WRITTEN QUESTION No. 809/98 by Hedy d'ANCONA to the Commission. Report entitled 'An appraisal of technologies of political control - interim study', drawn up by STOA (the European Parliament's Scientific and Technological Options SInt.St.)
Date: 1998-03-26
Institutions: D'ANCONA, European Parliament
Subjects: EU control, choice of technology, political violence, scientific apparatus, scientific research, supervisory power, technology assessment, torture

C 323/78

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

21. 10. 98

technologies  noted  in  the  report  entitled  (cid:145)An  appraisal  of  technologies  of  political  control  ›  interim  study(cid:146),
drawn up by STOA (the European Parliament(cid:146)s Scientific and Technological Options Assessment) (PE 166.499./
Int.St.)?

(98/C 323/103)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0809/98

by Hedy d(cid:146)Ancona (PSE) to the Commission

(26 March 1998)

Subject: Report entitled (cid:145)An appraisal of technologies of political control › interim study(cid:146), drawn up by STOA

(the European Parliament(cid:146)s Scientific and Technological Options SInt.St.)

What action will the Commission take on the recommendations set out in the report entitled (cid:145)An appraisal of
technologies of political control › interim study(cid:146), drawn up by STOA (the European Parliament(cid:146)s Scientific and
Technological Options Assessment) (PE 166.499./Int.St.), especially those concerning (new) interrogation and
torture techniques?

Joint answer to Written Questions
E-0807/98, E-0808/98 and E-0809/98
given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 1998)

The Commission takes the view that it has no jurisdiction in this matter.

(98/C 323/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0812/98

by Hilde Hawlicek (PSE) to the Commission

(26 March 1998)

Subject: Establishment of (cid:145)Culture desks(cid:146) in the Member States

Artists often complain of problems of communication with the Commission. For example, imprecise wording in
application  forms  gives  rise  to  questions  which  the  Commission,  even  after  repeated  inquiries,  is  unable  to
answer.

I  have  heard  that  the  Commission  is  currently  planning  to  set  up  (cid:145)Culture  Desks(cid:146)  in  the  Member  States,  as
information points aimed at reducing this communication deficit. I very much welcome this idea.

To enable the Culture Desks to operate successfully, Members of the European Parliament, who already make a
considerable contribution to the provision of information, should also be involved. In order that we may jointly
provide workers in the artistic field with as comprehensive information as possible, I should like to know:

1.  How  is  the  work  of  the  Culture  Desks  conceived,  what  powers  will  they  have  (e.g.  to  preselect  projects

according to formal criteria), and what will be their precise duties?

2.  What financial provision will be made for the Culture Desks?

3.  What role are the Culture Desks intended to play during the re-orientation of EU cultural aid policy?

4.  What role are the Culture Desks to play in the new Culture Programme?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 1998)

The Commission is already making great efforts to inform the public about its programmes. Furthermore, the
programme application forms are accompanied by very clear instructions for applicants.