WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3862/98 by Joan COLOM I NAVAL to the Commission. Television advertising
Date: 1998-12-09
Institutions: COLOM I NAVAL, European Parliament
Subjects: Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, advertising, broadcasting, consumer protection, sponsorship, television

C 207/138

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.7.1999

(1999/C 207/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3862/98

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

(9 December 1998)

Subject: Television advertising

The ‘Television without frontiers’ Directive regulates, among other things, television advertising, specifically as
regards commercial breaks during programmes or films.

Can the Commission say whether the Member States and Spain in particular are complying with the Directive
or any other rules that might apply?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 1999)

Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law,
regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting
activities (1)
(Television without Frontiers Directive) contains provisions on the amount of advertising
transmission time permissible on television (hourly and daily limits, Article 18), the number and manner
of advertising interruptions (Article 11), and the content and presentation of advertisements (Articles 10 to
16). There are also specific rules on sponsorship (Article 17).

A number of complaints have been referred to the Commission regarding the alleged failure in some Member
States to comply with advertising rules. These complaints, which are generally lodged by consumer
associations, relate to the systematic exceeding of authorised transmission times. More specifically, the
problems concern the practices in certain broadcasting organisations, in Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal.

The Commission is in the process of gathering the necessary information to assess the extent to which these
alleged excesses could constitute infringements by the Member States concerned, in order to take the
appropriate measures if necessary.

(1) OJ L 298, 17.10.1989.

(1999/C 207/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3874/98

by Raimo Ilaskivi (PPE) to the Commission

(4 January 1999)

Subject: Report on EU aid for Yasser Arafat

According to an EU report which has been leaked to the public, aid approved by the European Union to
provide support for poor districts in Gaza and the West Bank may have been used to build homes for close
associates of Yasser Arafat. The report claims that as much as FM 115 million has been spent on unexplained
projects.

What measures does the Commission plan to take to check the truth of the allegations made in the report
referred to above? And what steps does it plan to take to demand the return of misappropriated EU aid should
the suspicions be confirmed?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 1999)

The Community is the first world donor to the Palestinians. The Community budget and the Member States
provide 54 % of total assistance to the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Some press articles have recently questioned the way in which one Community financed project has been
implemented, concerning support given to the Palestinian housing council (PHC).