WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1991/98 by Sören WIBE to the Commission. Comic 'The Ice-Cream War'
Date: 1998-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, WIBE
Subjects: Economic and Monetary Union, European Union, book trade, child, democracy, official language, promotion of the European idea

22.2.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 50/123

Although the Community has legislated to protect the welfare of farm and laboratory animals, the welfare of
domestic pets is still a matter within the competence of the authorities of the Member States.

Therefore, the Commission is not in a position to propose legislation in the area of euthanasia for stray pet
animals.

(1999/C 50/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1991/98

by S(cid:246)ren Wibe (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Comic (cid:145)The Ice-Cream War(cid:146)

The Commission has published a comic entitled (cid:145)The Ice-Cream War(cid:146) in the official languages. The material is
designed for children and tells them in story form about the benefits of the EU and EMU. A Europe without the
EU is described as a continent at (ice-cream) war, with tight border controls and no solidarity. The EU and EMU,
on the other hand, represent peace, solidarity, community and everything else that is good. In short, the children
of Europe are being told a real fairy-tale.

Is this not political indoctrination of children? Is it not ethically indefensible to paint this glossy, false picture of
the EU for the children of Europe? Should we not be bringing the younger generation up to be critically thinking
citizens instead of trying to influence children in a particular political direction, i.e. in favour of a federal Europe,
as this publication does? Does European history not have something to teach us in this respect?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 1998)

The publication with which the Honourable Member takes issue is directed at young people and is therefore of
necessity written in simple terms; it refers to the values of peace and democracy, which have formed the basis of
European integration from the very beginning. It does not uphold a specific model, federalist or otherwise. It
places particular emphasis on the fact that cooperation is preferable to armed conflict or customs red-tape. On
page 26, moreover, it states that compromise between independent states is essential.

The Commission does not believe that it is overstepping the mark and indulging in political indoctrination by
addressing itself to young people to remind them of the Union(cid:146)s very raison d(cid:146)Œtre.

(1999/C 50/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1999/98

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(16 June 1998)

Subject: Regulation No 258/97 on novel foods

1. Will the Commission please explain how the provisions of Article 8 of Regulation No 258/97 (1) will work
in practice. In particular:

2. What form of words is recommended to comply with the provisions of the last subparagraph of Article
8(1)(a), which require labelling to indicate the characteristics or properties modified and the method by which the
characteristics or properties were obtained?

3. What criteria will be applied to the assessments required under Article 8(1)(b) and (c) (special health
implications and ethical concerns) and who will apply them?

(1) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997, p. 1.