WRITTEN QUESTION E-2937/01 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Common policies — implementation integrating sport.
Date: 2001-10-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU policy, Treaty of Nice, promotion of the European idea, social role, sport, youth policy

6.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134 E/155

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 December 2001)

The Honourable Member refers to the case concerning an export of some 3 200 tons of Danish ‘feta’
cheese to North Korea with the payment of some € 2,23 million in export refunds. The Court of Auditors
referred this case to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) for investigation. OLAF has indicated that this
investigation has been closed. The Danish authorities and the Commission have been informed of the
OLAF conclusions according to which irregularities occurred.

The Commission has in any case not in mind to respond to any possible discredit of the designation ‘feta’,
which, as your Honourable Member states, was a Protected Designation of Origin in 1998. Actually, and
independently of the outcome of the above-mentioned investigation, Denmark had at that time also the
right to use the name ‘feta’ for a transitional period.

With regard to the reconsideration of a proposal to secure the status of feta as a Protected Designation of
Origin, the outcome of OLAF’s investigation is irrelevant and consequently the Commission won’t take it
into account.

(2002/C 134 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2937/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Common policies 8 implementation integrating sport

(24 October 2001)

The annexes to the Nice Summit Presidency conclusions (7-9 December 2000), contain a statement by the
Heads of States and of Government on the importance of taking due account of the social, educational and
cultural function of sport, with a view to safeguarding the code of ethics and the solidarity essential to the
preservation of its social role, despite the fact that the European Union has no direct powers in this area.

Has the Commission drawn up a balance sheet of whatever measures has proved possible to take with a
view to meeting the objectives set out in the Nice European Summit Presidency conclusions with regard to
including sport when implementing common policies?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(19 December 2001)

The European Council highlighted the social and educational values of sport in the Nice declaration of
December 2000 on the specific characteristics of sport and its social function in Europe, of which account
should be taken in implementing common policies (1). The Commission had already had occasion to
emphasise its support for these values in the Helsinki Report on Sport adopted in December 1999 (2). The
approach adopted through the Nice declaration is thus in line with the efforts made by the Commission
over a period of several years.

Since the adoption of the Nice declaration, the Commission has been involved in follow-up activities under
the Swedish and Belgian Presidencies. It has also remained attentive to the specific characteristics of sport
in examining various issues related to sport: players’ agents, public aid for professional clubs, transfers, etc.
In the latter case the Commission has enforced Community law while taking account of the specific
constraints imposed by the nature of sport and the need to ensure the development of football. For
example, encouragement for clubs’ training efforts, protection of young people, and the need to ensure the
fairness of competitions and the stability of teams have been among the Commission’s main concerns.
Generally speaking, the Nice declaration on sport has been taken into account wherever sport-related
issues have been examined. The adoption, on 16 October 2001, of a proposal for a Decision of the
European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Year of Education through Sport
2004 (3) is also consistent with the spirit of the Nice declaration. Finally, at the informal meeting of sports
ministers in Brussels on 12 November 2001, the Member States and the Commission looked at how the
Nice declaration has been followed up.

C 134 E/156

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

In accordance with the Nice declaration, the Commission, in its role as guardian of the Treaties, has
ensured that account has been taken of the specific characteristics of sport.

(1) Presidency conclusions 8 Nice European Council 8 7, 8 and 9 December 2000 8 Annex IV.
(2) Report from the Commission to the European Council with a view to safeguarding current sports structures and
maintaining the social function of sport within the Community framework 8 The Helsinki Report on Sport 8
COM(1999) 644, 1.12.1999 final.

(3) COM(2001) 584 final.

(2002/C 134 E/156)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2939/01

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Council

(25 October 2001)

Subject: Persecution of the ‘Serenissimi’ of St Mark’s by the Italian courts

The Italian courts, which have so far failed to secure a single conviction in a criminal prosecution against
Islamic terrorists, have, on the other hand, attacked with tenacity a number of Venetian patriots whose
only offence was to have carried out a spectacular occupation of St Mark’s belltower in support of the
right of the Venetian people to their own identity and freedom.

The demonstrators were sentenced to between three and six years imprisonment and, even today, are still
on probation or parole.

Does the Council not think that, in this disgraceful case of judicial persecution of decent people with no
criminal records who have done nothing but express their opinions, it has a duty to check whether the
sentences passed comply with the principle of equity which is at the root of European judicial ethics and
whether or not they breach the protection of freedom of opinion and expression established by the
international legal order?

Reply

(14 February 2002)

The Honourable Member of the European Parliament is informed that the Council is not competent to
determine whether concrete actions taken by the judicial authorities in the Member States are legal or
justified.

(2002/C 134 E/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2942/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(25 October 2001)

Subject: Protracted settlement procedures following (road) accidents in Switzerland

In answer to question E-1080/01 (1) the Council says that it is not aware of the substance of the
discussions which, according to the honourable Member,
took place on 16 February between the
Presidency and the President of Switzerland. The initiative taken by the then Presidency of the EU was part
of an attempt to reach a solution to protracted settlement procedures for claims between EU victims and
Swiss insurance companies because the fourth directive on motor vehicle insurance did not provide a
solution to the problem.

Loop-holes in Swiss legislation enable insurance companies to withhold for a very long time the payment
of damages resulting from civil liability. This source of legal uncertainty affects EU citizens who are victims
of (road) accidents in Switzerland. They become caught up in a legalistic procedural wrangle with no
prospect of compensation within a reasonable period of time.