WRITTEN QUESTION E-1140/03 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The EBLUL and the systematic defamation of an EU Member State.
Date: 2003-04-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Greece, linguistic group, minority language, national minority, non-governmental organisation, political propaganda, regional language, xenophobia

C 268 E/176

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

(2003/C 268 E/200)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1140/03

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: The EBLUL and the systematic defamation of an EU Member State

It is a known fact that in Greece democratic freedoms and cultural diversity are fully protected and
safeguarded. The growing Muslim minority in the Greek region of Thrace accordingly enjoys
comprehensive media access (newspapers, radio stations, unimpeded reception of Turkish satellite stations,
many of which constantly vilify Greece etc.),
is represented by elected Muslim deputies in the Greek
parliament and has numerous places of worship, built and restored with funding from the Greek
Government.

All other minorities however small, enjoy similar freedom, for example, the tiny Slav community of
Florina, which has its own party structure freely exercising its mandate, (with offices, newspapers, and total
freedom of expression, never failing to revile both Greece and the Greeks and entering a tiny contingent in
all electoral contests. Anti-Greek propaganda has recently been stepped up, spearheaded by the European
Bureau for Lesser-Used languages (EBLUL). Recently, a book (co-funded by the Commission as mentioned
on page 2) full of ‘advice’ and ‘hints’ (p. 6 and elsewhere) for Greece was distributed to MEPs. Page 5
contains a reference to ‘Macedonian’ speakers in Greece, while the EBLUL President, Mr Brezigar,
recommends (p. 12) that ‘Greeks should learn English as well as Macedonian’.

Does the Commission (which is apparently providing funding for the activities of the Bureau) agree with
Mr Brezigar’s historically questionable references to a ‘Macedonian’ language? What exact amounts (broken
down by item) has the Bureau received from the European Union and for which years exactly. Why is
funding being provided for a bureau circulating propaganda against a Member State? What action is being
taken by the Bureau in countries where minority cultures are being oppressed, for example the Greek
communities in Albania and Turkey? Does the Commission know whether EBLUL Committees in Member
States of the Union contain extreme nationalist elements being incited by third countries systematically to
provoke tension in specific areas of the Union? What are the names of the members of the EBLUL
Committee in Greece and in what precise professional or other capacity are they designated?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2003)

is an independent non-governmental
The European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages
organisation working for languages and linguistic diversity, which is based on a network of Member
State Committees in all 15 Member States. It receives most of its funding from the Commission under
budget line A-3015. In 2002 funding allocated to EBLUL amounted to EUR 810 000, of which a very
small amount (EUR 2000) was allocated directly to the Greek Member State Committee.

(EBLUL)

The book mentioned by the Honourable Member in his written question contains the proceedings of a
Conference on Linguistic Diversity in Greece organised by EBLUL in Thessaloniki on 14 and 16 November
2002. Representatives from the Parliament, the Commission and the Council of Europe were present at
this conference.

On page 35 of the proceedings the Honourable Member can find the names of all the members of the
Greek Committee of EBLUL and the objectives of this Member State Committee.

The Union has been supporting its regional and minority languages since 1983. Spoken by 40 million
people in Europe, these languages are considered as an integral part of the Union’s common cultural
heritage. To update scientific information on regional and minority languages, the Commission published

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Official Journal of the European Union

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in 1996 the Euromosaic study which provides information on the number of speakers and the use of
languages in various domains in 12 Member States including Greece. One of the main objectives of this
study was to assess the socio-linguistic vitality of a language, that is whether the language or linguistic
community is in a state of decline, revival or stability. Information on Euromosaic can be found on: http://
europa.eu.int/comm/education/langmin/euromosaic_fr.html

Respect for diversity is one of the founding principles of the Union. Article 151 of the EC Treaty gives the
European Community the task of contributing to the flowering of the cultures of Member States, while
respecting their national and regional diversity. It also commits the Community to taking cultural aspects
into account in all its actions.

(2003/C 268 E/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1154/03

by Karl-Heinz Florenz (PPE-DE), Willi Görlach (PSE),
Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf (Verts/ALE), Christa Klaß (PPE-DE)
and Dagmar Roth-Behrendt (PSE) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: Regulation (EC) 1774/2002, use of waste food and products of the foodstuffs industry in the EU

Member States

Regulation (EC) 1774/2002 (1) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying
down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption does not state
that the collection of waste food shall be compulsory, nor does it specify how this collection should be
carried out.

Article 6(1)(f) of Regulation (EC) 1774/2002 defines products of the food industry as ‘Category 3 material’.
Logically this should imply a ban on feeding to animals long-life bakery goods (biscuits, preserved pastry
goods and cakes) made with animal products (e.g. eggs), or milk or dairy products of the same type.

Does the Commission have any information on whether, and if so how, food waste occurring in the
1.
EU is collected everywhere separately from other waste products, and harmlessly treated or disposed of? If
not, does not the Commission consider it sensible to order a study on this topic?

2.
Does the Commission possess any studies showing that the uses of waste food frequently cited as
alternatives to animal feed (cid:1) composting and treatment in bio-gas plants (cid:1) are practicable in the long
term and hygienic in epidemiological terms? If not, does not the Commission consider it sensible to order
a study on this topic?

Does the Commission consider that the feeding to animals of long-life bakery goods made with
3.
animal products (e.g. eggs), and milk and dairy products of the same type, is prohibited? What products of
animal origin, and mixed products containing animal products, may still be used in animal feed since the
entry into force of the above-mentioned directive?

(1) OJ L 273, 10.10.2002, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2003)

Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 establishes how the collection, transport and identification of all animal
‘Catering waste’ is defined in Annex I as
by-products (except category 3 catering waste) shall be done.
waste food originating in restaurants, catering facilities and kitchens,
including central kitchens and
household kitchens. Therefore, the Commission considers that ‘catering waste’ is waste from premises on
which food is produced for direct consumption, excluding ‘former foodstuffs’, referred to in Article 6(1)(f)
from retail outlets such as supermarkets or food factories producing products for retail sale.