WRITTEN QUESTION E-1150/02 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Year of Books and Literacy.
Date: 2002-04-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European cultural event, book trade, elimination of illiteracy, public awareness campaign

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/185

(2002/C 229 E/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1147/02

by Jens-Peter Bonde (EDD) to the Commission

(24 April 2002)

Subject: International food standards

The Danish Consumer Council has warned that the 15 Member States are to have only one single EU vote
on the Codex Alimentarius. Does the Commission share this view?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 2002)

The Commission does not share the view of the Danish Consumer Council. The number of votes which
the Community requests in the Codex Alimentarius Commission will be equal to the number of its
Member States that are entitled to vote. As is already the case in the FAO framework, when the
Community exercises its right to vote in areas of Community competence,
its Member States do not
exercise theirs, and conversely. The Commission invites the Honourable Member to consult the draft
amendment of the rules of procedure of Codex Alimentarius (CX/GP 02/7) and the information note of the
Community to Codex (CX/GP 02/INF.1). While the Community’s accession is still under consideration
these documents give full explanations about the future status in Codex Alimentarius of a regional
economic integration organisation such as the Community.

(2002/C 229 E/214)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1150/02

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 April 2002)

Subject: Year of Books and Literacy

In the report ‘Frontiers in book production’, the MEP Barbara O’Toole calls for the designation of a
European Year of Books and Literacy. This would be an exemplary project to encourage our fellow
European citizens to read more and to raise awareness of the importance of reading books.

Can the Commission therefore state whether it plans to proclaim a ‘European Year of Books and Literacy’,
and, if so, which year it is planned for?

Answer given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(31 May 2002)

The Commission shares the point of view expressed in the report ‘Frontiers in book production’, as
mentioned by the Honourable Member, on the need to do more to combat illiteracy and functional
illiteracy and to raise the general public’s awareness of the importance of books and electronic publishing
in the knowledge-based economy.

For this reason, the Community, together with the Council of Europe, launched a campaign to raise the
awareness of European citizens of books and reading. This campaign, which was entitled ‘Reading for
Pleasure’, ran from April 1993 to September 1994 and included a whole range of events to promote
books and reading.

It will not be possible to organise a year of books and literacy in the medium term. This is because 2003
will be devoted to people with disabilities (1), and 2004 will be devoted to education through sport (2).

C 229 E/186

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

Moreover, any interest expressed by other areas of activity outside education and culture in organising a
European year will also have to be taken into account in this context.

The Commission is therefore considering the possibility of organising a day, week or month devoted to
books and reading.

(1) Council Decision 2001/903/EC of 3 December 2001 on the European Year of People with disabilities 2003, OJ L

335, 19.12.2001.

(2) Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Year of Education

through Sport 2004, OJ C 25 E, 29.1.2002.

(2002/C 229 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1156/02

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

(24 April 2002)

Subject: Collapse of bridge linking villages in the Spanish province of Malaga

Periana, a district in the Malaga region, was struck by storms at the end of last year.

As a result, for the last four months the inhabitants of Viña and Los Marínes have had no access to the rest
of the district. The collapse of the bridge linking the villages with the rest of Periana has meant that over
100 families living in the affected area have had to go all around the district in order to get to cross the
Sabor River.

Can the Commission indicate whether under the common agricultural policy there are provisions for
funding repairs relating to storm damage in Malaga, in order to help those inhabitants who now find
themselves isolated by the collapse of the bridge over the Sabor River?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 May 2002)

The Commission was unaware of the situation described by the Honourable Member.

Resolution of this type of practical problem does not fall within the remit of the Community but of the
national or regional authorities (in this case the Autonomous Community of Andalusia).

The Commission contributes through the Structural Funds to various programmes in Spain.

Repairing a bridge linking several villages appears to be an operation that should be part-financed from the
European Regional Development Fund rather than under the common agricultural policy from the
European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund.

However
in the Integrated Operational Programme for Andalusia for 2000-2006 the chapter on
‘Infrastructure: preventive and recovery action’ (included in the sectoral planning of the Consejería for
Agriculture and Fisheries (agriculture modernisation plan: programme 1.2 on improvement of rural
infrastructure)) may offer some relevant schemes.

Managing of such programmes,
national and regional authorities and not the Commission.

including selecting projects,

is a responsibility of the Member State’s