WRITTEN QUESTION E-3138/00 by Esko Seppänen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. European anthem.
Date: 2000-10-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European symbol, anthem, citizens' Europe

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/193

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 2000)

No provision is made in Community legislation for specific aid to any part of the fishery sector other than
fishermen themselves in cases where a fishery agreement is not renewed or is suspended.

Aid can however be given for fishing port facilities and fishery product processing and marketing
installations under restructuring programmes for the sector for the period 2000-2006 in both Objective 1
and non-Objective 1 regions. Decisions to grant aid, which must be covered by a programme approved by
the Commission and conform with common fishery policy aims, are taken by the Member State.

(2001/C 136 E/225)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3138/00

by Esko Sepp(cid:228)nen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: European anthem

At a concert by the European Youth Orchestra on 20 September 2000, the (cid:145)European anthem(cid:146), originally a
composition by Ludwig van Beethoven, was played as the opening item. As the music started, the
Commissioners, led by President Prodi, suddenly stood up as if for a national anthem. The EU is not a
state nor a nation, so it cannot have a national anthem. What is the legal basis for the Commission(cid:146)s
practice of standing when Beethoven(cid:146)s composition is played?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(8 November 2000)

The choice of a European anthem was one of the items covered by the report which the ad hoc
Committee for a People(cid:146)s Europe chaired by Mr Adonnino, presented to the European Council at the
latter(cid:146)s request on 28/29 June 1985. The European Council formally approved the proposals contained
in the report,
including the proposal relating to the anthem. Parliament recorded its agreement on
13 November 1985 and the Commission did likewise on 10 December 1985.

During an informal meeting of the Presidents of Parliament, the Council and the Commission on 12 March
1986, instructions were given to the Secretaries-General of the three institutions to work out the technical
details of all the European symbols adopted by the European Council. This was done and a decision was
taken on 20 March 1985. Thus the European anthem came into being as one of the symbols of the Union.
This does not mean that it should be treated as a national anthem nor does it give the Union the status of
a state or nation.

Under these circumstances it is usual for the institutions, including Parliament to have the anthem played
on specific occasions and for the Members of the Commission, like any other citizen who wishes to do so,
to stand in order to show their attachment to the common undertaking.

(2001/C 136 E/226)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3141/00

by Benedetto Della Vedova (TDI) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: Take-over of DHL by Deutsche Post

The press has reported that Deutsche Post AG (DP), the postal services company controlled by the German
Government, is about to take over the DHL group. Since DP has a monopoly on the German market in