WRITTEN QUESTION P-1042/02 by José Pomés Ruiz (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Euronews and Gara: the only Spanish media which fail to call ETA a terrorist group.
Date: 2002-04-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European television, Spain, autonomous movement, freedom of the press, mass media, press, terrorism

6.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/65

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(6 May 2002)

The requirements in respect of compulsory filing and disclosure of a series of documents and particulars
by limited liability companies are set out in the First Council Directive 68/151/EEC of 9 March 1968 on
co-ordination of safeguards which, for the protection of the interests of members and others, are required
by Member States of companies within the meaning of the second paragraph of Article 58 of the Treaty,
with a view to making such safeguards equivalent throughout the Community (1) (‘the First Company Law
Directive’).

In the context of the fourth phase of the Simplification of the Legislation on the Internal Market (SLIM)
process, a Working Group issued in September 1999 a Report on the simplification of the First and
Second Company Law Directives. The main recommendations relating to the First Directive consisted
notably of the need to accelerate the filing and disclosure of company documents and particulars by the
use of modern technology.

The Commission is currently working on a proposal for a directive amending the First Company Law
Directive on the basis of the SLIM recommendations. The proposal is expected to be adopted by the
Commission before the summer.

The modernisation of the First Directive will not only help to meet the important objective of making
company information more easily and rapidly accessible by interested parties, but will also simplify
significantly the disclosure formalities imposed upon companies.

More particularly, companies will be able to choose to file their documents and particulars by paper means
or by electronic means. Interested parties will be able to obtain a copy of such documents and particulars
by paper means and by electronic means. Member States will be able to decide to keep the national
gazette, appointed for the publication of company documents and particulars, in electronic form or to
replace this publication with equally effective means.

(1) OJ L 65, 14.3.1968.

(2003/C 28 E/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1042/02

by José Pomés Ruiz (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 April 2002)

Subject: Euronews and Gara: the only Spanish media which fail to call ETA a terrorist group

In its bulletin of 26 March 2002, Euronews once again referred to ETA as a ‘separatist organisation’ rather
than a terrorist group.

Objectivity and neutrality in the news media demand that in a report of a rape the word ‘rapist’ should be
used. If an armed robbery is reported, the authors should be termed ‘robbers’. What matters from the
information viewpoint is the offence committed in itself and not the reasons for the robbery or rape.
Nonetheless, certain Spanish media, when reporting terrorist attacks perpetrated by ETA, prefer to refer to
the motives put forward by the criminals themselves to justify their actions.

The media concerned are:

(cid:1) Gara, a newspaper with a small audience which is openly pro-ETA; and

(cid:1) Euronews, a television channel with a large audience which many Spanish people perceive as officially

representing the voice of the EU.

On 10 December 2001 the author of the present question tabled a question to the Commission on the
same subject (P-3466/01) (1). The Commission’s reply suggested that the President of the Commission is
clearly opposed to this unethical attitude on the part of Euronews, which has, however, persisted despite
this warning.

What action does the Commission intend to take to ensure that Euronews ceases to refer to ETA as a
‘separatist organisation’, and carries out its reporting on the same basis as the other media committed to
freedom and democracy?

C 28 E/66

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

It is possible that those responsible for these news bulletins are acting out of fear of ETA, which has
already killed numerous journalists in Spain. However, if this is the case, does the Commission not believe
that the persons concerned should resign?

(1) OJ C 147 E, 20.6.2002, p. 184.

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2002)

As mentioned in its reply to Written Question P-3466/01 (1), while respecting the editorial freedom of
Euronews, the Commission fully shares the concerns expressed by the Honourable Member about the fact
that Euronews continues to refer to the terrorist group ETA as a ‘separatist organisation’.

The Commission has, as indicated in the previous reply, drawn the attention of Euronews to the disquiet
and offence provoked by the use of this terminology.

As a consequence, Euronews has issued a press release on 15 February 2002 which is sent direct to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

It would be inappropriate for the Commission to comment on personnel
individuals stance against terrorist threats.

issues as well as on the

(1) OJ C 147 E, 20.6.2002, p. 184.

(2003/C 28 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1050/02

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Own resources including transport system

(17 April 2002)

Has the change in Commission Regulation (EEC) 2454/93 (1) relating to the transit regime that took effect
from 1 July 2001 had a measurable effect on reducing fraud within the transit system?

Can the Commission confirm that the new computerised transit system (NCTS) will be online in all
customs offices that handle transit movements in all EEA countries, accession countries and Member States
with effect from 1 July 2003?

Given that it was excise products that caused significant amounts of fraud in the transit regime, could the
Commission please explain why it wishes to use EUR 35 million of Community resources to develop a
separate computerised movement and surveillance system for excise products (2), when it has already
developed the new computerised transit system over the past eight years as a measure to reduce fraud?

(1) OJ L 253, 11.10.1993, p. 1.
(2) COM(2001) 466 final, OJ C 51 E, 26.2.2002, p. 372.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(28 May 2002)

Whilst Commission Regulation (EC) No 2787/2000 (1) has the overall aim of fighting irregularities, not all
of its parts have a direct effect on reducing fraud. Such effects may exist insofar as the operator’s