WRITTEN QUESTION E-2898/02 by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Courage of convictions.
Date: 2002-10-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Netherlands, application of EU law, drug addiction, health legislation, health policy, national implementing measure, packaging, tobacco

C 155 E/62

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.7.2003

The Commission confirms that the contract was awarded following a rigorous tendering procedure which
was carried out in strict accordance with Council Directive 92/50/EEC of 18 June 1992 relating to the
coordination of procedures for the award of public service contracts (1), as the Spokesman and Director
General for Press and Communication has affirmed.

The presence of an official on leave for personal grounds within G-Plus, the company subcontracted by
ASCII, led to the suspension of the Europa contract on 27 September 2002 so that an examination could
take place in the light of the problems of perception that had arisen.

The Honourable Member may wish to note that on 9 October 2002 G-Plus informed the Commission of
its decision to withdraw from the consortium established by ASCII
for the implementation of the
framework contract. The Commission subsequently re-established its contract with ASCII.

The Commission is currently examining the rules implementing the principle of incompatibility, especially
those concerning the relationship between civil servants and private companies that respond to calls for
tender by the Commission.

(1) OJ L 209, 24.7.1992.

(2003/C 155 E/068)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2898/02

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(14 October 2002)

Subject: Courage of convictions

The Netherlands Government is explicitly permitting cigarette manufacturers to continue to offer light and
mild cigarettes in different coloured packagings after the entry into force of the European directive on the
subject (October 2003).

Is the Commission aware of the article ‘Bomhoff blijft roken tegengaan’ (Bomhoff continues to combat
smoking) in the NRC Handelsblad of 27 September 2002?

Does not the Commission agree that the attitude adopted by Mr Bomhoff contravenes European tobacco
legislation?

Will the Commission have the courage of its convictions and issue a reprimand to the Netherlands
Government?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(11 November 2002)

The question asked by the Honourable Member appears to be entirely based on the information contained
in an article published in the NRC Handelsblad of 27 September 2002, of which the Commission is aware.
As the Honourable Member will understand, the Commission must analyse Member States’ implementing
legislation on the basis of the official notifications it receives, and cannot comment on a newspaper article
alleging that a Member State may or may not be considering certain alternatives for the implementation of
received any notification on the
a Community Directive. Up to now,
implementation of Directive 2001/37/EC (1)
In fact, according to the
Commission’s information, the Dutch legislation implementing Directive 2001/37/EC appears to be still
under discussion in the Dutch Senate.

from the Dutch Government.

the Commission has not

Directive 2001/37/EC states that ‘texts, names, trade marks and figurative or other signs suggesting that a
particular tobacco product is less harmful than others shall not be used on the packaging of tobacco
products’. The Commission can assure the Honourable Member that it attaches utmost importance to the

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/63

fact that the provisions of Directive 2001/37/EC, and in particular those on misleading descriptors, are
correctly implemented in all Member States. The Commission will carefully analyse all Member States’
implementing legislation in this regard.

(1) Directive 2001/37/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2001 on the approximation of the laws,
regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale
of tobacco products (cid:1) Commission statement (cid:1) OJ L 194, 18.7.2001.

(2003/C 155 E/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2904/02

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 October 2002)

Subject: Breton

Not long ago, European Languages Day was held. That day, a report was presented concerning Breton, the
only Celtic language which still survives in mainland Europe, which is in danger of extinction.

Of the four million inhabitants of Brittany, only 300 000 now understand Breton. Nineteen years ago the
figure was twice that. More than 80 % of those who still understand Breton are aged over 60. It is a race
against time, because if things continue as they are now, Breton stands no chance of survival. The Bretons
are critical of Paris, which does not officially recognise their language.

There are no subsidies for the 3 000 children who take Breton at school, because apparently no legal basis
for them exists. This is an untenable situation.

Will the Commission take the initiative to create a legal basis, acting on its powers and responsibilities in
the field of education?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(19 November 2002)

In the area of education, Article 149 of the EC Treaty states very clearly that the content of teaching and
the organisation of education systems are the responsibility of the Member States.

The Community acts within the limits of its powers under the Treaties to safeguard the diversity of
languages used in Europe, particularly in the areas of culture and education. Past action in the area of
regional and minority languages put the focus namely on education in an attempt to preserve language
vitality. In keeping with Article 151(4), which states that cultural aspects must be taken into account in all
activities of the Union, many projects involving regional and minority languages have been financed under
a variety of Community programmes in such policy areas as regional and rural development, information
society and social policy.

Following Council Resolution of 14 February 2002 on the promotion of linguistic diversity and language
learning in the framework of the implementation of the European Year of Languages (1), the Commission
will undertake a wide-ranging consultation based upon a Discussion Document, which will be published
later on in 2002. The outcome of this process will be a Communication to the Parliament and the Council
in mid-2003 on an Action Plan to promote language learning and linguistic diversity based on actions
using resources available in existing Community programmes and activities in which regional and minority
languages will be included too.

(1) OJ C 50, 23.2.2002.