WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1750/97 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Initiative to save Ayia Sofia in Istanbul
Date: 1997-05-27
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: Greece, Türkiye, architectural heritage, cross-border cooperation, heritage protection, monument, religion

22. 1. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 21/91

3.
The Commission is looking into the need for a general review of Directive 91/157/EEC, which may result
in a proposal to the Parliament and the Council during this year. During the review, the Commission will look
into the need to extend the scope of the Directive, further to restrict the marketing of environmentally hazardous
batteries as well as to improve the collection, recycling and marking requirements.

(98/C 21/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1750/97

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(27 May 1997)

Subject: Initiative to save Ayia Sofia in Istanbul

The church of Ayia Sofia is one of the most important monuments in the world. However, it is beset by severe
problems  and  is  even  in  danger  of  collapsing.  All  the  restoration  work  carried  out  since  the  6th  century  has
deformed and weighed down the delicate original shell of the church with unnecessary heavy masonry and it is
commonly remarked that every bus that passes Ayia Sofia brings it one step nearer collapse.

Its  main  columns  are  leaning,  which  is  even  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  and  its  generally  destabilized  state  is
apparent from the fact that the small pillars do not stand perpendicular. There are cracks everywhere and the
marble columns have already been reinforced to withstand the pressure but, unfortunately, the situation is made
worse because the area is prone to earthquakes.

What is the possibility of taking an initiative to save this monument, in collaboration with the Greek and Turkish
Governments and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to prevent this unique monument from collapsing and to build
bridges for communication, understanding and dialogue between the Greek and Turkish nations, which would
obviously be helpful, particularly at the present time?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 1997)

The  Honourable  Member  should  refer  to  the  answer  given  by  the  Commission  to  Question  E-3520/96  by
Mr Kellett-Bowman (1).

In view of its particular importance, Ayia Sofia is continuously monitored by a scientific committee set up in
1992 comprising architects and specialists in seismic engineering.

(1)  OJ C 138, 5.5.1997.

(98/C 21/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1759/97

by Claude Desama (PSE) to the Commission

(27 May 1997)

Subject: Communal tax on dish aerials for the reception of TV programmes transmitted by satellite

Several large Belgian communes have just conferred on themselves the right to impose an annual charge on the
use of dish aerials for the reception of radio and television programme programmes transmitted by satellites with
Europe-wide coverage.

Could the Commission ascertain whether this provision infringes the (cid:145)television without frontiers(cid:146) directive and
whether it constitutes discrimination by the Belgian communal authorities, or indeed an obstacle to the free flow
of information, since it seeks to deter access to satellite signals by means of receiving equipment?