsofrespectingtheculturaldiversityoftheEUcountries,thata
harmoniousbalanceshouldbereachedbetweenlanguagesandpopulations,inordertoavoidpatronisingandsilencingthesedifferentculturesbynotpromotingmultilingualism?
4. Doesitnotconsiderthatthereisacloselinkbetweenapeople’slanguageandidentityandthat
exclusionoftheformermaybeanattempttoabolishandproscribethelatter?
5. Doesitnotconsiderthatitwouldbeappropriatetoconsideronceagaintheideaofholdingthe
colloquyonthevalueofmultilingualisminthenearfuture?
AnswerbyMrKinnockonbehalfoftheCommission
(10July2003)
Following an initiative from various bodies interested in language policies, a Symposium on Multi-
lingualismintheEnlargedUnionanditsInstitutionswasscheduledfor5/6May2003,intheEuropeanParliament.
Inpreparation,theCommissionorganisedandfinancedameetingwithlanguageexpertsfromtheMember
Stateson27/28January2003.
Difficultiesrelatingtothelogisticsoforganisingsuchanimportanteventwithinthegiventimeframe
meant, however, that the symposium had to be postponed to a later date /dash not cancelled as theHonourableMemberassertsinherQuestion.C58E/84 EN6.3.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
TheCommissionhassince,however,agreedthattheprojectcouldandshouldberelaunchedonanew
basis.TheLanguageandCulturalInstitutesandtheObservatoireinternationaldelalanguefrançaise(OILF),whichsetupthePreparatorymeetinginJanuary2003withtheCommissionandwithParliamenthasbeeninvited/dashtogetherwithotherInstitutes/dashtodraftaproposalfororganisingthissymposium.Theproposalshould,interalia,definetheparametersandcostofsuchanevent.
Dependingonthetermsoftheproposalproduced,theCommissionwillconsiderprovidingthetechnical
supportforthesettingupofthesymposium,onthesensibleconditionthattheInstitutesandtheOILF
takealeadingroleinitsorganisation.
ThissolutionreflectstheCommission’ssupportforencouragingfruitfulexternaldebateonthevarious
aspectsofmultilingualismanditsadherencetoitsobligationsundertheECTreatyandunderitsInternalRulesofProceduretoensurethepracticeofmultilingualismbyitsLanguageServicesthroughpragmaticmeasures.NothingthattheCommissionhasdone,orwilldo,couldeverbefairlydescribedasbeingpartofanyattemptto‘exclude’languagesor‘abolishorproscribe’identity.Onthecontrary,allpoliciesandactions of the Commissionare motivated by the active commitmentto foster cultural, linguistic andpersonaldiversityanddistinctiveness.
(2004/C58E/102) WRITTENQUESTIONP-1675/03
byIngerSchörling(Verts/ALE)totheCommission
(13May2003)
Subject:Follow-upquestiononcompensationtoEUfishermen
WithrespecttotheearlierquestiononcompensationthathasbeenpaidtoEUfishermenforcessationof
fishingactivities(P-0742/03(1)),theCommissionhasgivenonlyapartialanswer.
ApparentlythreeMemberStateshavemadesuchpaymentsunderthecurrentFIFGprogrammebutthe
Commissiondidnotprovideallofthedatawhichwererequested.
SpainandPortugal/dashcompensationwaspaidresultingfromthenon-renewaloftheMoroccanagreement
butnodataareprovidedonthenumberofvesselsandfishermenfromeachcountryorthetimeperiod(s)involved.Also,thequestionreferredtoship-owners,notvessels.
Belgium/dashnodataaregivenonthetimeperiod(s)involved(wasthisforoneormoreevents?)noronthe
fishery(ies)involvedandthecircumstancesleadingtothestoppage(s).Also,thequestionreferredtoship-owners,notvessels.
Forthepreviousprogrammingperiod,onlythetotalamountsofcompensationpaidbyeachoffour
MemberStatesisgiven,whereassimilardetailswererequestedasinthecurrentprogramme(fishery,timeperiod,numberoffishermenandship-owners,etc).
CouldtheCommissionprovidethemissinginformation?
(1) OJC242E,9.10.2003,p.170.
AnswergivenbyMrFischleronbahalfoftheCommission
(16June2003)
Inthisfollow-uptotheHounourableMember’sWrittenQuestionP-0742/03,theHonourableMember
requests additional information regarding the implementation of Article 16 (temporary cessation of6.3.2004EN C58E/85 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion