WRITTEN QUESTION E-2560/03 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Funding for artistic handicrafts.
Date: 2003-08-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, action programme, craft business, craft production, cultural event, cultural policy, handicrafts

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Official Journal of the European Union

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6.2.2004

Very recently, on 2 June 2003, the findings of a study concerning Netherlands nationals who move to live
in Germany were published (cid:1) that study had been commissioned by, amongst others, the provinces of
Gelderland and Overijssel and Euregio. At present, some 18 500 Netherlands citizens live in areas close to
the border in Germany. Over the period from 2003 to 2007, that figure is expected to increase by
between 20 000 and 40 000.

Should that increase find a direct correlation in the pupils attending, for example, De Biezenkamp primary
school, then the number of ‘cross-border pupils’ is set to increase by between 30 and 60 over the period to
2007 (cid:1) one more reason to resolve the problem of the related infrastructure costs.

To my mind, border regions are test cases for the new Europe. It is in precisely these regions that the
benefits of European integration can be enjoyed by means of cooperation in the education sphere.

Does the Commission feel that measures should be taken to compensate municipalities for the extra costs?

Does the Commission see ways of encouraging the Member States to take such measures and, more
generally, to facilitate longer-term cooperation in border regions?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(27 August 2003)

The Commission acknowledges the concern expressed by the Honourable Member about infrastructure
costs related to pupils resident in the border region of one country attending school in a neighbouring
country. The promotion of pupil and student mobility is at the heart of Community policy in the field of
education.

The organisation and financing of national education systems is, however, not an area of Community
‘The Community shall contribute to the
competence. Article 149 of the EC Treaty clearly states that:
development of quality education by encouraging cooperation between Member States […] while fully
respecting the responsibility of the Member States for the content of teaching and the organisation of
education systems’. The Commission is therefore not competent to address the issue of costs arising from
such ‘cross-border pupils’.

(2004/C 33 E/281)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2560/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(4 August 2003)

Subject: Funding for artistic handicrafts

Italy is the country with the highest number of craft industries and
According to a recent survey,
craftsmen in the EU. With around one and a half million firms and more than 3 million employees, the
sector is one of the mainstays of the Italian economy, accounting for approximately 15 % of GDP.
However, although the craft industries are of decisive importance in all EU countries, there is no unified
legislation on the subject (cid:1) for example laws in France and Italy are very different from those in Germany
and Austria.

The trend towards harmonising the various sectors of the economy merely results in enhancing and
regulating SMEs in general, thereby neglecting the craft industries and failing to draw up ad hoc policies
for this sector, which constitutes the production base for the majority of businesses in the EU.
Furthermore, until now no comprehensive study has been made of the handicraft firms in the EU nor is
there a definition of ‘European craft industry’.

Handicrafts are the expression of the various cultures in the EU and should therefore be protected and
encouraged in all their forms.

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Can the Commission therefore say:

1. whether there is any funding for artistic handicrafts;

2. whether there are any calls to tender for the creation of artworks to adorn cities;

3. whether there is any provision for international events featuring artistic handicrafts;

4. what the general situation is in this sector?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 2003)

The Commission can provide support

for artistic handicrafts initiatives under the framework
1.
programme Culture 2000, which is the Union’s single financing and programming instrument for cultural
cooperation, on condition that the initiatives meet the programme’s selection criteria. Through its support
for the cultural heritage and visual arts sectors in particular, the Culture 2000 programme promotes
the socially disadvantaged and cultural
artistic creation, giving particular priority to young people,
diversity. There is no Community programme devoted specifically to artistic handicrafts: the sole source of
funding for cultural heritage and visual arts projects is the Culture 2000 programme.

