WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3851/98 by Sören WIBE to the Commission. Suitability of 'Ice-Cream War' as propaganda in all 15 Member States
Date: 1999-01-04
Institutions: European Parliament, WIBE
Subjects: EU publication, Economic and Monetary Union, Ecu, Sweden, public awareness campaign, selective dissemination of information, single market, young person

C 207/136

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.7.1999

by Council Regulation (EEC) 1107/70 of 4 June 1970 on the granting of aids for transport by rail, road and
inland waterway (3), by Council Regulation (EEC) 1191/69 of 26 June 1969 on action by Member States
concerning the obligations inherent in the concept of a public service in transport by rail, road and inland
waterway (4) and by Council Regulation (EEC) 1192/69 of 26 June 1969 on common rules for the
normalisation of the accounts of railway undertakings continue to apply. The compensation, aid and
intervention granted by national authorities on the basis of the aforementioned Regulations are notified
regularly to the Commission, which makes this information available to the Member States in the form of an
analytical report. The Commission is currently updating the report for 1997.

(1) OJ L 237, 24.8.1991.
(2) COM(98) 202 final.
(3) OJ L 130, 15.6.1970.
(4) OJ L 156, 28.6.1969.

(1999/C 207/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3851/98

by Sören Wibe (PSE) to the Commission

(4 January 1999)

Subject: Suitability of ‘Ice-Cream War’ as propaganda in all 15 Member States

Material in the form of a comic strip entitled ‘The Ice-Cream War’, aimed at the younger youth bracket, has
been published in all the official languages of the Union.

In the UK, however, the material has reportedly been cancelled following a debate in the House of Commons
and, in Denmark, the Commission’s information office is not distributing the material as it is not considered to
be appropriate to the Danish debate.

‘The Ice-Cream War’ contains propaganda for EMU. To date, three Member States have declined to take part in
EMU. Under these circumstances, is it appropriate for the Commission to produce and distribute material
propagandising for EMU in a Member State which has decided not to take part in EMU?

Would it not be appropriate to withdraw the Swedish edition of ‘The Ice-Cream War’ on grounds of the EMU
propaganda contained in the material?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 1999)

The Commission publication ‘The Raspberry Ice Cream War’ (1) (Swedish title ‘Glasskriget’) aims at explaining
some basic Community policies concerning the internal market. In this context it briefly mentions the
introduction of the euro. The Commission would not agree that this publication amounts to ‘propaganda’. The
Commission’s representations in the Member States advise the Commission on the suitability for distribution
of centrally-produced publications. It is true that, on the basis of such advice, the Commission chose not to
distribute ‘The Raspberry Ice Cream War’ in certain Member States. In others, the Commission notes, the
publication is proving popular.

(1)

ISDN 92-828-2341-5.

(1999/C 207/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3856/98

by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(4 January 1999)

Subject: Freedom of movement for sports coaches

1.
Is it true that the Italian Government (through the Italian National Olympics Committee, sports
academies and technical bodies) discriminates against its own people and against sports professionals by