WRITTEN QUESTION E-1972/03 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Use of languages in press reports about Belgium.
Date: 2003-06-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, European language, dissemination of EU information, official language, press release, use of languages

26.2.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/169

(2004/C 51 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1969/03

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(13 June 2003)

Subject: Implementation of the Fixed-Term Contract Work Directive in Ireland

In late 2002, the Commission sent the Irish Government a reasoned opinion concerning its failure to
implement Directive 1999/70/EEC (1), which protects the rights of fixed-term contract workers, by the
agreed date of July 2002.

What response has the Commission received to this reasoned opinion, and what action is it now
proposing to take to ensure that the Irish Government lives up to its obligation to safeguard the rights of
tens of thousands of fixed-term contract workers in Ireland?

(1) OJ L 175, 10.7.1999, p. 43.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2003)

The Commission did not receive any information that the Directive had been transposed, an application to
start legal proceedings was sent to the Court of Justice at the end of January 2003. The court proceedings
now run their course.

(2004/C 51 E/189)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1972/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 June 2003)

Subject: Use of languages in press reports about Belgium

On 2 June 2003, a report appeared in the European Commission’s publication entitled ‘Midday Express’
about the European Commission’s intention to call upon Belgium to ensure that its legislation on night
flights was brought
into line with Community law (see http://www.europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/
guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/03/781|0|RAPID&lg=EN&display=).

Can the Commission indicate why that report appeared solely in English, French and German?

Can it explain why the report was not published in the official language of the majority of the inhabitants
of Belgium, namely Dutch?

In future, will the Commission publish all its press reports, and especially those which have a direct
bearing on Belgium, in Dutch as well? If not, why not?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2003)

The available language versions of the press release to which the Honourable Member refers were
published on 2 June 2003. It was unfortunately not possible to delay release of this information further as
it was of interest to the whole of the European press. The Dutch version was published on the Internet on
3 June 2003. All
the Belgian media (both French and Dutch language newspapers) reported the
information.

The Commission publishes its press releases at least in English or French and generally in as many
languages as possible.

However, where sensitive information is involved, and a fortiori in competition or aid cases which involve
a particular country, the Commission requests translations in the official
languages of the country as
designated in the EC Treaty, which means French and Dutch for Belgium.