WRITTEN QUESTION E-1591/01 by Frank Vanhecke (TDI) to the Commission. Pluralism in the media.
Date: 2001-06-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, freedom of the press, pluralism in the media, politics

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/57

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2001)

In the framework of the pre-accession strategy, the Hungarian Government is currently preparing for
membership to the Union. In this context it is aligning its legislation in the various policy fields, such as
environment. These efforts are closely monitored by the Commission through the various available
instruments (institutions of the Europe Agreement, accession negotiations) and Hungary is consequently
invited to accelerate efforts where needed. During the last Association Committee hold in Hungary, the
Government was invited to consider the integration of environmental protection requirements in all policy
areas, in order to better contribute to an overall sustainable development of the country.

As to the particular problem addressed by the Honourable Member, there exists no specific legislation at
the level of the Union regulating the conservation of green areas in urban areas.

The decisions about
authorities.

the organisation of urban sites is therefore up to the responsible Hungarian

(2002/C 40 E/055)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1591/01

by Frank Vanhecke (TDI) to the Commission

(1 June 2001)

Subject: Pluralism in the media

The recent hunger strike entered on by Mrs Emma Bonino in Italy in protest against the unequal treatment
in the media afforded to her political party during the campaign preceding the general elections in that
country of 13 May 2001 showed that, in various EU Member Sates, the media big guns pursue a policy
which benefits just the major established political parties. That, too, is the case in Belgium, where every set
of statistics shows that a political party like the Vlaams Blok, which represents more than 15 % of the
Flemish electorate, is ignored by the public media which are, nevertheless, financed from electors(cid:146) taxes.

Accordingly, we are clearly faced by a Europe-wide problem. After all, a free, pluralistic and objective
press, which takes account of all political movements in society, is the principle which must underpin
every democratic nation.

Is the Commission aware of these problems in various EU Member States?

Does not the Commission feel that political parties which are represented not only in the national
parliament but also in the European Parliament should be entitled to equal media treatment in the public
broadcasting systems in their respective countries in proportion to their numerical strength?

Does not the Commission feel that it bears responsibility for ensuring compliance with the principle of
free, pluralistic and objective media, above all where a public broadcasting system is concerned?

What is the Commission(cid:146)s opinion of a Member State where politicians must go on hunger strike in order
to claim a minimum of media interest?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2001)

The Commission has no authority over matters relating to the editorial line of the press in the Member
States. The Commission considers that the press in Europe has very considerable freedom, for which there
are few comparisons in the rest of the world. Within the limits of the responsibilities of the Union, the
Commission seeks to promote political and cultural pluralism in the media so that this very high level of
freedom is preserved. Naturally, the Commission cannot intervene or even comment with regard to the
editorial line taken by the media in a particular Member State. That is a matter for readers and viewers to
judge. In any event, it falls to the Member States to ensure that principles such as pluralism in the media
and freedom of expression are observed.