WRITTEN QUESTION E-3435/00 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) and Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Protection of Italian journalists in the Middle East ‐ freedom of the press.
Date: 2000-11-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, Middle East, anti-discriminatory measure, antisemitism, freedom of communication, press

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/117

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3431/00, E-3464/00, E-3475/00 and P-3583/00
given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(13 December 2000)

The Honourable Member should refer to the answer that the Commission gave to Oral Question H-0857/
00 from Mr Ebner at question time during the November I 2000 part-session of Parliament (1).

The Honourable Member should also refer to the comments made by the Commission during the debate
on climate change at the October II part-session on 25 October 2000 (2) and the debate on floods in
Europe at the November part-session on 16 November 2000 (3).

(1) Debates of the European Parliament (November 2000).
(2) Debates of the European Parliament (October II 2000).
(3) Debates of the European Parliament (November 2000).

(2001/C 163 E/129)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3435/00

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE) and Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 November 2000)

Subject: Protection of Italian journalists in the Middle East (cid:129) freedom of the press

Following the interview given by the Italian Prime Minister, Massimo D(cid:146)Alema, in which he criticised the
Jewish Community in Israel, further statements by the RAI correspondent in Jerusalem against the activities
of the free press in the Middle East are a source of deep concern. The letter sent by the RAI journalist,
Riccardo Cristiano, to the Palestinian authorities(cid:146) semi-official daily Al-Hayat al-Jadida, reporting that the
pictures of the lynching of the two Israeli soldiers were not shown by Italian State television represents
a serious attack on the freedom of those sections of the press which are not anti-Israeli.

The statements by a leader of Italy(cid:146)s main governing party and the attitude shown by the Italian State
television correspondent simply contribute to fuelling anti-Semitic feeling in the European Union.

What action does the Commission intend to take to help guarantee journalists(cid:146) freedom of activity, to
protect their independence from political parties and to prevent the rise of hatred against Jews living in
Europe?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(4 December 2000)

The Commission deeply regrets the fact that violence has broken out again in the Middle East despite the
significant progress achieved in the talks, notably at Camp David. The role of the media in this conflict is
crucial and the independence of information is an overriding imperative.

The Commission has helped to prepare the Draft Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
which is to be submitted to the forthcoming Nice European Council for adoption.

Article 11 of the Charter stipulates that the freedom and the pluralism of the media shall be respected,
while Article 21 prohibits discrimination based on any ground, such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social
origin, genetic features,
language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of
a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation.