WRITTEN QUESTION E-2791/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. EuroNews agreement with the Commission.
Date: 2001-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, European television, access to EU information, agreement (EU), audiovisual programme

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/193

Furthermore, does it intend to respond to this situation (cid:16) which, unfortunately, is also to be found in
many other areas (cid:16) by setting up a permanent monitoring centre with a view to determining exactly how
widespread such environmental pollution is?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(24 October 2001)

The Commission’s powers are limited to those conferred on it by the EC Treaty,
it is
responsible for ensuring that Community law is properly applied within all Member States. On the basis of
Article 211 (ex Article 155) of the EC Treaty, ‘in order to ensure the proper functioning and development
of the common market, the Commission shall ensure that the provisions of this Treaty and the measures
taken by the institutions pursuant thereto are applied’. On the basis of Article 226 (ex Article 169) of the
EC Treaty ‘if the Commission considers that a Member State has failed to fulfil an obligation under this
Treaty, it shall deliver a reasoned opinion on the matter after giving the State concerned the opportunity
to submit its observations. If the State concerned does not comply with the opinion within the period laid
down by the Commission, the latter may bring the matter before the Court of Justice.’ The Commission
has a discretionary power in deciding whether to initiate such a procedure (1).

in particular,

On the basis of the information given by the Honourable Member, and in the absence of any details
concerning the environmental degradation that
the
Commission is not in a position to assume that there is a likely breach of Community law.

is taking place or the damage being caused,

The Commission cannot be aware of all situations which are likely to be considered as a bad application of
environmental Community law by the Member States. Such situations are normally drawn to the attention
of the Commission by letters of complaint, Parliamentary Written Questions and Petitions to the Petitions
Committee of the Parliament. However, situations claimed to be inconsistent with the relevant Community
law need to be precisely described so as to enable the Commission to assess them in relation to applicable
Community environmental law.

(1) Priorities and criteria governing the Commission’s discretionary power are listed in the Fourteenth annual report on

monitoring the application of Community law (cid:16) 1996, in OJ C 332, 3.11.1997.

(2002/C 93 E/229)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2791/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: EuroNews agreement with the Commission

(9 October 2001)

In his reply of 19 July 2001 to my question No E-1700/01 (1), Commissioner Prodi stated that the
Commission had ‘concluded an agreement with EuroNews
in the form of a Memorandum of
Understanding for the production and broadcasting of audiovisual modules.’ Could the Commission
provide me with a copy of that memorandum?

(1) OJ C 350 E, 11.12.2001, p. 212.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2001)

Following close collaboration with the Parliament, a new Convention has recently been signed with
EuroNews. The association of the Parliament is clearly stated in the text of the Convention.

In view of this association, a copy of the Convention is lodged in the Parliament. The Honourable Member
is, therefore, advised to seek a copy of the Convention from the services of the Parliament.