WRITTEN QUESTION E-1639/02 by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission. Foot-and-mouth disease in South Korea.
Date: 2002-06-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: South Korea, disease prevention, foot-and-mouth disease, health control, health risk, public awareness campaign

5.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 301 E/197

are full of reports concerning juvenile crime. Psychiatrists are examining a possible link between habitual
exposure to violence and the perpetration of crime. Traditional
institutions (schools and families) are
unable to educate against violence if society lacks suitable ‘antibodies’ to counter the epidemic of violence
which is sweeping through it and which is being spread partly by video games.

In response to this disturbing situation which is affecting the younger generations as never before, ‘self-
discipline’ in the video cassette and video games sector currently consists merely in stamping products
with the word ‘hard’. It has been demonstrated that this scheme serves only to encourage sales to minors.

Has the Commission any information on the scale of the phenomenon?

Does the Commission not consider that such material helps to feed an addiction to violence and leads to
the acceptance of violence (including sexual violence and violence against minors) as something normal?

Is the Commission willing to propose to the EU governments that the sale of violent video games to
minors be made an offence?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2002)

A prerequisite for the development of the audiovisual and information services sector in the EU is not only
that a number of favourable economic and political conditions should exist, but also that a certain degree
of protection be provided for the general interests of Europe’s citizens.

Following the publication of the Green paper on the protection of minors and human dignity (1), which set
off a broad debate on the intersectoral problems of protecting minors and human dignity in the context of
all audiovisual and information services irrespective of how they are disseminated, the Commission in
1998 submitted a proposal for a ‘Recommendation on the protection of minors and human dignity in
audiovisual and information services’, which was adopted by the Council on 28 May 1998 (2). The
Recommendation provides guidelines for the implementation of self-regulation at national level.

After two years’
Commission’s evaluation report (3).

implementation, the results have already been encouraging, as can be seen from the

The question of the legality of certain video games and their distribution is a matter for the Member States.

At the same time, the video games industry is, by way of self-regulation, in the process of drawing up a
classification system for video games at European level, which should be operational next year.

(1) COM(96) 483 final.
(2) OJ C 189, 17.6.1998.
(3) COM(2001) 106 final.

(2002/C 301 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1639/02

by Dorette Corbey (PSE) to the Commission

(10 June 2002)

Subject: Foot-and-mouth disease in South Korea

In early May there was an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in South Korea. 92 000 pigs and cattle have
since been slaughtered. This outbreak came only a few weeks before the start of the football World Cup
that is taking place from 31 May to 30 June 2002 in Japan and South Korea. Ten of the 15 EU Member
States have qualified for the World Cup (Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
Portugal, Spain and Sweden).

C 301 E/198

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

5.12.2002

1. What is the Commission’s view of South Korea’s policy on the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease?

2.

How great is the likelihood of contamination for the EU?

3. What measures have and are being taken to prevent tourists, football supporters and footballers from
bringing contamination with foot-and-mouth disease back to Europe?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(22 July 2002)

With reference to the questions raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission wishes to refer to its
reply to written questions P-1535/02 by Mr Böge and P-1544/02 by Mr Maat (1) and P-1682/02 by
Mr de Roo (2) on the same subject.

In addition to those 12 outbreaks predominately in pigs which were reported until 20 May 2002 and to
which reference was made in the above-mentioned replies to the Parliament, new outbreaks continue to
occur since 3 June 2002 affecting also cattle and small ruminants.

The competent authorities of the Republic of Korea carried out an awareness campaign to inform soccer
fans and provide information on the Internet (http://www.nvrqs.go.kr).

Equally, the competent authorities in the Member States have launched information campaigns for people
returning from foot-and-mouth disease infected countries and the Republic of Korea in particular.

A draft Commission Decision on the reinforcement of controls on the luggage carried by travellers arriving
in the Union from third countries will be presented to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and
Animal Health shortly.

(1) See page 172.
(2) See page 209.

(2002/C 301 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1646/02

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission

(4 June 2002)

Subject: MHP digital television standard

On 12 December 2001, the European Parliament voted at second reading on the telecoms package,
including Directive 2002/21/EC (1) of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory framework for electronic
communications networks and services. It has not yet proved possible to impose a standard for digital TV
in Europe, but in December 2001, at the time of the vote on the telecoms package, the European
Parliament inserted Article 18 in the framework directive. This requires Member States to monitor open
standards and interoperability one year after the entry force of the directive. On this basis, new proposals
may be put forward. Commissioner Liikanen promised that he would publish the MHP standard in the List
of Standards and promote it by adopting concrete measures in order to arrive at a uniform standard in
Europe as soon as possible.

Has the Commission taken any steps vis-à-vis the Member States and the relevant markets with a view to
securing the adoption of MHP as the standard?

If so, what measures has it taken to promote MHP as the standard?

If any such measures have been taken, have they had a measurable impact yet? If so, what?

(1) OJ L 108, 24.4.2002, p. 33.