WRITTEN QUESTION E-3353/00 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Aid to the film industry.
Date: 2000-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, film industry

C 151 E/146

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

Estimates taken from a study of the mechanical recycling of PVC carried out for the Commission (1) suggest
that PVC waste generated in farming amounted to around 30 000 tonnes in 1999, i.e. about 1 % of all PVC
waste produced. At present, very little of this waste is being recycled. The Commission has no specific
information on the amount of PVC waste being re-used.

In the light of the Green Paper(cid:146)s analysis, and given the present low rate of recycling, the Commission
considers that more PVC needs to be recycled. This being so, the recycling of PVC sheeting used in
agriculture could be increased with due regard for the technical, socio-economic and environmental
aspects.

The Green Paper sets out a number of options for attaining the set objective of increased recycling of PVC.
Early in 2001, after the closure of the consultation period at the end of November 2000, the Commission
will present a communication setting out a Community strategy on the environmental problems of PVC,
which will tackle the question of recycling PVC waste.

(1) Prognos, Mechanical recycling of PVC waste, January 2000, http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/pvc/index.htm.

(2001/C 151 E/164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3353/00

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 October 2000)

Subject: Aid to the film industry

In the era of binary coding, the developments in technology and in the services offered by digitalisation are
such as to require not only a review of the legislation such as that regulating the audiovisual sector in
Directive 89/552/EEC (1) (which will come under review again before the end of 2002), but also the
drawing-up of a new directive on film making. Pending an exhaustive Commission study into the latter(cid:146)s
utility and potential, what means is the Commission using at the present time to boost and better
coordinate existing assistance for the film industry on the European internal market?

(1) OJ L 298, 17.10.1989, p. 23.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(30 November 2000)

The Commission recognises the importance of European cinema, and the need to strengthen the
competitiveness of the European audiovisual industry. This objective lead to the adoption of the MEDIA
and the MEDIA II Programme, which entered into force in January 1996 and provides for a series of
support measures dealing with the training of professionals; the development of production projects and
companies; the distribution of cinematographic works and audiovisual programme.

In December 1999, the Commission adopted its proposal for a programme in support of the audiovisual
industry called MEDIA PLUS (2001-2005) (1), to be introduced in 2001 as a follow-up to the MEDIA II
programme which ends on 31 December 2000.

In parallel with this initiative, the Commission announced that it intended to adopt a communication on
cinema, in which it would look at various aspects of the subject, including the definition of a European
work, and other issues, which can improve the circulation of movies. The Commission will launch a public
consultation once the communication has been adopted, and welcomes all written comments and
suggestions. One or more hearings will also be held to allow all interested parties to make their views
known.

In respect of national support systems, the Commission(cid:146)s role is to verify that these schemes are in line
with Community law.

(1) COM(2000) 658 final.