WRITTEN QUESTION E-3603/01 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Plan to restore and develop the dolmens in Estepona (Spain).
Date: 2002-01-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Andalusia, EU programme, aid system, archaeology, cultural heritage, heritage protection

C 147 E/208

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

The provisions of the Human Right instruments referred to in the question recognise the possibility of
applying restrictions to the exercise of the freedom of expression and of assembly and association, as
presented by law and necessary in a democratic society in the interests of, inter alia, the prevention of
disorder and crime. Whether the application by Member State of such restrictions in individual cases is
justified, is not for the Council to asses.

(2002/C 147 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3599/01

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Shipments of animals on the world market

What is the situation regarding the shipment of animals on the world market? Are shipments of animals to
third-country regions from the EU, which have fallen by more than half in recent years, being replaced by
shipments from other countries? If so, from which countries and to which regions/countries?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 2002)

Egypt and Libya used to be traditional importing countries of slaughter cattle from the Community and
have reoriented their purchases towards Australia.

For Egypt during the years 1995 and 1996 on average 78 700 tonnes (live weight) of bovines were
from Australia. For the period
exported from the Community, against 14 800 tonnes (live weight)
1999-2000 the Community exported on average 18 600 tonnes (live weight), compared to 112 000
tonnes from Australia.

Libya stopped the import of cattle from the Community in 1997. As from 1996 until 1999 the country
switched its purchases towards Australia (no export to Libya in 2000).

In addition, during the last years Australia has been developing its slaughter cattle trade with countries
such as Jordan and Israel. Since 1995 (year for which there was hardly any export of cattle) till 2000 this
trade expanded and reached 41 000 heads of cattle exported to Jordan and 15 800 heads destined to Israel.

(2002/C 147 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3603/01

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Plan to restore and develop the dolmens in Estepona (Spain)

(8 January 2002)

Recent excavations in the Andalusian town of Estepona have led to the discovery of a nècropolis dating
from the time between the end of the Neolithic Age and the start of the Copper Age, containing five small
tombs.

This discovery has led to proposals that a plan be drawn up to restore and develop the megalithic
nécropolis in which the five well-preserved dolmens were found.

Bearing in mind the importance of this discovery, does the Commission believe that it should play an
active part in the plan to restore and develop these dolmens, thus making its own contribution to the
stroke of good fortune which this significant archaeological find represents for Estepona?

20.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/209

Answer given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(21 February 2002)

including the protection, preservation and
The Commission supports initiatives in the cultural sphere,
development of cultural heritage within the framework and according to the selection criteria of the
‘Culture 2000’ programme, which is the Union’s only financing and planning instrument for cultural
cooperation. The Honourable Member will
the following site: http://
find additional
europa.eu.int/comm.culture/c2000.

information at

The Commission would draw the Honourable Member’s attention to the fact that a call for proposals for
projects to be run in 2003 will be published in the Official Journal in the first half of 2002. Cultural
operators will therefore be free to present their projects so that they can be considered for funding.

(2002/C 147 E/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3605/01

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

Subject: Unfair competition by Rent-a-Car firms

(8 January 2002)

The fashion for displaying advertising on private vehicles, which is all the rage in American countries, is
now reaching Europe, and one variation is being practised by certain car-hire firms, i.e. Rent A Car.

These firms are displaying advertising on their vehicles, which enables them to offer them for hire
charging only for the fuel consumed, since the advertising carried is sufficient to pay off their investment
in their respective fleets. This has naturally been the subject of complaints from most other firms in the
sector.

Can the Commission say whether it considers this practice whereby car-hire agencies charge customers
only for the fuel consumed, since the advertising displayed on their vehicles is sufficient to pay off their
investment in their fleets of cars, to be unfair competition?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(22 February 2002)

The Honourable Member refers to a recent practice adopted by a car hire company which consists of
displaying advertising on their vehicles. He suggests that through the advertising revenues thus generated
the car rental company is able to offer extremely competitive rates to its customers. The Honourable
Member asks the Commission whether it considers such practices to be a source of unfair competition in
this economic sector.

The Commission does not consider this to be an unfair competitive practice. On the contrary, there is
nothing preventing other companies from entering this display advertising market. The displayed
advertising is regulated according to general rules and regulations that apply to billboard advertising. It
should be noted that this is common practice in the competing taxi and public transport service sectors.

The Commission would also note that there are various types of customers who rent cars. For example,
tourists who may seek bargain rates for such services may be attracted to hiring a car carrying advertising
that costs less to rent than an unmarked vehicle. In contrast, certain business customers may prefer to
drive a car that has no advertising but which costs more to rent. The development of such a niche market
thus offers more choice to customers and should thus increase rather than decrease the competitiveness of
this sector.