WRITTEN QUESTION E-3123/00 by James Nicholson (PPE-DE) to the Council. Oppression of Christians in Egypt.
Date: 2000-10-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Egypt, anti-discriminatory measure, diplomatic relations, protection of minorities, religious discrimination

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/189

(2001/C 136 E/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3123/00

by James Nicholson (PPE-DE) to the Council

(16 October 2000)

Subject: Oppression of Christians in Egypt

Concerned people in the European Union continue to highlight the oppression of Coptic Christians in
Egypt and draw particular attention to the cases of Fakhri Ayyad Mus(cid:146)ad, Souroial Gayed Isshak, Aziz
Tawfik Rezkalah and Shaiboub William Arsal.

Would the Council indicate what representations have been made to the Egyptian Government and what
undertakings have been received regarding the protection of lives and property of the Coptic Christian
community?

Reply

(20/21 December 2000)

The Honourable Parliamentarian is requested to refer to the Council replies to the recent Questions
E-2456/00 (the case of William Shaiboub), E-1995/00 (the Coptic minority in Egypt) and that of H-0454/
00 (Human Rights in Egypt).

(2001/C 136 E/220)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3125/00

by Phillip Whitehead (PSE) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: Regulatory directive to combat the availability of pornography on subscription channels

Can the Commission state which Member States allow hard core pornography on domestic and satellite
subscription channels and what proposals there are for a regulatory directive in this area?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(30 November 2000)

The television without frontiers Directive (Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989 on the
coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States
concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities (1) as amended by Directive 97/36/EC of the
Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997 (2)) provides the legal framework for television broadcasting
within the Community.

The Commission is aware of the possible effects that pornographic material may have on minors. As
regards the distribution by television of audio-visual material,
the Directive establishes a common
minimum standard for the protection of minors (Article 22) and requires Member States to ensure that
television broadcasts by broadcasters under their jurisdiction do not include programmes which might
seriously impair the physical, mental or moral development of minors, in particular those that involve
pornography or gratuitous violence.

In respect of the specific issue of the protection of minors and human dignity, the Commission is
preparing a report for the Parliament and the Council on measures taken by the Member States in applying
the Council Recommendation 98/560/EC of 24 September 1998 on the development of the competitive-
ness of the European audio-visual and information services industry by promoting national frameworks
aimed at achieving a comparable and effective level of protection of minors and human dignity (3).
A detailed questionnaire was recently transmitted to the Member States with a view to the preparation of
the report.