WRITTEN QUESTION E-0841/02 by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Article 151 of the EC Treaty and cultural heritage — response by the EU institutions.
Date: 2002-03-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, cultural cooperation, cultural heritage, heritage protection, research policy

C 277 E/94

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

(2002/C 277 E/104)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0840/02

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 March 2002)

Subject: Article 151 of the EC Treaty and cultural heritage (cid:29) relations with third countries

According to Article 151(2) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, action is possible at EU
level with a view to the conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage of European significance.

A very large number of archaeological sites and ancient monuments, which constitute an important part of
Europe’s cultural heritage, are situated in countries linked to the EU by association and other agreements.

Does the Commission have a policy with regard to the conservation of important remains such as those of
Greek and Roman cities around the Mediterranean?

There have been many examples of important vestiges of the ancient world being destroyed by the
extension of modern agriculture and the process of economic development. For example, much of the city
of Zeugma (cid:29) founded in 300 BC by a successor of Alexander the Great (cid:29) was recently destroyed when
the Birecik dam was constructed on the Euphrates in Turkey. A series of remarkable Roman mosaics was
discovered shortly before inundation, but only part of these could be saved.

Does not the Commission consider that the EU has a responsibility to intervene in such cases and to
provide resources to assist in salvaging what can be rescued? Do provisions exist in the EU’s agreements
with its Mediterranean and other close partners which might provide the basis for assistance to public
authorities in the form of expertise and finance for surveys of the cultural heritage and for preparing plans
for economic and social development which may contribute to its protection? What can the Commission
do to promote requests from its partners in this regard?

(2002/C 277 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0841/02

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 March 2002)

Subject: Article 151 of the EC Treaty and cultural heritage (cid:29) response by the EU institutions

According to Article 151(2) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, action is possible at the
EU level with a view to the conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage of European significance.

Does the Commission consider that the Culture 2000 Programme and other related programmes in the
fields of the environment and education provide an adequate response to this objective set out in the EC
Treaty?

Can we expect further initiatives from the Commission in this area?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0837/02, E-0839/02, E-0840/02 and E-0841/02
given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 2002)

Under Article 151 of the EC Treaty, the Community may encourage cooperation between the Member
States in the area of culture and, if necessary, support and supplement their action in a number of areas,
including the conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage of European significance. This aim is
pursued by the ‘Culture 2000’ framework programme, which promotes cultural cooperation in Europe.

14.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 277 E/95

Within this framework, the Commission supports initiatives in the cultural area, including the protection,
preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage, under the ‘Culture 2000’ framework programme and
in accordance with its selection criteria,
this programme being the Union’s single financing and
programming instrument for cultural cooperation for 2000-2004. The Community does not have the
power to take measures to safeguard the cultural heritage of the Member States or of eligible non-
Community countries (three countries from the European Economic Area/European Free Trade Association
(EEA/EFTA) and the countries of central and eastern Europe, whose association councils have decided to
take part in the programme) other than under the existing programmes and initiatives. It is also important
to note that,
in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, protection schemes are the exclusive
responsibility of the Member States. The Honourable Member can find additional information on the web
site http://europa.eu.int/comm/culture/eac/index_en.html.

Subject to joint financial contributions and compliance with the rules specific to each institution or
organisation, the ‘Culture 2000’ programme can also accommodate joint measures involving international
organisations with responsibilities in the cultural sector, such as Unesco and the Council of Europe, for
cultural measures and cultural events within the scope of the programme. These joint measures, such as
the European Heritage Days, are based on an exchange of letters between the Commission, the Council of
Europe and Unesco (1).

As regards the European Science Foundation,
Icomos and the other institutions and organisations
mentioned by the Honourable Member, the Commission supports cooperation initiatives in the cultural
sector (cid:29) including those for the protection, preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage (cid:29) under
the ‘Culture 2000’ programme and in accordance with its selection criteria. In this regard, the Commission
would draw the Honourable Member’s attention to the fact that a call for proposals for projects to be held
in 2003 will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities during the second quarter
of 2002.

The Commission would also point out that, under the ‘Culture 2000’ programme, priority will be given to
cultural heritage in the call for proposals for 2004.
In this context, cultural heritage will comprise
moveable heritage, intangible heritage, historical archives and libraries, archaeology, underwater heritage,
cultural sites and landscapes.

In the fifth framework programme for research and technological development (1998-2002), support has
been provided, under the key action ‘The city of tomorrow and cultural heritage’, for research projects
which seek to preserve, protect and improve Europe’s cultural heritage.
Information on the projects
supported by the Commission can be found on the web site http://www.cordis.lu/eesd/ka4/library.htm

As regards the links between the European institutions and activities carried out at national level and with
international organisations, the draft 6th framework programme (2002-2006) (cid:29) and more particularly the
special programme within it entitled ‘Integrating and Strengthening the European Research Area’ (cid:29) makes
provision for supporting cooperation and the coordination of research activities carried out at national and
regional levels: participants can thus comprise national entities, such as research bodies in the public and
private sectors, and other institutions operating on a European level, like the European Science Foundation.

(1) Cooperation between Unesco and the European Commission is based on an initial exchange of letters in September
in February 1996, of an

1964, supplemented by another exchange in December 1972 and by the signing,
agreement on the methods of cooperation between the European Commission and UNESCO.

(2002/C 277 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0847/02

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 March 2002)

Subject: Airport taxes

What measures is the Commission prepared to take, at a time when the airline industry is being severely
streamlined, in order to ensure that a fairer system of taxation is implemented and that double/triple
taxation on journeys through a single airport is brought rapidly to an end?