WRITTEN QUESTION E-3337/00 by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Attacks on press freedom in Austria.
Date: 2000-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, competence of the Member States, freedom of the press, infringement of EU law

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/35

In its (cid:145)Consumer Policy Action Plan 1999-2001(cid:146) (2) the Commission undertook to examine the feasibility of
a general framework on fair trading. In line with this commitment, the Commission is preparing a
communication on this issue, which will be submitted to the Community institutions in a few months.
However, it is not clear from the information available, if the incriminated practices would fall under the
scope of such a general framework on fair trading.

In any case, even a general framework to trade fairly does not necessarily prevent criminal practices. The
practices as described by the Honourable Member could indeed involve criminal behaviour.

The possible contractual liability in these cases is a matter of German private law and not regulated

4.
by Community law.

The concerned consumers could consult legal advice or contact consumer associations for advice or

5.
support according to German law.

(1) OJ L 250, 19.9.1984.
(2) COM(98) 696 final.

(2001/C 174 E/036)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3337/00

by Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Attacks on press freedom in Austria

On Monday, 9 October 2000, as was reported in the most respected European newspapers, the journalists
of the State-run Austrian television service, ORF, spoke out with one voice against the massive pressure
being exerted by senior leaders of J(cid:246)rg Haider(cid:146)s Freedom Party (FP(cid:214)) and their intolerable attempts to
censor the station(cid:146)s editorial staff and management. One of the main culprits has been the head of the FP(cid:214)
parliamentary group, Peter Westenthaler, who within the space of a single day intervened on as many as
22 occasions in an attempt to obstruct the journalists(cid:146) work, influence the subjects covered and the format
and scope of reports, and demand (cid:145)counter-reports(cid:146) whenever the television news was not to his liking.

Furthermore, according to Profil magazine, the management of the State television service has opened an
internal
investigation to discover why the text of news items was leaked to politicians before the
programmes concerned had even been broadcast. Lastly, another source has revealed that two police-
officers have been implicated in a criminal plan to (cid:145)physically punish(cid:146) the television presenter Josef Bronkal
for his severe criticism of J(cid:246)rg Haider(cid:146)s party.

in which the 14 Union governments
In the light of the statement issued on 12 September 2000,
announced that they were lifting the diplomatic sanctions imposed on Austria but at the same time
pointed to the need to keep an especially close watch on J(cid:246)rg Haider(cid:146)s Freedom Party, does the
Commission not believe that the Union institutions should roundly and unambiguously condemn the
continuing blatant attacks on freedom of the Press, and hence democracy, being mounted in Austria?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2000)

The Commission always attaches great importance to democratic principles,
including freedom of the
press, especially in the Member States. Nevertheless, any measures that may be called for by the incidents
deplored by the Honourable Member must be taken by the Austrian authorities. In the present state of
Community law, such measures do not come within the Commission(cid:146)s jurisdiction. Moreover,
the
conditions for the application of the Union Treaty provisions concerning the violation of fundamental
rights have not been met in this case.