WRITTEN QUESTION E-0284/02 by Eluned Morgan (PSE) to the Commission. EU-funded projects in Israel.
Date: 2002-02-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU relations, Israel, Palestine, economic situation, military intervention

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/29

According to the Maltese constitution and law, the Broadcasting Authority is responsible in particular for:

(cid:25) ensuring the preservation of due impartiality in respect of matters of political or industrial controversy

or relating to current public policy;

(cid:25) fairly apportioning broadcasting facilities and time between persons belonging to different political

parties;

(cid:25) selecting and appointing broadcasting licensees and contractors who will operate radio (at national

and community levels) and television services throughout Malta;

(cid:25) monitoring the performance of the stations in terms of Constitutional requirements, the provisions of

the law and of the relevant broadcasting licences and contracts;

(cid:25) monitoring compliance with the Maltese constitution and law and for imposing sanctions.

the Authority is competent

In view of the status, duties and independence of the Malta Broadcasting Authority, the Commission
believes that
to investigate and take appropriate actions regarding any
restriction of journalists’ freedom of speech. The Commission will continue to monitor that the Malta
Broadcasting Authority has the capacity to fulfil its tasks in accordance with the Maltese Constitution and
law.

The decision by the Malta Labour Party (MLP) to boycott ‘Where’s Everybody’ TV programmes is an
internal Maltese issue that should be considered in the context of the division between the two main
parties on the issue of accession to the Union. In relation to that, the Commission also noted with interest
that the MLP has agreed to appoint its own leader, as its representative at the Union Convention on the
future of Europe.

institutions, guaranteeing
The Commission remains confident
democracy and the rule of law. It will continue to monitor closely during the pre-accession period the
developments in this area and, if necessary, take appropriate measures to ensure that the freedom of
expression continues to be respected in Malta.

that Malta has achieved stability of

(1) COM(2001) 700 final.

(2002/C 277 E/030)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0284/02

by Eluned Morgan (PSE) to the Commission

(8 February 2002)

Subject: EU-funded projects in Israel

Could the Commission give an assessment of the damage inflicted by the Israeli army upon EU-funded
projects? What measures does the Commission intend to take as a result?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2002)

The Commission, upon request of the Union Presidency, has compiled a preliminary list of Community-
funded (Commission and Member States) projects which have either been destroyed or damaged by Israeli
military forces. This is a tentative estimate and the assessment is ongoing.

infrastructure
The exercise has, for the time being, been limited to the replacement costs of physical
(construction and equipment), excluding indirect losses such as project delays or suspensions. The amount
indicated in the attached list is a conservative estimate and is likely to rise. Moreover, the list does not
make reference to a number of Community-funded projects which are unable to function properly due to
Israeli military actions, for instance access to the European hospital in Gaza or delays (as a result of
closures of access to raw materials) to infrastructure projects.

C 277 E/30

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

This matter was discussed at the General Affairs Council
conclusions of this GAC meeting state categorically that:

(GAC) of 28 and 29 January 2002. The

The European Union is seriously concerned at the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure and other
facilities which help Palestinians in their economic, social and humanitarian development and which
are financed by the European Union and other donors. The European Union urges the Government of
Israel to put an end to this practice and reserves the right to claim preparation in the appropriate fora.

The Commission is continuing the ongoing assessment in close coordination with Member States.

(2002/C 277 E/031)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0292/02

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE)
and Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 February 2002)

Subject: European block exemption on car retailing

Does the Commission believe that there is any reason to continue the block exemption for motor retailing
once it expires in September of this year or that ending it would in any way prevent motor manufacturers
from offering professional after-sales services?

Does the Commission accept that motor manufacturers have used the current system of ‘selective and
exclusive distribution’ to manipulate prices at the expense of consumers in individual Member States, and,
if so, will the Commission address this problem by ensuring that consumers from one country are able to
purchase cars in another country without undue delays or discrimination, and by making it easier for
retailers to take on more franchises and to sell overseas, thus ensuring that consumers in all Member States
are able to take advantage of real competition within the Single Market?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(25 March 2002)

The Honourable Members will by now be aware that on 5 February 2002, the Commission adopted a draft
sector-specific block exemption Regulation for the motor vehicle sector (1).

The new draft regulation was recently sent to the Parliament, and is intended to replace Commission
Regulation (EC) No 1475/95 of 28 June 1995 on the application of Article 85(3) of the Treaty to certain
categories of motor vehicle distribution and servicing agreements (2) once it expires in September 2002.

Distribution agreements such as those used in the car sector form part of a broader class of agreements
known as vertical agreements. In most other economic sectors, where there is no sector-specific block
exemption, these agreements are covered by a general block exemption, known as Commission Regulation
(EC) No 2790/1999 of 22 December 1999 on the application of Article 81(3) of the Treaty to categories
of vertical agreements and concerted practices (3), so long as they respect certain conditions and do not
contain any hard-core severely restrictive provisions.

One of the first questions which arose when the Commission began its analysis, was whether Regulation
(EC) No 1475/95 ought to be left to lapse, leaving the general regulation to apply automatically to the
motor vehicle sector. That option was rejected, since Regulation (EC) No 2790/1999 did not contain
sufficient safeguards to remedy the competition problems identified in the Commission’s 2000 evaluation
report and would in particular have allowed carmakers to continue using broadly the same kind of