WRITTEN QUESTION E-2009/99 by Ulpu Iivari (PSE) to the Commission. The role of libraries in modern society.
Date: 1999-11-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU publication, European Commission, European social policy, library, report

C 203 E/114

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2000

How does the Commission intend to defend our fisheries sector at the Third Ministerial Conference in
Seattle?

Does it intend to draw attention to the social, environmental and health aspects of the fisheries sector, as
well as the purely industrial considerations?

In addition, at the Verona agricultural fair Commissioner Fischler announced the creation of a WTO
Forum for the defence of the European agriculture model, made up inter alia of representatives of
agricultural federations, the processing industry, consumers, workers and environmentalists. Does the
Commission also intend to create a similar forum for fisheries issues?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 November 1999)

In its communication of 8 July 1999 on the EU Approach to the WTO Millennium Round,
the
Commission set out a possible Community agenda. This covers a series of areas such as agriculture and
services, customs duties on non-agricultural products, investment, competition, facilitating trade and the
relation between trade and the environment.

The Commission believes that tariff aspects of the fisheries sector should be included in the framework of
tariff negotiations for non-agricultural products.

As regards customs duties, the Commission advocates a global tariff negotiation aiming to reduce tariffs,
eliminate large variations and harmonise tariff structures. Tariff bracket definitions (low, average and high)
flexibility, enabling a reasonable level of
applicable to all tariffs could provide a certain degree of
protection to be maintained for products that contribute most to maintaining producers(cid:146) revenue and
still constitute the main economic activity for some Community coastal regions.

Concerning subsidies in the fisheries sector and their effects on trade, the state of fishery resources and the
environment, there is no guarantee that this topic will appear on the WTO Millennium Round agenda
itself. Recently, during debates with the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment, the Commission
expressed its support for the work of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and in
particular for the international action plan for managing fishing capacity. The FAO assessment of the
possible factors influencing fishing capacity (insufficient monitoring of the fleet, unsustainable manage-
ment of fisheries, subsidies) is a prerequisite to any discussion with the WTO on a possible link between
subsidies, overcapacity and overfishing.

With reference to defending Community interests in the fisheries sector, the Commission will ensure that
the results of the negotiations are balanced regarding customs duties and other areas and will act in
accordance with the negotiating instructions issued by the Council.

Regarding the Honourable Member(cid:146)s suggestion to create a (cid:145)WTO Forum(cid:146) for fisheries similar to that for
agriculture, the Commission will consider whether this is appropriate with regard to the scope of WTO
negotiations on fisheries as it will be decided at the Seattle ministerial conference.

(2000/C 203 E/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2009/99

by Ulpu Iivari (PSE) to the Commission

(9 November 1999)

Subject: The role of libraries in modern society

On 15 May 1998, at the request of the Conference of Presidents, the President of Parliament announced
that Parliament(cid:146)s Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media had been authorised to table a
report on the role of
libraries in modern society. The committee appointed Mirja Ryyn(cid:228)nen MEP,
rapporteur. The own-initiative report was adopted in plenary at the October 1998 part-session (1). The
discussion on the report was said to have reached the Green Paper stage.

18.7.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 203 E/115

The Commission has decided to issue a communication on this topic and to offer for further discussion
significantly more detailed information than was contained in the report. This communication has been
awaited for a year now.

What stage has the Commission reached in the drafting of this communication? What progress is the
Commission making, and what is its timetable for further action, on the subject of libraries?

(1) OJ C 341, 9.11.1998, p. 373.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 1999)

The report to which the Honourable Member refers is important, raising significant issues for libraries in
the modern world. The Commission recognises too that libraries exist in a wider context with archives and
museums, the other cultural institutions, in providing and safeguarding citizens(cid:146) access to knowledge and
culture in a modern networked information society.

While fully supportive of the committee(cid:146)s work, the Commission is considering whether and how best to
take account of this wider context, in particular in the light of the work being undertaken in the field of
the information society under the Fifth framework programme and with a view to producing concrete
frameworks for coordination and cooperation between the various memory institutions in the coming
months.

(2000/C 203 E/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2010/99

by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Commission

(9 November 1999)

Subject: OCT association arrangements

There appears to be some confusion as to the nature of the European Union(cid:146)s relations with the OCT
countries, which have links with only four Member States (United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and
Denmark).

While the European Union plays an essential role in the development of the former OCTs that have
become ACP states, it appears to have abandoned the remaining OCTs, which are viewed as hybrids.
Ambivalence in terms of legal status, unanimous decision-making in the Council and (cid:145)artificial trade flows(cid:146)
which contribute little to development in the OCTs but have a highly disruptive effect on the Community
market are just some of the very real difficulties experienced by these countries.

With the signature of the Treaty of Amsterdam, the Intergovernmental Conference invited (cid:145)the Council,
acting in accordance with the provisions of Article 136 of the Treaty ((cid:133)) to review the association
arrangements ((cid:133)) by February 2000, with [a] fourfold objective.(cid:146)

What specific measures does the Commission intend to propose to the Council to further the aims of
economic and social development, progress in EU-OCT relations, taking greater account of the diversity
and specific characteristics of the OCTs and, finally, improving the financial instrument?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(17 November 1999)

The Honourable Member rightly refers to the declaration on the overseas countries and territories (OCTs)
in the Final Act of the Amsterdam Conference.

Following that declaration the Commission entered into consultations with the four Member States to
which the 20 OCTs are linked and also, under the partnership arrangements, with the authorities of the
20 OCTs in question, who met in Brussels at the highest level for the first time.