WRITTEN QUESTION E-4089/00 by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission. Information campaign on the euro in Spain.
Date: 2001-01-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU programme, European integration, Spain, euro, public awareness campaign

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/63

This declaration contains the following points:

(cid:129) the Union wishes the elected President success in the hope that he will contribute to the preservation

of national unity and the restoration of the State,

(cid:129) it is ready to enter into dialogue with the new authorities and to support their efforts of reconstruc-
tion whilst continuing to support rehabilitation activities in all areas of Somalia where stable
conditions exist,

(cid:129) it calls on the authorities of Somaliland and Puntland as well as on the transitional government to
establish a constructive dialogue aiming at national unity in peace and with respect for existing
stability,

(cid:129) it invites all faction leaders to associate themselves with the peace process,

(cid:129) the Commission continues its support

In December 2000 it approved the Third
Rehabilitation Programme with an amount of € 24,8 million, which focuses on local communities
and civil society.

to Somalia.

Commission representatives have already established contacts with President Abdiqasim and the new
government. During a mission to the Horn of Africa the Member of the Commission in charge of
Development aid met President Abdiquasim in Djibuti the 7 October 2000. The ACP Group has reacted
favorably to the Commission(cid:146)s proposal to allocate € 50 million to Somalia which had not been possible
to access 8th EDF funds. A request for some technical support to the transitional government is currently
being examined by the Commission. The Commission is prepared to examine any reasonable request for
support contributing to the restoration of the state and national unity by peaceful means.

(2001/C 235 E/068)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4089/00

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Information campaign on the euro in Spain

(10 January 2001)

Spain(cid:146)s Ministry of Economic Affairs has promoted an information campaign on the euro which comprises
a number of placards illustrating the most significant achievements of Spain(cid:146)s membership of the European
Union and of economic and monetary union. The fact that the contents of the exhibition, which has been
the Spanish
designed as a contribution to the greater glory of Mr Aznar (the current
Government), are so propagandist in nature is scandalous. To quote a single example: Spain(cid:146)s joining the
European Union is illustrated solely by a distant photo of the 1985 government in which only the figures
of the Spanish King and the then premier, Felipe GonzÆlez, can be made out. On the other hand,
Mr Aznar(cid:146)s picture appears on a number of occasions, including in photos exceeding 1m2 in size.

leader of

Has this type of exhibition been financed out of Community funds? Does the Commission consider that an
information campaign concerning the euro should contain propaganda relating to Mr Aznar?

Should an information campaign on the euro focus on the practical aspects of the single currency, or
should it become a means of glorifying Mr Aznar?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2001)

Two themes running through the information campaigns carried out under the Prince priority programme
generated exhibitions:

(cid:129) (cid:145)Building Europe together(cid:146),

(cid:129) (cid:145)The euro, a currency for Europe(cid:146).

C 235 E/64

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.8.2001

The first exhibition on European integration and the history of money up to the euro was organised in
1997. The second, in Valladolid, was designed generally to provide information on the institutions.

Six sections presented the following themes:

(cid:129) practical aspects of the euro,

(cid:129) presentation of

the new currency and its political and economic advantages in the European

integration process,

(cid:129) history of European integration, the Treaty of Rome up to economic and monetary union (EMU),

(cid:129) information on the Member States of the European Union,

(cid:129) integration of Spain into the Union and EMU,

(cid:129) euro coins and notes.

By way of illustration (historical background, developments in the Member States, Treaties, etc.), the Prime
Ministers of democratic Spain who played a part in European integration (Adolfo Suarez, Leopoldo Calvo
Sotelo, Felipe Gonzalez and JosØ Maria Aznar) were presented.

Some features of the exhibitions were valid for all the Member States, but it was for the Member State
presenting the exhibition to ensure that they were adapted to the special nature of the host Member State
in the interests of subsidiarity and decentralisation.

The amount which was invested in these exhibitions totalled € 1 011 595, of which 4 %, i.e. € 40 500,
constituted aid from the Community budget.

(2001/C 235 E/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4091/00

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Promotion of research and technology in the EU

(10 January 2001)

What many EU companies desire most is to progress in the fields of research and technology, although
most of them would acknowledge that day-to-day business and the urgent need to satisfy immediate
requirements cause them to delay projects in such areas.

Furthermore, ignorance regarding how to develop a project, what projects could be tackled with EU aid,
where to obtain relevant information and what other logistical facilities are available discourages them
from undertaking more extensive research within their own company and further technological develop-
ment intended to improve their production.

What instruments has the Commission devised in order to provide Community businesses with the basic
information which they need in order to tackle new research projects, and what guides could be of
assistance, particularly in the application of new business technologies?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(6 March 2001)

There are a number of
information services developed by the Commission within its framework
programme for research and technological development (RTD) and designed to provide help with tackling
new research projects. Apart from the dedicated web site, Cordis (www.cordis.lu), and the monthly
publication (cid:145)RTD Info(cid:146), which together provide copious information on the Community(cid:146)s RTD pro-
grammes and on applying for funding, the Commission has set up, with the help of the Member States
and associated States, a network of National Contact Points (NCPs) for each of the Community RTD
programmes. The NCPs are intended to be the first (cid:145)port of call(cid:146) for any researcher interested in the