WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3190/97 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Harmonization of film classification
Date: 1997-10-16
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: classification, consumer protection, film production, young person

C 117/162

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16. 4. 98

The main airline using the airport will of course be Olympic Airways, and its needs should therefore be taken into
account  in  constructing  this  project.  However,  Olympic  Airways  has  not  yet  forwarded  its  proposals  with  a
description of its needs, and as a result implementation of the project is being delayed.

Will the Commission say whether Olympic Airways has been requested to send a list of its needs regarding the
new airport of Spata › and, if so, when›, and what action it intends to take to unblock the whole affair so that
progress can be made without further delay?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(28 October 1997)

According to the information obtained by the Commission from the Cohesion Fund monitoring committee, the
project for the new Athens international airport at Spata is proceeding as planned.

The same sources also indicate that the Greek authorities are currently examining the list of needs submitted by
Olympic Airways.

The Commission will monitor the progress of work on this project closely.

(98/C 117/220)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3190/97

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(16 October 1997)

Subject: Harmonization of film classification

Does  the  Commission  have  any  plans  to  harmonize  film  classification  across  the  Union  given  that  certain
companies on internal EU flights and ferries ignore film classification?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(11 November 1997)

Film classifications are first and foremost a matter for the Member States. Classification may vary according to
the  medium  (cinema  release,  television  films,  videos,  etc.).  In  the  absence  of  specific  instances  which  might
constitute serious barriers to trade, no detailed examination is being carried out at European level at present into
possible problems posed by such differences in classification.

However, in connection with the work being carried out into the protection of minors, especially in connection
with the Green Paper on the protection of minors and human dignity in audiovisual and information services (1),
a  study  has  been  conducted  into  the  protection  of  minors  in  all  audiovisual  and  information  services.  As  a
follow-up to the Green Paper, and after consulting Parliament, the Commission is preparing a communication
accompanied by a proposal for a recommendation aimed at strengthening cooperation between those concerned.

The question of the classification of content forms part of the overall problem of (cid:145)labelling of contents(cid:146) and will
be one of the areas in which cooperation will be developed. Future work is planned on the relationship between
existing film classifications (for the cinema, television and video) and the labelling of content in the case of
on-line services in the context of the protection of minors in audiovisual services in general. This work will lead
to an examination of the question of classification at European level.

(1)  COM(96) 483 final.