WRITTEN QUESTION P-3266/00 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Support for the arts in the EU.
Date: 2000-10-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, art education, book trade, music, performing arts

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/31

It may be helpful to distinguish between two component parts of the overall European security and
defence equation (cid:129) territorial defence and Petersberg tasks. Issues of territorial defence should, of course,
be raised with Member States themselves. Military implications of individual Member States(cid:146) policy in the
defence area fall squarely into the national domain. As to a territorial security commitment, such as that
provided by article V of the NATO Treaty and article 5 of the WEU Treaty, this concerns only those EU
Member States which have signed those treaties. In addition, territorial defence does not form part of
ongoing discussions within the framework of ESDP.

The Union(cid:146)s stated aim is to be ready to support action within the framework of Petersberg tasks. All
Member States agree on this and are ready to contribute.

There is, of course, an umbilical
link between the military and non-military dimensions of conflict
prevention, conflict resolution and crisis management. It is in these areas that the Union, its Member
States and the Commission are increasingly active.

(2001/C 174 E/031)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3266/00

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 October 2000)

Subject: Support for the arts in the EU

Can the Commission give details of Community legislation providing for EU subsidies for all types of
schools and academies of music (both public and private)
in the Member States? What Community
programmes are in force which provide for financial aid to such institutions?

Which Community initiatives provide subsidies for projects to promote the book sector? Are there plans
to provide aid for the publication of major works of European and world literature, such as the ancient
Greek tragedies, and to subsidise pioneering projects such as the translation of ancient philosophical,
historical and scientific texts into all the official languages of the Union?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(14 November 2000)

The Community action programme in the field of education, Socrates, subsidises transnational activities
initiated by institutional partnerships involving at least three participating countries. In principle, the
Comenius action on school education is open to all establishments recognised as schools by the
participating countries. A detailed list of eligible institutions appears in the programme application guide.
None of the Socrates actions is exclusively concerned with the arts.

The (cid:145)Culture 2000(cid:146) programme, which is the single financing and programming instrument for cultural
cooperation within the Community established by Decision No 508/2000/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 14 February 2000 (1), is designed, inter alia, to promote cultural dialogue and mutual
knowledge of the culture and history of European peoples and to encourage creativity and the transna-
tional dissemination of culture.

The objectives of the framework programme are to be achieved through actions which are either vertical
(concerning one cultural field) or horizontal (associating several cultural fields).

In the case of books and reading, the vertical approach of the Culture 2000 programme is intended, in
particular: (cid:145)to improve awareness and the distribution of literary creation and the history of the European
people through supporting the translation of literary, dramatic and reference works (cid:133)(cid:146).

C 174 E/32

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

As regards support for certain types of project, the Commission would inform the Honourable Member
that the 2001 project priorities are to be announced under the call for programme proposals to be
published in the Official Journal during November 2000.

(1) OJ L 63, 10.3.2000.

(2001/C 174 E/032)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3279/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Arrest of priest in Turkey

The Turkish newspaper, Milliyet, reported on 6 October 2000 that the previous morning the police had
arrested the Syro-Chaldean priest, Yussuf Akbulut, at the Holy Church of the Virgin Mary at Diyarbakir in
full view of visiting tourists. The police confiscated the tourists(cid:146) cameras, took the priest into custody and
then brought him before the State Security Court. The priest(cid:146)s crime was a statement he had made to the
newspaper, Hurriyet, on 4 October in which he said that (cid:145)a great many Syro-Chaldeans were also
massacred together with the Armenians(cid:146). What steps will the Commission take to secure the immediate
release of the priest?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 2000)

The Commission can confirm that Mr Akbulut was interrogated by the Diyarbakir Security Department.
He stayed in the Security Department for 8 hours and was then released. Subsequently the priest was
indicted for (cid:145)inciting hatred and enmity among people(cid:146) according to Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code.
The first hearing at the Diyarbakir State Security Court will take place on 21 December 2000.

The Commission will raise this matter with the Turkish government in the framework of the political
dialogue.

(2001/C 174 E/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3289/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Measures against caffein

According to researchers from John Hopkins University in the USA, caffein is added to soft drinks because
of its addictive properties and not, as the manufacturers claim, to enhance flavour.

In addition to their addictive effect, such soft drinks are a major source of sugar, and tend to replace
healthier products in the daily diet. Sugar intake causes damage to teeth in particular and is a factor in
making people overweight.

Is the Commission considering measures against this on grounds of consumer protection (Article 153 of
the EC Treaty) or public health (Article 152)?