WRITTEN QUESTION P-3236/00 by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission. Tobacco advertising.
Date: 2000-10-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, advertising, judgment of the Court (EU), proposal (EU), tobacco

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/251

Furthermore, what measures does the Commission intend to adopt to strengthen the helpline network at
both European and national levels, so as to provide more help for students in difficulties and minimise
obstacles to their mobility?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(26 October 2000)

Erasmus student mobility grants are intended to contribute to the extra costs involved in study abroad,
such as travel costs and a potential difference in the living costs as compared to the home country. The
Erasmus grant is not a full grant and is thus not intended to cover all the costs that an Erasmus student
will have during the period of study abroad.

The Commission disagrees with the claim that Erasmus student mobility is basically designed for the
children of the better-off. The Commission adopted on 18 January 2000 a report on a survey into the
socio-economic background of the Erasmus students (1) which clearly shows that the economic background
of the Erasmus students by no means differs from the economic background of the student population as a
whole. The external final evaluation of Socrates I reconfirms these findings.

Erasmus student mobility is a decentralised action and the Member States themselves outline their policy of
grant allocation within the broad guidelines given by the Commission. The Commission has always
encouraged the Member States to take the socio-economic background of students into account when
deciding on the grant amounts. Some Member States apply this criterion, others do not. The Member
States have also been strongly encouraged to complement the Community funding for Erasmus students,
be it on a national, regional or institutional level. Again, the practices adopted by different Member States
vary.

Providing support and help to mobile students is the responsibility of the universities involved in Erasmus
student mobility in cooperation with their national agencies.

(1) COM(2000) 4 final.

(2001/C 113 E/275)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3236/00

by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 October 2000)

Subject: Tobacco advertising

Following the ruling of the European Court of Justice on 5 October 2000 on the Tobacco Advertising
Directive, will the European Commission prepare a new directive to regulate the internal market in
tobacco advertising which prohibits certain forms of advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products,
taking into account
tobacco advertising has,
particularly on young people?

the Court(cid:146)s ruling as well as the harmful effect

that

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 2000)

The Commission continues to examine new measures to counteract the harmful effects of tobacco
smoking, particularly for children and young people, as part of the overall approach set out in its
communication on this matter (1).

Against this background, the Commission is currently completing its analysis of the judgement of the
Court of Justice in the tobacco advertising case (2) with a view to identifying the scope of a new proposal
which could be taken forward without delay.

(1) COM 96 (609) final.
(2)

Judgement of the Court of 5.10.2000 in Case C-376/98.