WRITTEN QUESTION E-2113/02 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Digital radio serving the information community throughout the European Union.
Date: 2002-07-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community body, broadcasting, communications policy, digital technology, dissemination of EU information, information policy, technological change

C 137 E/50

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

12.6.2003

(2003/C 137 E/055)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2113/02

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

(17 July 2002)

Subject: Digital radio serving the information community throughout the European Union

Radio faces a major challenge at the start of the 21st century: that of adapting to the digital revolution.
The fact that, in most of the EU Member States, public radio is firmly committed to acting as the driving
force behind digital radio makes that challenge unavoidable, despite the associated difficulties.

This is, therefore, a suitable occasion for the EU to propose using the kind of radio which emerges from
the digital revolution as a means of increasing the amount of information which it provides to the general
public regarding its various activities, so that radio can act as a special link between the EU institutions and
the man in the street.

Will the Commission say whether or not its programme for increasing the frequency with which the EU
provides information to the general public contains any provision for taking advantage of the benefits to
be derived from the widespread adoption of the kind of radio which emerges from the digital revolution (cid:1)
such as using radio as a general means of communication regarding EU activities?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2002)

In the Communication on ‘An information and communication strategy for the European Union’ (1)
adopted on 2 July 2002, the Commission recognises that the role of radio is set to increase and that
presentation of information must be adapted to take account of the communications vector used. Efforts
are now being made to rebalance the information policy so that more emphasis is put on the provision of
information by radio and television for these are clearly the sources preferred by the citizens of the Union.

With respect to the system of radio used, it is a matter for the market to decide on the speed with which
digital radio services are made more widely available. The Commission has actively aided the development
of the new technology and ensures that its own information product (including Europe by Satellite (EbS) is
always available in digital form. If more people have access to radio as a result of the digital revolution,
information about the Union should reach a greater number of citizens.

(1) COM(2002) 350 final.

(2003/C 137 E/056)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2163/02

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 July 2002)

Subject: ECB advertising campaign

The European Central Bank has published leaflets and run television advertisements in Britain with the
slogan ‘The Euro (cid:1) Our Money’ which, since it is factually incorrect, can be considered as no more than
publicity for the single currency rather than as an information campaign. Could the Commission please say
what the legal basis in the Treaties is for the ECB to advertise the single currency in an EU Member State?
What consequences would there be at European level if no legal basis could be established? Furthermore,
what action, under the Treaties, might a country with strict political funding rules take against the ECB if it
deemed it to have interfered in the electoral process (cid:1) say in the run-up to a referendum on the single
European currency?