WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1671/98 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. RAI International and the protection of plural information
Date: 1998-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, MUSCARDINI
Subjects: Italy, access to information, free movement of programmes, national law, overseas countries and territories, pluralism in the media, right to information, television

C 386/154

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.98

(98/C 386/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1660/98

by Rainer Wieland (PPE) to the Commission

(29 May 1998)

Subject: Costs of the parliamentary system

Sector IV of the German Bundestag(cid:146)s research service produced a document which calculated (cid:145)the costs of the
parliamentary system of the USA and the Federal Republic of Germany(cid:146) on 24 February 1998 under the reference
number WF IV › 4/98.

Is the Commission aware of this document?

Does the Commission consider that the conclusions reached are accurate?

Is the Commission able to compare the costs of the parliamentary systems in the Member States of the Union and
the costs of the parliamentary system of the European Union itself, in the case of the latter both with and without
inclusion of the language services, for the figures available from 1993 onwards for the relevant financial years?

If so, what is the outcome of this comparison?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 1998)

In the performance of its duties under the Treaties, the Commission does not acquire information of the kind
requested. It is therefore unable to answer the question.

(98/C 386/211)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1671/98

by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(29 May 1998)

Subject: RAI International and the protection of plural information

Italian state television, in order to broadcast programmes and information to the Italian community living
overseas, has for many years had a section known as RAI International which broacasts, in Italian, a selection of
programmes devised in its Rome studios.

The person appointed to head this important section, which is responsible for presenting Italy(cid:146)s image abroad, is a
party politician › the previous head of the former Italian Communist Party(cid:146)s propaganda unit › and,
consequently, does not possess the independence of mind which should be an essential prerequisite for senior
office in the public service.

The programmes broadcast by RAI International are self-congratulatory celebrations of and by the Left, with old
films and programmes being transmitted at prime time while news and cultural programmes which would provide
more elevating entertainment for communities abroad are relegated to less popular viewing times.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary monitoring committee which should uphold fair broadcasting standards cannot
intervene for the simple reason that these programmes can be received only overseas.

Could the Commision take action:

1.

2.

to ensure that the RAI, as a public service broadcaster, broadcasts independent and pluralistic information,
and

to urge RAI International to uphold the right to receive accurate information in order to protect Italian
citizens living abroad by ensuring the information provided to them is as objective, fair, independent and
pluralistic as possible.