WRITTEN QUESTION No. 931/98 by Riitta MYLLER , Reino PAASILINNA , Pertti PAASIO , Jörn DONNER to the Commission. The Commission and freedom of expression
Date: 1998-03-26
Institutions: DONNER, European Parliament, MYLLER, PAASILINNA, PAASIO
Subjects: European Commission, Finland, censorship, free movement of goods, freedom of expression, job security, national production, television

21. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 323/97

The  Commission  is  aware  of  the  need  to  involve  SME  organisations  in  the  process  of  implementing  the
employment guidelines at a European level and in the negotiation of social agreements. SME organisations are
members of advisory committees and they are formally consulted on the legislative proposals in accordance with
Article 3 of the agreement on social policy annexed to the EC Treaty.

Finally, the Commission has embarked on a broad consultation on the improvement of the social dialogue at
European level and will shortly publish a communication, which will outline ways to achieve this.

(98/C 323/144)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0931/98

by Riitta Myller (PSE), Reino Paasilinna (PSE), Pertti Paasio (PSE)
and Jo¤rn Donner (PSE) to the Commission

(26 March 1998)

Subject: The Commission and freedom of expression

It has come to our notice that the Commission has written to object to the TV series which appeared on Finland(cid:146)s
Yleisradio TV 1st channel entitled (cid:145)30 FIM per week creates 30 000 jobs a year(cid:146). The series was intended for the
general public and its aim was to describe the employment effect of demand for products produced in Finland.

Under the principles of the EU(cid:146)s internal market, goods, services and persons must be able to move freely within
the borders of the Community. However, it is not possible to use these provisions to interfere with the freedom of
expression in a Member State, as was clearly the case in the above-mentioned contact with the Finnish Ministry
of Trade and Industry.

How does the Commission intend to ensure that it does not attempt in future, relying on the rules of the single
market or on any other grounds, to restrict the enjoyment of free expression in the Member States? The freedom
of expression is one of the central principles of the European concept of democracy and thus also of the European
Union.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 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 323/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0939/98

by Reimer Bo¤ge (PPE) to the Commission

(30 March 1998)

Subject: Imports  and  exports  of  agricultural  products  between  the  EU  and  the  central  and  eastern  European

countries

For the years 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997, can the Commission indicate what quantities of milk, meat, cereals and
potatoes entered the EU duty free or at preferential rates from individual central and eastern European countries?

For the years 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997, can the Commission indicate what quantities of milk, meat, cereals and
potatoes were exported by the EU to individual central and eastern European countries?