WRITTEN QUESTION No. 192/99 by Robert EVANS Ariane
Date: 1999-02-11
Institutions: EVANS, European Parliament
Subjects: EU Member State, EU programme, book trade, cultural cooperation, cultural policy, cultural transmission, facilities for people with disabilities, literature, official language, translation

C 348/32

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.12.1999

(1999/C 348/039)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0192/99

by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: Ariane

Would the Commission indicate whether it will accept project applications which aim to make books and
reading more acceptable to blind and partially-sighted people under the recently agreed ARIANE Programme?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 1999)

The Ariane programme, adopted by the Parliament and the Council on 24 October 1997 (Decision No 2085/
97/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 6 October 1997 establishing a programme of support including
translation, in the field of books and reading (Ariane) (1)) aims to encourage cooperation between the Member
States in the field of books and reading; to support and complement their activities in this area, by contributing
to the development of their cultures while respecting national and regional diversity; to increase the
knowledge and dissemination for the literature and history of the European peoples, as well as access thereto
by European citizens, notably through support for the translation of literary works, plays and reference works,
support for cooperation projects carried out in partnership and improvement of the skills of professionals in
this field.

In the context of action 1, which concerns support for the translation of literary works, plays and reference
works, all of the projects submitted must involve the translation of the work at least into one other Community
language. Consequently, a project which does not foresee translation to another Community language, but
rather concentrates on the changes required in order to make books and reading more accessible to blind and
partially sighted people, cannot be eligible under this action.

However, any application submitted under action 2 ; support for cooperation projects carried out in
partnership which aim to improve the promotion of books and reading, and access by the citizen to them ;
can involve projects which aim to make books and reading more accessible to blind and partially sighted
people, as with any other people. Such projects must of course respect the eligibility criteria, particularly as
regards the need for a European dimension.

Finally, the projects submitted under action 3 ; which concerns support for improvement of the skills of
professionals ; may involve both blind people and partially sighted people, on condition that the other
criteria for participation are respected.

(1) OJ L 291, 24.10.1997.

(1999/C 348/040)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0193/99

by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Subject: Grey whales in Mexico

The European Union is currently conducting negotiations with the Government of Mexico for a wide-ranging
and ambitious economic association and political cooperation agreement. The preamble to the draft Proposal
for a Council Decision (COM(97) 527 final) (1) refers to the importance both parties attach to the application
of sustainable development principles, as set out in Agenda 21 of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment
in Article 34 of the proposal under negotiation, the parties commit
and Development. Furthermore,
themselves to preserve the environment and ecological balance of their respective jurisdictions. Since the
proposed Mexico-EU Free-Trade Agreement contains as yet no environmental ‘side agreement’ ; a level of
protection found in the North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ; there is a concern that Mexican
environmental laws and regulations will not be fully enforced and implemented and that this will lead to an
unfair trade advantage between the EU and Mexico.