WRITTEN QUESTION E-1963/00 by Maria Sanders-ten Holte (ELDR) to the Commission. Music teaching in the different Member States.
Date: 2000-06-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, competence of the Member States, music, teaching

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/119

feasibility of the proposed actions and the expectations of success(cid:146). However, the Doæana Environmental
Station has never endorsed either the project or the compensatory measures. This means that,
in the
documentation supplied in order to justify the project, the Confederaci(cid:243)n HidrogrÆfica del Guadalquivir
has falsified the CSIC data in maintaining that backing has been received.

What action is the Commission proposing to take in order to ensure that the Spanish authorities abide by
Community law and comply with Directives 79/409/EEC (2) and 92/43/EEC by halting the procedure
which has been initiated and abandoning plans to build the Melonares dam and reservoir on the River
Viar?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

The dam for obtaining drinking water for the city of Seville (Andalucia) is located within the (cid:145)Sierra Norte(cid:146)
special protection area for birds (SPA) designated by the Spanish authorities under Council Directive 79/
409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (1), which covers approximately 170 000
hectares. The dam should flood 1 457 hectares, 328,5 of which are within the SPA.

It should be noted that this project was made subject to the procedure provided for in Council Directive
85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the
environment. (2) The environmental impact statement containing the Ministry of the Environment(cid:146)s opinion
on the project was published in the Spanish official journal of 24 November 1997 (BOE No 281).

With regard to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and
of wild fauna and flora, (3) we would point out that Article 6(3) and (4), which apply to SPAs, provide that
(cid:145)Any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site but likely to
have a significant effect thereon [(cid:133)] shall be subject to an appropriate assessment of its implications for
the site in view of the site(cid:146)s conservation objectives. In the light of the conclusions of the assessment of the
implications for the site [(cid:133)], the competent national authorities shall agree to the plan or project only
after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site concerned and,
if
appropriate, after having obtained the opinion of the general public.(cid:146)

(cid:145)If, in spite of a negative assessment of the implications for the site and in the absence of alternative
solutions, a plan or project must nevertheless be carried out for imperative reasons of overriding public
interest, including those of a social or economic nature, the Member State shall take all compensatory
measures necessary to ensure that the overall coherence of Natura 2000 is protected. It shall inform the
Commission of the compensatory measures adopted.(cid:146)

It should be noted that the Commission has already been informed of the situation described by the
Honourable Member regarding the Melonares dam project and its possible environmental impact. The
Commission decided to open an own-initiative investigation in order to check whether the obligations
deriving from Article 6(3) and (4) of Directive 92/43/EEC had been fulfilled. It is currently examining the
matter and has already sent the Spanish authorities several requests for information and had several
meetings with them.

In any event, as guardian of the Treaties, the Commission will take the necessary steps to ensure that
Community law is observed in the case in question.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(3) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2001/C 81 E/143)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1963/00
by Maria Sanders-ten Holte (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Music teaching in the different Member States

(21 June 2000)

Music is taught at non-professional level by music schools or by primary and secondary schools. In music
schools, the emphasis is generally on making music oneself, whilst the teaching of music as part of general
education is more concerned with music appreciation. There appears to be good cooperation in some
Member States between music schools and normal schools as regards the teaching of music.

C 81 E/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

In the preamble to its conclusions of 18 December 1997 on music in Europe, the Council stated that
(cid:145)music is a fundamental part of the cultures and history of our countries(cid:146). In the same communication, the
Council called on the Commission, with due regard for the subsidiarity principle, to pay particular
attention to musical education from a very young age and, possibly, to establish a European information
and documentation centre.

1. With regard to this communication, has a comparative study been carried out at European level on
the situation with regard to music teaching in the different Member States and whether or not cooperation
exists?

2.
In this connection, does the Commission have information concerning the administrative level at
which decisions are taken in the different Member States regarding the setting up of music schools or the
teaching of music as part of general education?

3.
Does the Commission know whether music teaching forms an integral part of the curriculum for
primary and secondary schools in the Member States, and does it know what the objectives are and what
level pupils are expected to aim to reach?

Can the Commission say what proportion of the national budget of each Member State is dedicated

4.
to culture in general and music teaching in particular?

5.

If such information is not available, would the Commission be prepared to initiate a study on this?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 2000)

The conclusions of the Council of 18 December 1997 on the role of music in Europe underline the areas
of common interest which promote access to and dissemination of music in Europe. Following these
conclusions, and in order
the European Music
Observatory (funded in 1998) has carried out several studies, mainly on the movement of national
repertoires, the music industry in Europe and public access to music.

to make information available at European level,

Music teaching in the Member States is a matter for the Member States alone and it is therefore dealt with
according to the priorities of each Member State. Furthermore, the Commission does not yet have
exhaustive information at European level on music teaching in the various Member States. It has now set
up working groups on European cultural statistics and, as a result, more precise information in this area
will be available from the end of 2001.

It is important to note that the Culture 2000 programme, which is the single financing and programming
instrument for the Community(cid:146)s cultural sector, has taken into account, inter alia, the Council conclusions
of 18 December 1997 and gives priority in the call for proposals for 2000 to cooperation agreements in
the music sector.

(2001/C 81 E/144)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1966/00

by JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: The scandal of doping in the former GDR

(21 June 2000)

Mr Manfred Ewald and Mr Manfred Hoeppner have been tried in Germany on charges of promoting the
systematic doping of GDR athletes when they were Chairmen of the Sports Federation of the former GDR
and assistant of the Medical Sports Service respectively. They are charged with (cid:145)complicity in physical
damage(cid:146) caused to 142 women athletes, and with setting up a system to (cid:145)mass produce champions(cid:146).