WRITTEN QUESTION E-1325/01 by Arie Oostlander (PPE-DE) to the Commission. 15-month prison sentence handed down to Mr Sotiris Bletsas for distributing information material financed by the Commission.
Date: 2001-05-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Greece, freedom of opinion, imprisonment, infringement of EU law, minority language

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/217

(2001/C 340 E/250)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1319/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: System of licensing radio stations in the Attica basin

(3 May 2001)

After many years of ambiguity in the law governing radio stations in Greece, the Greek Government
adopted a licensing system. In the Attica basin, it issued licences for 20 radio stations which, in its view, is
the maximum number that can operate on the available radio frequencies.

However, it did not issue licences to many stations with high audience ratings, a high turnover and a large
number of staff. Following a number of protests, therefore, and a technical recommendation which met
certain requirements laid down by the government itself, it raised the number of licences provisionally to
28. Again, however, several stations of recognised quality with high audience figures were not included.
Meanwhile, reports by professors at the Athens Institute of Technology maintain that the number of
frequencies can be increased to 35 without difficulty.

The Greek Government uses the National Broadcasting Council as a vehicle for issuing opinions based on
various government technical recommendations, a situation which even led a pro-government member of
the NBC to resign in protest against interference by the minister responsible.

1.
In the light of Article 6(1) and (2) of the Treaty on European Union concerning fundamental human
rights, and Article 11 of the Charter of Human Rights concerning freedom of the media, does the
Commission consider that the Greek Government(cid:146)s actions are consistent with European law?

2. Will the Commission address a recommendation to the Greek Government?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(29 June 2001)

The Commission recently received a complaint regarding the system of licensing of radio stations in the
Attica basin. The Commission is in the course of examining this complaint and has asked the Greek
authorities to provide it with additional information. Since the case presents a rather complex situation, it
is too early to say yet whether the actions taken by the Greek government are consistent or not with
European law. The Commission attaches great importance to the creation of a single radio broadcasting
market within the Community and will pay due attention to this case.

(2001/C 340 E/251)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1325/01

by Arie Oostlander (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 May 2001)

Subject: 15-month prison sentence handed down to Mr Sotiris Bletsas for distributing information material

financed by the Commission

In a resolution of 3 February 2001 the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages (EBLUL) in Dublin
condemned the sentencing of Mr Sotiris Bletsas, a Greek national, by a court in Athens to 15 months(cid:146)
imprisonment. Mr Sotiris Bletsas was convicted of disseminating (cid:145)false information(cid:146) about a European
minority language in Greece. However, this allegedly false information consisted of a reference to the
existence of the Vlach language in information material produced by the European Bureau for Lesser Used
Languages concerning minority languages in Europe. This material
is financed by the Commission.
Moreover, the existence of Vlach is recognised in the Commission(cid:146)s Euromosaic report.

C 340 E/218

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

Is the Commission aware of the conviction of Mr Sotiris Bletsas?

If so, does the Athens court(cid:146)s decision violate the fundamental right to freedom of expression?

Is the Commission considering taking steps against Greece, a Member State?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(22 June 2001)

As indicated in its reply to Written Question E-0487/01 by Mr Wyn and Mr Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (1), the
Commission is following this matter closely and has asked the Greek Government to provide it with
further information and in particular a copy of the ruling.

The Commission is not in a position to comment until it has all the necessary information and is fully
aware of the facts.

(1) OJ C 261 E, 18.9.2001, p. 125.

(2001/C 340 E/252)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1327/01

by Gary Titley (PSE) to the Commission

(25 April 2001)

Subject: Animal research at the Biomedical Primate Research Centre

One of my constituents has raised the issue of the Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC) in the
Netherlands, which is the only research laboratory in the European Union which still uses chimpanzees in
animal research. There is increasing concern about the grossly inadequate conditions for keeping primates.
I understand that BPRC is willing to improve housing conditions but claim that lack of money has
prevented major improvements from being introduced. Its income comes from the European Commission,
industry and the Dutch Government.

Would the Commission clarify its position on financing research projects involving primates in
establishments such as the BPRC where the housing conditions are so poor?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 2001)

The Honourable Member will be aware that all research in Europe involving the use of animals is subject
to the Council Directive 86/609/EEC of 24 November 1986 on the protection of animals used for
experimental and other scientific purposes (1) The Member States have responsibility to enforce this.

The Commission has under the various Community research programmes paid particular attention to
animal welfare issues. The commitment of the Community institutions to fulfil their obligations regarding
animal welfare requirements is clearly stipulated in Decision No 182/1999/EC of the Parliament and of the
Council of 22 December 1998 concerning the Fifth framework programme for research, technological
development and demonstration activities (1998-2002) (2).

The funding of research involving animals is restricted under this programme with regard to animal
experiments and tests on animals, which should, when ever possible, be replaced with in vitro or other
alternative methods. An obligation is placed on all applicants of proposals to describe the procedures
adopted to respect the principles of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) and to protect the
welfare of animals.