WRITTEN QUESTION E-3669/00 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Promotion of unfair competition in the Valencian press by the Valencian Generalitat.
Date: 2000-11-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Valencia, State aid, free competition, press, restriction on competition

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.