WRITTEN QUESTION P-3673/00 by Antonio Di Pietro (ELDR) to the Commission. Anti-paedophilia projects ‐ Daphne Programme 2000-2003.
Date: 2000-11-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Italy, child protection, children's rights, crime against humanity, paedophilia

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/189

(2001/C 163 E/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3669/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez (PSE) to the Commission

(27 November 2000)

Subject: Promotion of unfair competition in the Valencian press by the Valencian Generalitat

Between January 1998 and August 2000 the Valencian Generalitat(cid:146)s Department of Culture, Education and
Science granted subsidies amounting to 293 573 098 pesetas to virtually every newspaper in the
Autonomous Community of Valencia with a view to their supplying educational establishments with free
copies. The aim of this lay in introducing schoolchildren to the practice of reading and consulting the
press, so as to highlight the value of freedom of expression. These subsidies have served to boost these
newspapers(cid:146) circulation figures, on the basis of which advertising agencies choose the publications in
which they publicise their clients. However, the Levante-EMV and Informaci(cid:243)n newspapers, both part of
the Editorial Prensa IbØrica, S.A. group, have not received subsidies, despite boasting the highest sales and
largest readership in the Autonomous Community of Valencia. The Government of
the Valencian
Generalitat, headed by Eduardo Zaplana,
is thus funding an increase in the circulation of newspapers
selected directly by the department concerned from the public purse. There has been no public call for
tenders and the policy pursued is lacking in transparency, as evidenced by the fact that the opposition has
been denied access to the files and information regarding the award of subsidies to the selected
undertakings. Furthermore, in limiting the choice for schools to just one set of newspapers, the pluralistic
principles which should govern any educational measure are being flouted.

In reply to complaint 980893 on a similar issue last year, the S(cid:237)ndic de Greuges (Ombudsman) (cid:129)
the Valencian Parliament(cid:146)s high commissioner for the defence of citizens from potential abuses by the
authorities (cid:129) urged the Generalitat to avoid unwarranted discrimination vis-(cid:224)-vis the media.

In view of the aforementioned situation, does the Commission not agree that the Valencian Government(cid:146)s
approach undermines the principle of free competition amongst undertakings laid down in Community
law and Title VI of the EC Treaty?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(25 January 2001)

The Commission must in principle verify all State aid granted by the authorities of a Member State when it
distorts or threatens to distort competition and trade within the Community.

The circulation of the newspapers to which the Honourable Member refers is basically local or regional. In
these circumstances, the assistance granted by the Valencian authorities is not liable to produce any cross-
border effects on trade. Consequently, this aid falls outside the scope of the Community control provided
for in Articles 87 and 88 (ex-Articles 92 and 93) of the EC Treaty.

(2001/C 163 E/220)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3673/00

by Antonio Di Pietro (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 November 2000)

Subject: Anti-paedophilia projects (cid:129) Daphne Programme 2000-2003

Everyone agrees that crimes against children should be considered, to all intents and purposes, crimes
against humanity.

Two European conventions are relevant in this regard (cid:129) the 1950 Convention on Human Rights and the
Convention on Children(cid:146)s Rights, which entered into force on 1 July 2000, but which Italy has as yet failed
to ratify.

Meanwhile, despite an ever-increasing number of protocols, initiatives and proposals, as yet few measures
have had a real impact on the situation.

The European Union has also taken action by adopting the Daphne Programme, whose priorities for
2002-2003 include child protection.

C 163 E/190

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

Many European associations and voluntary organisations have likewise taken a considerable and firm
interest in the matter: this year the Commission(cid:146)s technical committee has selected a grand total of 415
projects.

Given that Italy as yet has no national centre to monitor the social evil of paedophilia and promote
practical initiatives with a view to training staff to support children who are victims of violence, together
with their families, can the Commission say how many and which of the 415 projects selected were
submitted by Italian partners and have been given final approval?

During the final selection, what criteria were used to choose those projects?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(5 January 2001)

For the year 2000, the Commission received 415 proposals under the Daphne programme. Amongst
those, 308 were eligible. After evaluation, 47 projects were selected for funding, for a total amount of
€ 4 590 045.

The evaluation was based on the assessment of
the following elements: relevance to the Daphne
programme(cid:146)s objectives; clarity and pertinence of the project(cid:146)s objectives; usefulness of the expected
results; appropriateness and feasibility of approach, methodology and timeframe; Suitability and experience
of partners; European added value; dissemination of results, lessons learnt, acquired know-how; planning
of follow-up and sustainability; value for money.

In addition to the individual merit of the proposal, the final selection should take into account an
appropriate equilibrium between the target groups (children, young people and women), the duration of
the projects (1, 2 or 3 years) and the geographical spread of the projects to reach an optimal European
added value.

Amongst the 415 proposals received, 111 (26,7 %) were promoted by an Italian organisation; 94 out of
these 111 were eligible. The final selection of 47 projects includes 5 projects lead by an Italian
organisation. Furthermore, amongst the 361 organisations involved in all the selected projects, 47 (13 %)
are Italians.

(2001/C 163 E/221)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3674/00

by Herman Schmid (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Public access to the work of the Article 133 Committee

(22 November 2000)

One of the proposals for the Nice Summit is to amend Article 133 of the Treaty of Amsterdam (EU) so
that, in the negotiations on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements on intellectual property
(TRIPS) and services (GATS), the Council would be able to act by majority decision. It is also being
proposed that the Commission alone should be allowed to conduct all negotiations in the WTO. The
governments of the Member States would be allowed to follow the negotiations on the spot and convey
their views to the Commission during the negotiations. If any of the three alternatives is adopted, all WTO
negotiations, and not only those on the trade in goods, would fall within the Commission(cid:146)s sphere.

The great threat is the absence of public or political debate on the matter, for which the democratic deficit
in the EU is largely to blame. A group of officials, the (cid:145)Article 133 Committee(cid:146) is preparing and dealing
with trade matters on behalf of the Commission. It is practically impossible to keep track of its work as it
operates behind closed doors. For example, it would be interesting to know how much of the Commis-
sion(cid:146)s negotiating brief for the Seattle meeting was unknown to the Member State parliaments and the
general public before the WTO meeting.

How does the Commission intend to make public the documents of the Article 133 Committee and other
preparatory official working parties in the EU? What public access is there to the work of the Article 133
Committee today?