WRITTEN QUESTION E-0075/01 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Linguistic reform in Navarre.
Date: 2001-01-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Navarre, competence of the Member States, linguistic discrimination, regional language

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

C 174 E/252

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

be used by the local authorities in the mixed and non-Basque-speaking zones (almost 90 % of the
population). In these areas, Basque will no longer form part of the administration(cid:146)s corporate image and
institutional identity (publications, notices, advertisements, road signs, etc.). As regards dealings with the
public, the fact that the existing service is to be replaced by a scaled-down translation service will, in
practice, make it virtually impossible for people(cid:146)s concerns to be dealt with in Basque.

What are the Commission(cid:146)s views on a situation whereby a government prevents its own administration
from using a native language? Many of the applicant states have been required to draw up language laws
respecting the rights of citizens. Does the Commission agree that such a situation is a very bad example to
those states?

(1) OJ C 53 E, 20.2.2001, p. 92.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2001)

As noted by the Honourable Member, respect for cultural and linguistic diversity in the Member States is a
fundamental principle of European integration. The language arrangements applicable in the Member
States fall within the competence of the Member States themselves or the relevant public authorities at
national level.

This principle also applies to the applicant countries, as they must meet a number of accession criteria
(known as the Copenhagen criteria, after the city which hosted the European Council of June 1993 at
which they were drawn up). The Commission submits regular reports on the progress made by the
applicant countries towards meeting these criteria.

(2001/C 174 E/271)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0104/01

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Why is Commission President Romano Prodi

agreement, when Morocco is refusing to sign a mutually beneficial
reasonable terms?

travelling to Morocco to sign a cooperation
fisheries agreement on

At the very time the European Union is experiencing difficulties in getting the Kingdom of Morocco to
take the negotiation of a new fisheries agreement seriously, with practically no prospect of a last-minute
breakthrough, the Commission President is travelling to Morocco next weekend to negotiate a cooperation
agreement.

The media, quoting Community sources, assure us that Mr Prodi, despite the difficulties surrounding the
fisheries negotiations, is determined to sign the cooperation agreement, from which he merely intends to
remove the proposals concerning cooperation on fisheries.

This is not the attitude which the European Community took in 1995; the general association agreement
between the EU and Morocco was signed on 15 November of that year only after Morocco agreed to sign
the 1995-1999 fisheries agreement. This followed close on the heels of the opening of the Barcelona Euro-
Mediterranean conference, inspired by the principle of cooperation between the northern and southern
shores of the Mediterranean.

If Romano Prodi signs the cooperation agreement with Morocco, the mistaken and negative policy of
separating fishery negotiations from all the other sectors which come under economic, social and cultural
cooperation, a policy whose implementation over the last year was responsible for the failure of attempts
to renew the fisheries agreement which expired in 1999.

Why is the President of the Commission once again separating the conclusion of fishery agreements from
the other cooperation agreements which the European Union has with Morocco?