WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1295/98 by James NICHOLSON to the Commission. Publication - What exactly is Europe?
Date: 1998-04-29
Institutions: European Parliament, NICHOLSON
Subjects: EU Member State, EU publication, access to EU information, dissemination of EU information, promotion of the European idea, public awareness campaign, religion, school textbook, statistics

C 354/88

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

19. 11. 98

The group took a number of decisions aimed at improving the gathering and exchange of information on the
problem of illegal trade. It agreed that the Commission should arrange for a study on the availability and sources
of supply of CFCs and halons in the Community. It also agreed to compile guidelines for customs officials to
improve their awareness and knowledge of trade in ozone-depleting substances and current control measures.
The group asked the Commission to examine the feasibility of a European seminar to help train customs officials.
The  group  agreed  to  establish  a  list  of  contact  points  in  each  Member  State  to  facilitate  the  exchange  of
information, including confidential information, and members of the group undertook to keep the Commission
informed of enforcement actions in each of the Member States.

The group agreed to meet again in the second half of 1998.

(98/C 354/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1295/98

by James Nicholson (I-EDN) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: Publication › What exactly is Europe?

Is the Commission responsible for the publication (cid:145)What exactly is Europe?(cid:146) for use in schools for children in the
11 to 14 years age range, and if so, what were the criteria for establishing the religious breakdown in EU Member
States?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(15 JUne 1998)

The publication (cid:145)What exactly is Europe(cid:146) was produced by the representation of the Commission in the United
Kingdom.  It  is  intended  as  (cid:145)A  classroom  guide  to  the  European  Union(cid:146).  It  has  proved  to  be  a  very  popular
publication and is much in demand by teachers. There has already been one reprint and a second is planned.

Material  on  religious  allegiance  in  the  Member  States  was  taken  from  the  reference  work  (cid:145)The  Guinness
European data book(cid:146). It was one of many illustrative items chosen to accompany the text of the Commission(cid:146)s
publication. However, in order to allay any concerns on the matter, the full table from the reference work is being
incorporated in the forthcoming reprint.

(98/C 354/142)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1299/98

by Esko Seppa¤nen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: Chernobyl 4 Reactor Shelter Fund

The aid provided by the G7 and the EU for the building work to protect the Chernobyl 4 reactor is inadequate to
ensure that the project is carried through. Only half of the necessary US$ 750 million have been raised. How does
the Commission see the remainder of the money being raised, and how does it intend to act on the view expressed
by Parliament in the Adam report to the effect that the funding of the project must be sound and efficient and that
the EU must only pay when other countries have fulfilled their contributions?