WRITTEN QUESTION E-3259/01 by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission. Use of the Occitan language at the Winter Olympic Games — Turin 2006.
Date: 2001-11-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, Olympic games, Piedmont, official language, regional language

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/241

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2002)

The facts related by the Honourable Member concerning Ericsson’s failure to honour its financial
commitments and its promises to maintain employment levels do not come under Community law.

It is therefore up to the national authorities to assess the consequences of the situation described by the
Honourable Member and to determine whether those involved are to be held accountable.

(2002/C 115 E/260)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3253/01

by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission

(16 November 2001)

Subject: Roma activist Rudko Kawczynski

Is the Commission aware of the intention of the German authorities to imprison the Roma activist Rudko
Kawczynski on 19 November 2001 for having taken part in a human rights demonstration in 1990?

Is the Commission prepared to urge the German authorities not to proceed with this arrest?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2001)

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member
responsibility and jurisdiction as regards both enforcement and judicial matters.

that

the Member States have primary

Consequently, there is no provision in the Treaties establishing the Union and the European Community
which allows the Commission to intervene to prevent a Member State arresting an individual on its
territory.

According to the information available, the case raised by the Honourable Member does not fall within the
scope of Community law. It is not, therefore, for the Commission to adopt a position on the substance of
this case.

However, it should be remembered that, if the person in question considers that his fundamental rights
have been infringed, he may bring an action in the national courts and, once he has exhausted his means
of redress there, he can lodge an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights if he feels there has
the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
been a breach of
Freedoms.

(2002/C 115 E/261)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3259/01

by Mario Borghezio (NI) to the Commission

(23 November 2001)

Subject: Use of the Occitan language at the Winter Olympic Games 9 Turin 2006

Formulating its request in line with Law 482/99 concerning regulations on the protection of historic
linguistic minorities, the ‘Chambra Economica Europèa Dels Paìses Occitans 9 Chambra d’Oc’ has asked
the Organising Committee of the XX Winter Olympic Games 9 Turin 2006 (TOROC) to implement this
law on the occasion of the Games through the use of the Occitan language on all official occasions, and
especially during the inaugural ceremony of the Games. It has also launched an appeal to the relevant
institutional bodies asking them to support this request.

C 115 E/242

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

The Occitan language, the expression of one of the great European peoples, extends over the territories of
three European countries 9 Italy (Padania), France and Spain 9 and is the language spoken in the Occitan
Valleys which are to host the 2006 Winter Games.

What steps does the Commission intend to take, including action under the European Charter for Regional
or Minority Languages, to ensure that TOROC grants the Occitans’ valid request? Would the granting of
this request be of great symbolic value in relation to Europe’s recognition and practical protection of all
European linguistic minorities?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2001)

The Commission congratulates Piedmont on its hosting of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games and is
confident that it will exploit this unique opportunity to make the whole world aware of the cultural
attractions and special features of this area situated in the heart of Europe.

The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages is a Council of Europe document that has been
put to the organisation’s member countries for ratification. Although Italy has not yet signed it, the
Charter has served as inspiration for Italian Law No 482/99 on the protection of historical
linguistic
minorities.

The European Union does not have the specific competence, either in this field or with regard to sport, to
take action in the direction suggested by the Honourable Member.

(2002/C 115 E/262)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3263/01

by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 November 2001)

Subject: Community Tobacco Fund

Council Regulation (EC) No 1636/98 (1) of 20 July 1998 has amended Article 13 of Regulation (EEC) No
2075/92 (2) as regards the provisions governing the Community Tobacco Fund. The deduction has been
increased to the equivalent of 2 % of the premium, and the scope of the action eligible to be financed by
the Fund has been widened.

What activities and projects were financed under the Fund from the entry into force of Regulation (EEC)
No 2075/92 until the entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 1636/98? What sums were earmarked for
that purpose in the budget? Have the budget appropriations been used up? What amounts, if any, have not
been spent? Have studies been conducted to determine how raw tobacco producers might be enabled to
switch to other crops? What amounts were allocated to those studies, when were the studies carried out,
and have the findings been disseminated to the national authorities?

(1) OJ L 210, 28.7.1998, p. 23.
(2) OJ L 215, 30.7.1992, p. 70.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 2001)

The Commission is able to provide the Honourable Member with the following details.

The Community’s Tobacco Fund was set up under Article 13 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 of
30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in raw tobacco (1). Between then and the entry
into force of Council Regulation (EC) No 1636/98 of 20 July 1998 amending Regulation (EEC) No
2075/92 on the common organisation of the market in raw tobacco (2) the Commission launched two calls
for proposals in 1994 and 1996, each covering the two strands of the Fund, namely research and
information.