WRITTEN QUESTION E-2187/01 by Bernard Poignant (PSE) to the Commission. Censorship at libraries.
Date: 2001-07-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, censorship, competence of the Member States, extreme right, human rights, library, local government

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/35

In addition to animal welfare provisions, Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the Parliament and of the Council
of 27 January 1997, concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients (3) provides for the protection of
consumer health. Novel foods and novel food ingredients may not be placed on the market unless they are
authorised. Pursuant to Article 1.2 (f) foods and food ingredients to which a new production process will
be applied, are subject to a full safety assessment,
if their nutritional value, metabolism or the level
undesirable substances is affected.

(1) OJ L 358, 18.12.1986.
(2) OJ L 221, 8.8.1998.
(3) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997.

(2002/C 115 E/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2159/01

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Measures to prevent abuses during introduction of the euro

(19 July 2001)

In the run-up to the introduction of the euro, the main fear among European consumers is that it will lead
to higher prices.

The major concern is that the changeover to the euro will lead traders to increase their prices when
rounding up decimal figures and the fear of being cheated continues to spread.

Does the Commission agree that, in order to calm such fears among consumers during the next stage of
the European currency, it should advocate codes of conduct on this question, including coercive measures,
so that consumers can use the new currency without anxiety and without worrying about possible offences
that some traders might attempt to commit?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(8 October 2001)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member’s views. It was for this reason that it promoted the
signing on 2 April 2001 at euro-zone level of a voluntary pledge by traders’ representatives not to take
advantage of the changeover to the euro to bring in price rises by the back door and to do everything
possible to ensure that their prices remain stable overall when they are converted into euros. The
‘New currency, stable prices’. Transposal measures or similar
agreement
agreements have since been adopted in Spain, France and Italy. The euro-zone-wide agreement can also be
implemented without the need for national transposal measures. More generally, the Commission is closely
monitoring the issue of price stability and contributing to the discussions of the Eurogroup on the subject.

includes a shared slogan:

Coercive measures can only be used to penalise the violation of the conversion rules applicable throughout
the euro-zone in cases of dual pricing. Traders are and will remain free to determine their own prices. It
will be up to consumer associations to denounce any excessive discrepancies which may occur so that they
can be penalised by the market.

(2002/C 115 E/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2187/01

by Bernard Poignant (PSE) to the Commission

(23 July 2001)

Subject: Censorship at libraries

Books are the crucible of our history. They serve to prevent people forgetting the past, to develop cultural
diversity and to foster open-mindedness, all of which are good reasons for ensuring that everybody has
access to them. It is therefore important that libraries’ collections and the works they contain should be
varied. Complete impartiality and neutrality should be their hallmarks.

C 115 E/36

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

Every citizen has a duty to protect libraries against acts of censorship. Yet in recent years works in
municipal libraries have been more or less flagrantly censored, particularly in municipalities governed by
the extreme right. This is the case in a number of French towns.

Has the Commission taken note of such deplorable developments in the measures for which it is
responsible? Has the problem arisen in other Member States? Has the European Union responded in any
way to such assaults? If not, will the Commission initiate an event in support of libraries within the Union
which have been victims of such practices?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 2001)

The Commission is concerned at the situation to which the Honourable Member refers, namely the
censorship of books in municipal libraries in certain French towns. However, it does not have sufficient
information on the subject as regards either France or other Member States.

Article 6 (formerly Article F(2)) of the Treaty on European Union states that the Union shall respect
fundamental rights, as guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Fundamental Rights
and Freedoms and as they result from the constitutional traditions common to the Member States, as
general principles of Community law. These general principles include freedom of expression and
information. Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, formally proclaimed
at Nice on 7 December 2000, also enshrines the right to freedom of expression and information.

However, legislation or internal measures within Member States relating to the censorship of books in
municipal libraries do not fall within the scope of Community law. The Commission is therefore unable to
take a stance on this issue or, as the Honourable Member suggests, to initiate an event in support of the
libraries concerned.

However, if the situation in question constituted a violation of a right or freedom, a case could be brought
in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg once internal remedies had been exhausted.

(2002/C 115 E/035)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2189/01

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 July 2001)

Subject: Portuguese section of Galicia’s and Portugal’s link to the high-speed rail network

In its reply to Oral Question H-0530/01 (1) (which it gave at the European Parliament’s sitting of 4 July
2001), the Commission says that it is ‘closely monitoring the planning stages of Portugal’s high-speed
railway programme’ which includes the Atlantic rail link, which is part of priority project No 8 and which
will help to ensure that rail links between Spain and Portugal are able to continue in a coordinated fashion.

The reply to that question comes at a time when the Portuguese Government is already questioning the
need for a high-speed line, and even the need for a line to be built at all.

In view of the fact that the Lisbon-Corunna line is part of priority project No 8 (one of a small number of
projects which are to receive particular attention from the Union) and that the project will have a decisive
effect on Galicia’s economic development, what action is the Commission currently taking vis-à-vis the
Spanish and Portuguese Governments (and Galicia’s regional government) in order to ensure that the
railway line in question is built by 2007, as was originally planned?

(1) Written reply of 3 July 2001.