WRITTEN QUESTION E-1700/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Policy pursued by Euronews.
Date: 2001-06-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, European language, audiovisual programme, commercial media, cultural pluralism, freedom of communication, promotion of the European idea

C 350 E/212

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2001)

Reducing the guide price for unginned cotton where the guaranteed national quantities are exceeded has
been a key feature of the aid scheme for cotton for many marketing years.

The proposal to adjust the system of aid for cotton presented by the Commission on 13 December
1999 (1) has been published in the Official Journal (2). The substance of that proposal, and in particular the
provisions adjusting the reduction in the guide price, was therefore public knowledge several months
before the normal time of sowing referred to by the Honourable Member. Under the circumstances, the
Commission considers that the principle of the protection of legitimate expectations has been observed as
far as the operators are concerned.

The Commission draws the Honourable Member(cid:146)s attention to the fact that it is not in a position to defer
a date of entry into force decided by the Council.

(1) COM(1999) 492 final.
(2) OJ C 28, 1.2.2000.

(2001/C 350 E/236)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1700/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 June 2001)

Subject: Policy pursued by Euronews

Euronews is a television station which has been funded from the Community budget for several years.
Certain remarks made on some programmes, however, have caused resentment among the public (cid:129) who
after all finance the station through the budget (cid:129) as is the case with Greek citizens who hear the station
constantly using the term (cid:145)Macedonia(cid:146) whenever it refers to FYROM. In addition, Euronews completely
languages of the EU, such as Greek, Danish, Finnish, Swedish etc and
ignores most of the official
broadcasts no programmes in those languages. Neither are the station(cid:146)s viewing figures of any significance
given the number of years it has been in operation and the fact that it has consistently received EU
funding.

What is the total amount of EU funding received by Euronews (from the Community budget and other
Community sources) since 1995? Why does that station use incorrect terminology to describe states such
as FYROM, which both the UN and the EU have recognised with that very name and not as (cid:145)Macedonia(cid:146)?
What are the station(cid:146)s viewing figures for the last five years? Are those figures satisfactory for a TV station
which represents the Union(cid:146)s attempt to create a European information network to (cid:145)showcase(cid:146) the EU?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2001)

The Commission, at Parliament(cid:146)s instigation, concluded an agreement with EuroNews in the form of
a Memorandum of Understanding for the production and broadcasting of audiovisual modules. The
agreement was concluded for three years.

EuroNews is a semi-public pan-European news channel broadcasting in six languages. The European
Broadcasting Union (EBU) has a majority holding in the company controlling the channel (51 %); the rest
is owned by Independent Television News Limited (ITN).

EuroNews wishes to become financially profitable, and in general its projects are undertaken on that basis.
The languages covered by the channel (currently English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish)

11.12.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/213

are based on the potential audience targeted by the station and on costs. The audience depends on the
agreements concluded by EuroNews with terrestrial broadcasters (usually public stations such as FR3, TVE,
etc., which broadcast some of its programmes), on the distributors (cable or other) and on the satellite
receivers. The Commission is naturally in favour of the broadest possible coverage of Union languages, but
it cannot sustain the costs that would be involved.

The Commission financed the production and broadcasting of the audiovisual modules (spots, features,
etc.) under three annual agreements. The overall duration of the modules is over 70 hours. Each module
has been broadcast several times. Each module lasts between 2 minutes 15 seconds and 13 minutes. The
total cost is € 25 550 000. The Commission contributed € 9 700 000, the balance having been financed by
the station. In practice, the Commission financing accounts for only a small part of the station(cid:146)s turnover.
The modules concern European policies in general. News coverage is not included in this type of co-
operation. It should be noted that, each year, Parliament(cid:146)s comments on budget lines B3-300 and B3-306
encourage the Commission to pursue its financing in this area.

The Commission has also noted that EuroNews has recently started to use the term (cid:145)Macedonia(cid:146) instead of
the official name of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and has written to the station about
this. The station answered that (cid:145)the name(cid:146)Macedonia(cid:145)is used instead of FYROM for journalistic reasons and
EuroNews was late in adopting the practices of other media (newspapers or television stations)(cid:146). The
agreements emphasise the total editorial
the station and the Commission adheres
independence of
scrupulously to that principle. It does not intend to take any action to impose any editorial policy.

The channel is principally intended for public opinion multipliers, business circles and viewers with a high
level of education. It has a large and valuable audience. A recent study carried out jointly by Parliament
and the Commission showed that the audience reached is satisfactory in relation to the cost.

However, the Commission has decided, with Parliament(cid:146)s approval, to cease funding the station gradually
over a three-year period.

(2001/C 350 E/237)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1701/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 June 2001)

Subject: Protection of the Skyros pony

The Greek island of Skyros in the northern Aegean is home to a particular species of pony which is under
threat of extinction.

How can this rare breed of pony be protected and what methods of funding are available for its
conservation (as in the case of the carreta carreta turtle, for example)?

Have the Greek authorities proposed that this rare breed of pony should be included in the list of
protected species?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2001)

The Honourable Member can be reassured that the (cid:145)Skyros(cid:146) breed of ponies is included in the list of rare
breeds under the agri-environmental measures in Greece(cid:146)s rural-development programming document for
2000-2006. This means that assistance will be granted towards safeguarding the breed under this
programme.