WRITTEN QUESTION E-0202/02 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. European artistic heritage.
Date: 2002-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU publication, EU statistics, cultural heritage, data collection, heritage protection

18.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 172 E/165

Given the above, would the Commission not agree that it should provide special aid to farmers in view of
the seriousness of the disaster which has occurred in major EU countries in a sector which, because of the
specific nature of the activities involved, is exposed to weather-related risks for which current European
legislation makes no provision whatsoever.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2002)

The Commission has not yet received official information about the effect of the exceptional weather
conditions in Italy.

Given the scale of the damage, existing Community provisions allow for the grant of special assistance
part-financed by the Community from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)
in order to restore agricultural potential damaged by these weather conditions, which can be classed as a
natural disaster.

In the context of the rural development plans for the regions outside Objective 1 and the regional
operational programmes, the Italian regions can put in place measures to restore agricultural production
potential damaged by natural disasters and introduce appropriate prevention instruments under
Article 33(12) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support
for rural
development from the EAGGF and amending and repealing certain Regulations (1). Some Italian regions
have already included this option in their programmes, in order to tackle the damage caused by past
natural disasters of various kinds.

The Commission is accordingly prepared to look at any proposals from the Italian authorities, within
existing statutory and financial limits.

However, EAGGF assistance can only cover investments relating to production potential, not lost income.
National aid might be granted to cover lost income, if approved by the Commission under Articles 87 and
88 of the EC Treaty, which relate to state aid.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2002/C 172 E/173)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0202/02

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(6 February 2002)

Subject: European artistic heritage

Europe is the home of a considerable part of the world’s architectural and cultural heritage. Despite the
fact that this heritage is of immense value to all Europeans,
in many cases we have only a patchy
knowledge of what it actually involves and what condition it is in. It would therefore be extremely useful
to draw up an inventory of Europe’s artistic and cultural heritage, both with a view to gaining a clearer
idea of its extent and so as to be able to ensure the protection, restoration, upkeep and promotion of
Europe’s many treasures.

the Commission, Mr Oreja answered a question of mine
On 27 November 1996, on behalf of
(E-2761/96 (1)) on whether an inventory had been made of Europe’s artistic and cultural heritage, saying
that an initial approach to the matter could be made on the basis of a directory of cultural statistics in
Europe, which was currently under preparation and the aim of which was to provide an overview of the
organisations producing cultural statistics on a regular basis.

Given the above, would the Commission state whether this directory was ever produced, whether an
inventory of Europe’s artistic and cultural heritage has been drawn up since 1996, and what its views are
on the matter?

(1) OJ C 83, 14.3.1997, p. 64.

C 172 E/166

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2002

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 2002)

In March 1997, in response to a request by Member States, the Statistical Programme Committee set up a
working party within Eurostat on cultural statistics (Leadership Group (LEG)-Culture). In November 1999,
the Commission adopted the conclusions and recommendations of the LEG project, which proposed, in
particular, the establishment of a working party on cultural statistics in order to safeguard the continuation
of activities.

The LEG final report on cultural statistics in the EU appeared in 2000 and looked at, moreover, those
organisations that produce cultural statistics on a regular basis. The working party carries out its work in
cooperation with Member States. This report is available on request from Unit E3 (Eurostat: Population
and social conditions 3/2000/E/No 1).

In 1996, the Commission financed two studies in collaboration with France and Spain. The project was
coordinated by the French Ministry of Culture.

These two studies were carried out by ERIES and DAFSA, which published the following:

? Reference index for cultural statistics in Europe ? 1996 edition ? Office for Official Publications

(OPOCE), Luxembourg ISBN 92-827-9207-2;

? Cultural statistics in Europe; initial data, 1996. Printed in France ? ISBN 2-11003721-0.

Furthermore, regarding the point about an inventory, the Commission has neither the instruments nor the
expertise needed to draw up an inventory of Europe’s artistic and cultural heritage. The protection of
artistic and cultural heritage is the sole responsibility of Member States.

(2002/C 172 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0233/02

by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission

(31 January 2002)

Subject: Commission proposal for a Community Plan of Action fore reducing incidental catch of seabirds

on longline fisheries

Globally, thousands of petrels, albatrosses and other seabird species are threatened by the practice of
longlining. In response to this threat, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has adopted an
International Plan of Action on seabirds. The FAO agreement requires each Member State, including the
European Community, to draw a National Plan of Action to reduce seabird by-catch.

Given that DG Environment is responsible for the integration of environmental aspects into other policies,
including fisheries, how and when is the Commission proposing to ensure the implementation of the
International FAO Action Plan for Seabirds and the mitigation and research measures it proposes in
Community and third-country water?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2002)

The problem highlighted by the Honourable Member seems to affect mainly albatrosses and other species
in the Southern Oceans. The main problems seem to be caused by non-Community vessels fishing either
in international waters or in their own waters. The Community has no direct legal power to control the
activities of non-Community vessels in these areas but will continue to work for application of necessary
measures within Regional Fisheries Organisations.