WRITTEN QUESTION P-0071/01 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. TV rights relating to football.
Date: 2001-01-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: cable distribution, competition law, sport

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/251

As for the possibility of speedy rescue for the occupants of a vehicle after an accident, the following may
be assumed:

(cid:129) either the accident occurs with a degree of severity covered by the two directives on (cid:145)side impact(cid:146) and
(cid:145)front impact(cid:146) (cid:129) Directive 96/27/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 1996
on the protection of occupants of motor vehicles in the event of a side impact and amending Directive
70/156/EEC (1), and Directive 96/79/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 Decem-
ber 1996 on the protection of occupants of motor vehicles in the event of a frontal impact and
amending Directive 70/156/EEC (2) (cid:129) and in this case the requirement is for the occupants to be
extricated without the aid of tools (by opening the doors, freeing the lower limbs from the pedals,
unbuckling the seat belt, while the airbag offers no obstacle to extrication, regardless of whether or
not it opens during the accident);

(cid:129) or the accident is very severe and the wrecked state of the vehicle requires the use of special tools
such as hydraulic cutters or electric saws to cut the bodywork, as well as cutters or knives to cut the
safety belts, if need be.

According to the information available to the Commission, there are no examples of technical innovation
that would prevent the use of such tools and procedures.

(1) OJ L 169, 8.7.1996.
(2) OJ L 18, 21.1.1997.

(2001/C 174 E/269)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0071/01

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(18 January 2001)

Subject: TV rights relating to football

With regard to the sale of TV rights, relating to football, can the Commission confirm that it intends to
commence an investigation into the lawfulness, under competition law, of the block sale of TV rights by
UEFA and other football authorities?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2001)

The Commission can confirm that it has a number of open cases which concern the joint selling of
television rights to football matches. The Commission has not yet reached any firm conclusions as to the
likely outcome of these cases but it will be guided, inter alia, by the practices of the Member States in this
regard and by the specific characteristics of sport.

(2001/C 174 E/270)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0075/01

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(22 January 2001)

Subject: Linguistic reform in Navarre

In its reply to my Written Question E-1179/00 (1), the Commission states that, (cid:145)respect for cultural and
linguistic diversity is one of the foundation stones of the Union(cid:146). As I explained in that question, Navarre is
divided into language zones. By means of regional decree No 372/2000 of 11 December, the Government
of Navarre altered the conditions for use of the Basque language by the local authorities, and shortly
afterwards, on 9 January, it approved an action plan, stating, in essence, that this native language will not