WRITTEN QUESTION P-2604/99 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council. Promoting and safeguarding lesser-used languages.
Date: 1999-12-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU action, language teaching, minority language, youth exchange scheme

C 219 E/182

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

Is this subject being dealt with in the Council?

If so, what progress has been made in the negotiations?

When will the Council adopt a common position?

(1) OJ C 100, 9.4.1994, p. 12.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.
(3) OJ C 65, 4.3.1996, p. 151.

Reply

(14 February 2000)

The Honourable Member is asked to refer to the reply given to Written Question 1676/99.

(2000/C 219 E/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2590/99

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 January 2000)

Subject: Withdrawal from Schengen

By what mechanism, if any, can a Member State rescind its membership of Schengen?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question E-2853/98 by
Mr Bonde (1).

(1) OJ C 297, 15.10.1999, p. 33.

(2000/C 219 E/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2604/99

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council

(22 December 1999)

Subject: Promoting and safeguarding lesser-used languages

Will the Council outline its policy on the safeguarding and promoting of lesser-used languages in the
European Union and will it back new initiatives aimed at promoting cultural and linguistic exchanges
between, for example, young people living in peripheral regions?

Reply

(31 January 2000)

The Council has constantly underlined certain principles with respect to linguistic diversity within the
Community, and recalls that the Lingua action under the current education programme Socrates specifies
priority support for the least widely used and least taught languages of the European Union. Due
consideration would moreover be given by the Council to any future Commission proposals concerning
lesser-used languages.

1.8.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 219 E/183

As far as taking into consideration the peripheral regions of the Community is concerned, the attention of
the Honourable Member is drawn to the provisions of:

(cid:129) the current Socrates programme under Chapter I (Erasmus), Action 2 § 2 which states that with
regard to student mobility, (cid:145)the Commission will take any measures necessary to encourage balanced
participation between various disciplines and regions(cid:146)

(cid:129) Action A.I § 4 of the Youth for Europe programme which enumerates (cid:145)geographical remoteness(cid:146) as
one of the factors on the basis of which (cid:145)the apportionment of the assistance shall take account of the
need to guarantee a balance in the flow of exchanges and equal opportunities for access to young
people of every Member State.(cid:146)

(2000/C 219 E/235)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2633/99

by Maria Berger (PSE) to the Commission

(22 December 1999)

Subject: Application of cable television directive 93/83/EEC

The incorporation of cable television directive 93/83/EEC (1) into Austrian law has had solely negative
effects on cable television operators. As a result,
instead of a single overall contract there are now
927 separate contracts,
legal uncertainty has increased and there is greater distortion of competition
between cable and satellite.

1. When will the Commission be submitting the report on the application of Directive 93/83/EEC to
Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee?

Does the Commission intend to introduce a (cid:145)technology-neutral(cid:146) approach, thereby ensuring equal

2.
treatment of satellite reception and cable distribution?

Does the Commission envisage revising Directive 93/83/EEC to take account of the protests of cable

3.
TV operators throughout Europe?

(1) OJ L 248, 6.10.1993, p. 15.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(20 January 2000)

The Commission has not received any objections by Austrian operators against the practical application of
the Austrian measures implementing Council Directive 93/83/EEC of 27 September 1993 on the
coordination of certain rules concerning copyright and rights related to copyright applicable to satellite
broadcasting and cable retransmission.

Concerning the practical application of Directive 93/83/EEC, at present a study is being undertaken by
external consultants. This study includes the application of Council Directives 93/98/EEC of 29 October
1993 harmonizing the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights (1), 92/100/EEC of
19 November 1992 on rental right and lending right and on certain rights related to copyright in the
field of intellectual property (2) and 93/83/EEC.

On the basis of this study which is expected for the end of March 2000 the Commission will submit the
communication to which the Honourable Member refers. In this context, the proposals made by interested
parties will be considered in the event of any proposals for modification by the Commission.

(1) OJ L 290, 24.11.1993.
(2) OJ L 346, 27.11.1992.