WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1268/97 by Alessandro DANESIN to the Commission. Cancellation of the contribution for the 1996 Cartoons on the Bay festival
Date: 1997-04-11
Institutions: DANESIN, European Parliament
Subjects: Campania, Community budget, EU aid, EU programme, European Commission, cultural event, cultural policy, eligibility criteria, film production, suspension of aid













EUR-Lex - 91997E1268 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91997E1268

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1268/97 by Alessandro DANESIN to the Commission. Cancellation of the contribution for the 1996 Cartoons on the Bay festival  


Official Journal C 391 , 23/12/1997 P. 0064 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1268/97 by Alessandro Danesin (UPE) to the Commission (11 April 1997)Subject: Cancellation of the contribution for the 1996 Cartoons on the Bay festivalThose responsible for the Media Programme (DG X) have cancelled the contribution for the 1996 edition of the Cartoons on the Bay festival promised to SACIS at the end of last year and confirmed by the head of the Media Programme, Jacques Delmoly, when the application for the contribution to the 1997 edition was submitted last January.Cartoons on the Bay has been an event of great international importance since the first edition was held, it is one of the most significant events of its kind and is therefore a credit to Europe. The festival is an important market initiative in the sector of animated films, in that it actively and positively supports the projects of independent European producers and distributors. It is precisely for this reason that it has had a high profile in the press and on television.The cancellation of the contribution has caused problems for the overall budget for the festival since, on the basis of the assurances given, SACIS had arranged for the Media-Desk Italia to be set up, for the festival to be 'Europeanized' and for marketing initiatives to be organized for European independent producers and distributors. For all these reasons the decision to cancel the contribution is incomprehensible. It is particularly inconvenient that the decision should have taken effect only now, nearly a year after the contribution was granted and just before the latest edition of the festival is to be held. Furthermore, the decision was announced in a brief letter only six lines long.This action on the part of DG X is having a detrimental effect on the sector, creating a precedent which jeopardizes its relations with the Directorate-General.Can the Commission therefore state the reasons for this decision, which at present seems incomprehensible?Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (16 May 1997)The difficulties facing SACIS outlined by the Honourable Member relating to the 1996 edition of 'Cartoons on the Bay' arose from a misunderstanding about the eligibility of certain expenditure for support from the Media programme. The misunderstanding between SACIS and the Commission has since been cleared up.For seven years the Media programme had given priority to the animated films sector and will continue to allocate considerable funds in order to ensure the development and wider circulation of European animated cartoons. An important part of this strategy is based on the financial support which the Commission gives to events which encourage the promotion of these productions and gives them greater access to the market.The Commission shares the Honourable Member's keen interest in the 'Cartoons on the Bay' festival. In addition to the financial support given for the organization of the event this year, a Commission representative was present at Amalfi, where he presented a prize for the best European cartoon film, 'The Sun is a Yellow Giraffe' by Antonia Ringbom of Finland.