The Honourable Member will
europa.eu.int/comm/culture/eac/index_fr.htlm

find further information on the programme on the website: http://

Additionally, the Commission is providing funding for the Prodecom project under the Euromed Heritage
II framework programme. This project seeks to mobilise the potential of the Euro-Mediterranean artistic
and craft cultural heritage through the introduction of a ‘local culture product’ label intended to make it
easier for the quality and originality of craft products to be recognised. In the longer term, this initiative
should facilitate the marketing of craft products in Europe and worldwide. The project is being coordinated
by the Chambre des Beaux Arts de Méditerranée (1).

The Commission is not aware of the publication of any calls for tender for the creation of artworks

2.
to adorn cities.

3.
The Commission does not have a specific agenda for international events featuring artistic
handicrafts. However, international events were supported in 2002 under the Culture 2000 programme.
The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the above-mentioned website, which shows all
the projects cofinanced by Culture 2000.

4.
The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that, in the absence of a definition of what
constitutes a ‘European craft business’, it is often difficult to estimate fully the contribution the craft sector
makes to the European economy. There has already been a study to establish a definition of ‘small craft
business’, which should enable the Commission to collect comparable and more accurate statistics.

The Honourable Member will find further information on this study on the website: http://europa.eu.int/
comm/enterprise/entrepreneurship/craft/craft-studies/methodology-craftstatistics.htm

Competence for assessing the general situation in this sector lies with the Member States alone. However,
the Commission, aware of the need to promote the quality of craft products, has also conducted a study to
identify craft trades in Europe. The study includes a series of recommendations for strategies to promote
craft products, ranging from preserving and transmitting know-how to facilitating access to the national
and international markets through the development of e-commerce.

The final report of
entrepreneurship/craft/craft- studies/methodology-craftstatistics.htm

this study can be found on the website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/

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The Commission is therefore continuing to devote attention to this subject and is planning a preparatory
study to evaluate the feasibility of a Community instrument for promoting typical products (cid:1) other than
agricultural products (cid:1) made by small European enterprises, including artistic craft products.

(1) 59, rue Cambronne, 75015 Paris: ch.beaux.arts@wanadoo.fr.

(2004/C 33 E/282)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2570/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(6 August 2003)

Subject: Church tax compulsorily levied by the Federal Republic of Germany on unemployment benefit

paid to unemployed people who do not belong to the Church

Knowing that:

(cid:1) in Germany, significant sums are deducted in the form of church tax from unemployed people
without any religious affiliation, who are thus obliged to provide financial support for an organisation
to which they do not belong;

(cid:1) this situation appears all the more incredible given that the German Constitution explicitly prohibits
anyone being prejudiced or placed at a disadvantage because they do not belong to a religious
community;

(cid:1) the compulsory levying of church tax among unemployed people without any religious affiliation

violates the following provisions of the German Constitution:

(a) Article 3(1) and (3) of the Basic Law, which stipulate that no one may be ‘favoured or disfavoured’

because of his or her philosophical or religious opinions;

(b) Article 4(1), which provides that ‘freedom of faith and of conscience, and freedom to profess a

religious or philosophical creed, shall be inviolable’;

(c) Article 33, which enshrines the fundamental obligation of State neutrality.

(cid:1) the Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that unemployed people without any religious affiliation
may indeed be required to pay this tax as long as a clear majority of employed people belong to the
Church. However, it might be pointed out that, according to the judgment of the Bundessozialgericht
(Federal Social Court) of 8 November 2001, 49 % of Germany’s active population did not pay church
tax in 1999.

Given that this arrangement runs counter:

(cid:1) to the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution,

(cid:1) to the principle of equal treatment and the obligation of State neutrality and

the principle of the separation of Church and State,

can the Commission say whether it is aware of the above facts, whether it has taken any initiatives and, if
so, what initiatives it has taken?

Does the Commission not take the view that the situation described contravenes the acquis communaut-
aire?

What formal initiatives might the EU take vis-à-vis Germany if this situation cannot be resolved, in order
to ensure that the principle of religious freedom is respected?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 2003)

The matter to which reference is made does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Community.