WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3061/98 by Ernesto CACCAVALE to the Commission. State aid for RAI - the Italian broadcasting corporation
Date: 1998-10-02
Institutions: CACCAVALE, European Parliament
Subjects: Italy, State aid, broadcasting, competition, liberalisation of the market, private media, public service, television

C 142/78

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.5.1999

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 1998)

The proposed acquisition of Manchester United by BSkyB is not an isolated event. Such operations,
involving television companies owning sport clubs, have become a frequent practice in Europe (as was
already the case in the United States). The Commission keeps a close watch on all instances of
interpenetration between the world of sport and the audiovisual industry and will ensure that such
acquisitions comply with Community rules, where appropriate.

(1999/C 142/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3058/98

by María Estevan Bolea (PPE) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Possible failure of various Member States to comply with the Kyoto Protocol on climate change

It was recently reported in the press that France, Germany and the Netherlands will be unable to reach the
targets set by the Kyoto Protocol. Both the Member States and the European Community are responsible
for reaching those targets.

What is the Commission’s standpoint?

Will the Commission take any action on this matter?

In view of this situation, will the Commission amend its proposal to the IVth conference of the parties in
Buenos Aires?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 1998)

The Kyoto Protocol is not yet in force. For it to enter into force, it needs to be ratified by 55 parties,
incorporating parties included in annex I which accounted for at least 55 % of the total carbon dioxide
emissions for 1990 of the parties included in annex I. In addition, the Community and its Member States
have not yet ratified, so the provisions of the Protocol, including its emission reduction targets, are not yet
binding upon Member States.

Furthermore, the Commission would underline that the targets laid down in the Kyoto Protocol have to be
achieved by parties by the year 2012. Therefore, it considers it premature to take position regarding press
articles about possible non-compliance with the targets of the Protocol by certain Member States.

The burden-sharing between Member States agreed by the Council in June 1998 remains unaffected.

(1999/C 142/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3061/98

by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) to the Commission

(2 October 1998)

Subject: State aid for RAI − the Italian broadcasting corporation

In its reply to written question E-0577/98 (1) on State aid for RAI, the Commission is basically reticent and
does not say whether or not it intends to adopt a formal position with regard to the complaint in respect of
public subsidies for RAI in the foreseeable future. It merely refers in general terms to Community
competition rules, the new Treaty of Amsterdam and one of its protocols, which have yet to be ratified by
more than half the Member States, and says it will adopt a ‘coherent approach’, without going into greater
detail, on all cases that have been pending for almost a decade.