WRITTEN QUESTION E-1440/01 by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Magazine prices in Member States.
Date: 2001-05-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Ireland, consumer price, consumer protection, fixing of prices, press

C 350 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2001)

Budget chapter B3-30, which includes line B3-301 (Information Outlets), is intended to fund information
and communication measures.

Under this policy, the Commission has set up a telephone service called Europe Direct, which provides
useful information. Naturally, it is also aimed at members of the farming community who can use it to
obtain information of general interest.

The Commission also funds the Rural Information and Promotion Carrefours, which currently have 130
members. The Carrefours are relays funded by the Commission, with which they have signed an
agreement, and are run by host organisations active in the rural community, such as Chambers of
Agriculture, development agencies and local government bodies. They can be found in all the regions of
Europe, are open to everyone and receive regular documentary information and training from the
Commission so as to be in a position to inform farmers on matters of interest.

The Commission believes that information activities are sufficiently covered by these two structures.

Between 1996 and 1999, under budget line B2-5122 (Enhancing Public Awareness of the Common
Agricultural Policy), the Commission funded the activities of the Enfsos network, which provides social
assistance. Ever since the budget for the year 2000, information activities concerning the CAP have been
financed under budget line B1-382 under Council Regulation (EC) No 814/2000 of 17 April 2000 on
information measures relating to the common agricultural policy (1). Social activities are not included
within this framework. This aspect of social assistance, which is not covered by the abovementioned
structures, may not be funded under line B3-301, as it falls neither under information nor communication.

The Members of the Commission responsible for agriculture and the budget have already explained this
situation in their letters to Mr Mulder dated 27 July 2000 and 19 October 2000. These letters suggested
looking into funding this type of activity under rural development programmes run by the regional and
local authorities or within the framework of the Leader Community initiative.

The Member of the Commission responsible for the budget also drew Parliament(cid:146)s attention to this point
in her letter of 1 December 2000 to Mr Wynn, the Chairman of the Committee on Budgets, concerning
the implementing problems regarding the 2001 budget procedure.

(1) OJ L 100, 20.4.2000.

(2001/C 350 E/168)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1440/01

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 May 2001)

Subject: Magazine prices in Member States

Given the present situation where costs incurred for magazines published in Britain and sold in Ireland are
all quoted in sterling, can the Commission inform me if it is legitimate for magazine costs to differ quite
radically, apart from postage costs, when magazines are sold and distributed in another Member State?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2001)

Concerning variations of prices for magazines between Member States, a number of reasons may justify
such price differences. Substantial cost differences may occur for example due to different distribution
schemes, shipping costs, tax regimes, etc.

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/157

Accordingly, different prices cannot a priori be regarded as unjustified and cases must be looked at
according to the specific circumstances prevailing.

Pricing practices for magazines have been dealt with in the past in some instances under EC competition
law procedures. In one case the Court of Justice concluded that in the context of a selective distribution
system for newspapers and periodicals which affects trade between Member States, a requirement that
fixed prices must be respected renders that system incompatible with Article 81(1). However,
the
Commission may, in considering an application for exemption under Article 81(3), examine whether, in
a particular case, such an element of a distribution system may be justified (1).

The Commission will keep these elements in mind when considering cases in this area which may be
brought to its attention.

(1)

Judgment of the Court of Justice of 3 July 1985, SA Binon & Cie v. SA Agence et messageries de la presse, Case
243/83, ECR 1985 p. 2015.

(2001/C 350 E/169)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1441/01

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 May 2001)

Subject: Recognition of diplomas

What progress if any has been made to improve the recognition of teaching diplomas within the EU and
in particular the mutual recognition of diplomas for music teachers within the Union?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(20 July 2001)

The recognition of teaching diplomas is governed by Council Directive 89/48/ECC of 21 December 1988
on a general system for the recognition of higher-education diplomas awarded on completion of
professional education and training of at least three years(cid:146) duration (1) and Council Directive 92/51/EEC of
18 June 1992 on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training to
supplement Directive 89/48/EEC (2). The General System applies across a wide range of professions
requiring various levels of qualifications, including teachers. The General System provides that nationals
from one Member State have the right to exercise in another Member State a profession for which they are
fully qualified in their Member State of origin. The recognition under the Directives is not automatic, as
the host Member State may impose on the migrant a compensation measure (an adaptation period or
a test) when there are substantial differences between the migrant(cid:146)s education and training and the
education and training required in the host Member State. Under the Directives, Member States must
communicate to the Commission every two years a report on the application of the Directives. From these
reports, it emerges that teachers represent one of the largest professional groups to have benefited from
the Directives. In the years 1991-1994, over 5 000 teachers obtained recognition under the General
System. For further details, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its reports to the
Parliament and the Council on the state of application of the General System Directives (3). The statistic
reports for the years 1997-1998 show 2 431 decisions of recognition of teaching diplomas. Out of these,
2 158 were granted without compensation measures. The most recent statistic reports (for 10 Member
States +3 European Economic Area (EEA) countries) indicate that in the years 1999-2000, 2 031 teachers
were granted recognition under the General System, in 1 850 cases with no compensation measures. The
Commission does not have specific data on music teachers, as the professional group of teachers is not
broken down into sub-divisions. At all events, the Commission is not aware of any general problem having
arisen with respect to this category of teachers.