WRITTEN QUESTION E-1337/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Dubbing of film soundtracks.
Date: 2001-05-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, film production, interpreting, linguistics, translation

C 340 E/220

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

this amount between the different measures is the responsibility of

the Greek
The distribution of
authorities and will be set out in the programming complement to be prepared by the managing authority
and approved by the OP monitoring committee. However,
this OP already proposes the following
indicative resources allocation between measures for the public expenditure:

Measure

Description

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.4

5.5

5.6

5.7

Repair of education and training infrastructures

Repair of health and welfare infrastructure

Repair of archaeology sites and monuments

Repair of other basic infrastructures

Repair of basic infrastructures of municipalities

Repair of productive infrastructures

Repair and development of urban infrastructures

(%)

Public expenditure
Axe 5

28

15,2

2,7

20,3

20,5

4,5

8,7

The Greek authorities are also responsible for selecting individual projects within the scope of measure 5.5.
Measure 5.7 provides also for action to clean up damaged urban sites, and prepare them for the building
of new seismic-safe houses. The building of private houses is not itself an eligible expenditure for structural
funds, on the basis of regulations in force.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) can also assist the Greek authorities with long term loans up to
€ 1 billion for the repair of damage caused by the earthquake of 1999 in Attika. A loan of € 300 million
has already been approved by the EIB in December 1999, which can be also used for co-financing
rebuilding or repair of private houses damaged by the earthquake.

(2001/C 340 E/254)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1337/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 May 2001)

Subject: Dubbing of film soundtracks

Given that language is the principal means of communication and expression, cultural works such as films,
can only be appreciated fully if they are shown in the original language whereas if the soundtrack is
dubbed into another language and spoken by other actors, this may seriously detract from the identity and
recognisable characteristics of the actors actually appearing on the screen. This effectively creates an artistic
split and deceives the viewer, who sees one actor, and hears another. It would be possible to make a long
list of actors whose artistic careers have suffered as a result of their scripts being dubbed into other
languages using the voices of other actors.

Hence, the dubbing of film soundtracks in languages other than the authentic original undeniably detracts
greatly from the quality of the films concerned particularly film classics, where scripts are mutilated, the
quality of the original acting notably diminished and nuances of expression lost.

What view does the Commission take of unrestricted dubbing of films and can it say whether any
legislation exists establishing rules and restrictions regarding dubbing?

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/221

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(21 June 2001)

The Honourable Member has raised an important issue concerning the cultural integrity of cinema works,
when dubbed into other languages. There is not any Community legislation establishing rules and
restrictions regarding dubbing of films.

Whilst the Commission has not taken a position on this specific issue, it should be noted that it has,
through the programme MEDIA (now replaced and updated by MEDIA PLUS) encouraged the circulation
of non-national films throughout the Community. In addition, the issue of cultural diversity figures high
on the Commission(cid:146)s cultural agenda.

(2001/C 340 E/255)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1347/01

by Diana Wallis (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 April 2001)

Subject: Rome Convention

Will the Commission please give a definite timetable for the presentation of its porposal, and also define
the nature of that proposal (i.e. Green Paper or Draft Regulation), on the Rome Convention (II) on non-
contractual obligations and outline its clear intentions with regard to consultation on what is widely
known to be a contentious and long-awaited proposal?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(11 June 2001)

The Honourable Member raises the question of the amendment to the Rome Convention (II), concerning
the possibility for laying down, at Community level, uniform rules of private international law relating to
the applicable law to non-contractual obligations.

The issue of the applicable law to non-contractual obligations is a complex subject which is being carefully
examined within the Commission.

The Commission has in mind in particular the problems associated with the special characteristics of
electronic commerce, as raised by all the interested parties who have been expressing their views since the
public hearings organised by the Commission on (cid:145)electronic commerce: jurisdiction and applicable law(cid:146) in
November 1999.

Being fully aware of most of the questions at stake and of the solutions which should be brought to them,
the Commission is taking the view that the appropriate way forward at this point is to proceed to present
directly a proposal for a Regulation.

The proposal should indeed not affect the existing Community acquis.

The Commission will seek the views of the interested parties on the text to be drafted before its adoption
as a formal proposal in the second semester 2001.

(2001/C 340 E/256)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1362/01

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Council

(27 April 2001)

Subject: Human rights situation in Nigeria

Some states in northern Nigeria have adopted Islamic religious law (the Sharia). This has led to serious
unrest and violence in which thousands of civilians died last year. There is a real possibility of civil war