WRITTEN QUESTION E-1668/99 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Aid to young artists.
Date: 1999-09-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU financing, artistic creation, artistic profession, cultural policy, young person

20.6.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 170 E/69

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(3 November 1999)

On the general issues of alleged financial corruption in Russia, the Commission(cid:146)s view remains as set out
in its statement in Parliament on 16 September 1999. On the particular question by the Honourable
Member,
in its capacity as the
representative of the Community in the board of directors of the European bank for reconstruction and
development (EBRD):

the Commission hereby transmits the information available to it

Illegal capital flight is a criminal activity and its perpetrators will therefore attempt to conceal their
activities from official view,
including that of the EBRD. Therefore the EBRD has an anti-money
laundering policy, and requires that financial institutions to whom it extends credit make representa-
tions, which are designed to reduce the likelihood of the Bank becoming unwittingly involved in such
activities. In addition, all EBRD payments to and from Russia are covered by appropriate Central Bank
licences.

Approximately a quarter of all EBRD financing is with Russian counterparties. The EBRD(cid:146)s activities
with Russian counterparties are restricted to financing of approved projects where use of funds is
closely defined. Strict disbursement controls are in place at EBRD which mean that funds are paid
directly to contractors wherever this is possible. Where other disbursement mechanisms such as
Special Accounts are used, these accounts are reconciled regularly to ensure that funds are used for the
intended purpose.

Regular staff briefings are held by the anti money laundering officer, appointed by the Bank in 1996.

Following the recent Bank of New York case, the EBRD has conducted its own review of Russian
exposures and has asked its auditors to conduct a review of specific Russian projects which could be
vulnerable to money laundering activities. Although the external review is continuing, the Bank(cid:146)s
preliminary assessment from its own review is that there are no projects which exhibit prima facie
conduct or transactions that would indicate laundering.

The Commission has no evidence, which could put in doubt the above information.

(2000/C 170 E/078)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1668/99

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(22 September 1999)

Subject: Aid to young artists

The aid and funding earmarked for artistic activities in the Member States are to a great extent made
available exclusively to organisations and activities carried out jointly by several Member States.

A large proportion of artistic output, an enormous heritage of culture and development for Europe, is the
work of individuals, who carry out an undeniably useful role both culturally and socially. It should also be
borne in mind that individual operators in the various artistic fields represent an employment opportunity
which must not be underestimated. The work of individual artists, the expression of Western and European
thought, is an asset shared by all the citizens of the European Union.

In view of the above, can the Commission say:

1. whether there are programmes designed to fund the activities of individual artists considered to be of

particular merit;

2. whether relevant provisions are currently being considered;

C 170 E/70

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2000

3. whether specific research has been carried out on art in the EU and its repercussions on employment;

4. what its general views on the subject are?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(5 November 1999)

The EC Treaty gives the Community jurisdiction in the field of the arts. According to Article 151
(ex Article 128), action by the Community shall be aimed at encouraging cooperation between Member
States, shall contribute to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States, while respecting their
national and regional diversity, and shall foster cooperation with third countries and the competent
international organisations in the sphere of culture.

Community action to promote culture has
so far
programmes (Kaleidoscope, Ariane and Raphaºl) and,
((cid:145)Culture 2000(cid:146)) is currently being approved by the institutions.

taken the form of
three
for the future, a new framework programme

the adoption of

1.
In full accordance with the EC Treaty and the principle of subsidiarity, the main objective of
programmes in support of culture, based on Article 151 (ex Article 128) of the EC Treaty, has been (cid:129)
and will continue to be (cid:129) to encourage cooperation between Member States in the cultural sphere.

As a result, in practice, Community action does not aim to support the work of individual artists; instead,
it supports projects which show real European added value and involve cooperation between several
parties (institutions, organisations, groups of individuals) from at least three different Member States.

It is important to note that Community action supports individual artists only in the specific context of
certain European prizes (e.g. the Aristeion Prizes for literature and translation and the Mies van der Rohe
Prize for European architecture).

2.
As Article 151 of the EC Treaty also constitutes the legal basis of the new (cid:145)Culture 2000(cid:146) framework
programme (cid:129) currently being approved by the institutions (cid:129) the principal objectives of this programme
must necessarily remain the same.

On 14 May 1998 the Commission published a working document on (cid:145)Culture, the Cultural Industries

3.
and Employment(cid:146) (1).

The Commission recently expressed an opinion on the future of Community action in the cultural
4.
sphere in its communication (2) to Parliament concerning the common position of the Council on the
establishment of a single financing and programming instrument for cultural cooperation,
in (cid:145)Culture
2000(cid:146), the first Community framework programme.

(1)
(2)

SEC(98) 837.
SEC(1999) 1227 final.

(2000/C 170 E/079)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1674/99

by Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 September 1999)

Subject: Self-medication

In a resolution on an industrial policy for the pharmaceutical sector adopted by the European Parliament
on 16 April 1996 (A4-0104/96 (1)), self-medication is described as an important element in a long-term
policy for health. This position is in line with that adopted by the Commission, notably in its commu-
nication of 1 June 1994 regarding a programme of Community action on health promotion, information,
education and training within the framework for action in the field of public health.