WRITTEN QUESTION E-1966/00 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. The scandal of doping in the former GDR.
Date: 2000-06-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: German Democratic Republic, dissemination of information, performance drugs, public health, research policy

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).

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/121

This is not the first court case on this subject; individuals have already been sentenced in the past.

The Commission has made combating doping a priority in the field of sport.

The cases referred to are simply horrific, and provide shocking evidence of the ruthless manipulation of
sport in the former GDR, against all principles of health and fundamental humanity. Such cases should
therefore not be allowed to fall into oblivion. They constitute grim lessons for the future, since the only
use they have is to prevent such things happening again.

Has the Commission followed all the court cases concerned? On the basis of the horrific experiments
carried out in the former GDR, does it intend to promote research, information and training activities
which will form part of a thoroughgoing anti-doping policy and help to combat any similar instances
today or tomorrow, and provide lasting protection against such excesses and extreme abuse for future
generations of sportsmen and sportswomen?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(19 September 2000)

The Commission has followed with interest the court cases concerning the former German Democratic
Republic (GDR) and doping.

The Commission shares the view that such practices should be strongly condemned. It is vital that the
results of the political motivation, that was apparent in the former GDR, do not reappear in today(cid:146)s
environment through other means such as over-commercialisation.

The President of the Commission referred to the fight against doping on 21 July 1999 in his first speech to
the Parliament. The Commission(cid:146)s stance can be found in its communication on a Community support
plan to combat doping in sport (1) which was issued on 1 December 1999.

The support plan contains a wide range of possible Community actions that can be carried out through a
number of different policy areas ranging from public health to justice and home affairs. Research is
included as one of the main areas that should be focused upon.

The Commission also intends to support a number of pilot actions in the field of education and
information.

Through this structured package the Commission aims to reinforce the action taken by sports organisa-
tions, which must assume the leadership, in fighting against this scourge that seriously tarnishes the image
of sport.

(1) COM(1999) 643 final.

(2001/C 81 E/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1970/00

by JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Council

Subject: Investigating human rights violations in East Timor

(21 June 2000)

Paragraph 9 of the European Parliament(cid:146)s resolution on East Timor of 18 November 1999 (B5-0271/1999)
called on Council to examine the granting of technical aid to the UN authorities in East Timor with a view
to preserving and investigating evidence of atrocities perpetrated during the occupation of the country.