WRITTEN QUESTION No. 668/98 by Sir Jack STEWART-CLARK to the Commission. Commission proposal for levy on blank tapes
Date: 1998-03-10
Institutions: European Parliament, STEWART-CLARK
Subjects: United Kingdom, copyright, magnetic medium, physically disabled person, recording, recording medium, registration tax

C 310/116

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

9. 10. 98

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(16 April 1998)

The extra tuition courses to which the Honourable Member refers are for pupils in upper secondary education, in
particular in the recently established integrated (or unified) lyceum. The aim of these courses, organised at this
first transitional phase, is to help students adapt to the new requirements of the integrated lyceum (new courses,
new curricula, new didactic approach). Their nature is temporary rather than structural and they will be given up
to the end of the current Community support framework (CSF).

In addition, in the technical sheet of the action, the Greek authorities which implement the operation, explain that
(cid:145)the  teachers  for  the  extra  tuition  courses  are  to  be  chosen  by  the  teachers(cid:146)  association,  in  co-operation  with
school counsellors ... from neighbouring school units, or from among highly qualified teachers still without a
post ...(cid:146). Moreover (cid:145)the teachers of a particular extra tuition section must not be those who give the corresponding
regular classes to the pupils in question(cid:146).

(98/C 310/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0668/98

by Sir Jack Stewart-Clark (PPE) to the Commission

(10 March 1998)

Subject: Commission proposal for levy on blank tapes

I  understand  there  is  a  Commission  proposal  to  provide  compensation  to  copyright  holders  for  audio
reproduction of their material by adding a levy to the cost of blank tapes, recording and copying equipment.

Such a proposal would have serious financial consequences on the local Talking Newspaper Associations in the
UK. The Talking Newspaper Associations provide a valuable service for the blind and partially sighted persons
by keeping them informed of news and events. Recordings are made onto blank cassette tapes and distributed
free of charge to listeners.

Does the Commission intend to permit exceptions to this proposal to exempt non-commercial services, charities
and Talking Newspaper Associations from having to pay a levy on recordings into blank cassettes?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 1998)

The Commission is conducting a detailed investigation of the problem raised by the Honourable Member and
will inform him of the outcome as soon as possible.

(98/C 310/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0680/98

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(10 March 1998)

Subject: Funding for consumer associations

A number of articles have appeared in the Italian press concerning alleged funding from the European Union for
certain consumer associations, including ACU, FEDERCONSUMATORI and CODACONS.

Can the Commission say:

1.  whether the alleged funding has actually been granted and, if so, on the basis of which programmes;

2.  whether there are Community programmes which specifically envisage the granting of funding to consumer

associations?