WRITTEN QUESTION P-2655/03 by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Euronews.
Date: 2003-09-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European television, freedom of communication, support policy

C 70 E/126

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

Reply

(8 December 2003)

The Council is fully aware of the precarious security situation currently prevailing in Iraq as a legacy
1.
of the conflict. It shares the Honourable Member’s concern about the level of violence and crime suffered
by ordinary Iraqi citizens (cid:1) in particular women (cid:1) in their daily lives. Security in Iraq remains a major
priority. In its political contacts with the US, the EU stresses regularly the need to improve security.

2. While it is clear that ensuring a secure environment in Iraq is at this stage a responsability of the
occupying powers, the Council considers that the problem must be addressed within broader stabilisation
efforts, comprising in particular political reconstruction and economic recovery, in the perspective of the
transition to full Iraqi self government.

(2004/C 70 E/128)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2655/03

by Daniel Hannan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 September 2003)

Subject: Euronews

Will the Commission say by how much it proposes to subsidise the Euronews television channel and what
conditions will be attached to this subsidy? Will the Commission also say what measures will be taken to
ensure that Euronews is able retain independence in choosing the substance and form of its reporting?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(9 October 2003)

The Commission does not award an operating grant to the Euronews television channel, but, as it does
with many other radio or television channels, awards grants for actions, either for ad hoc projects or for
the ‘coproduction of television modules’ under a framework agreement covering the period 2001-2004.
Grants for actions and framework agreements, awarded in accordance with the financial rules in force
when they are signed, in no way restrict the editorial freedom of the beneficiary, who must, however,
respect the image of the European institutions and the raison d’être and general objectives of the Union.

In addition to these grants Parliament entered a sum of EUR 3 million on line B3-300 of the 2003 budget
‘intended to finance the activities of Euronews in connection with the European institutions’. To give effect
to this request and on the basis of the Commission decision of 9 July 2003, Euronews was invited to
present a programme of additional actions for which new grants may be awarded. This programme will be
assessed by a selection committee in accordance with the arrangements laid down in the Financial
Regulation (1) and its implementing rules (2). On the basis of the report of this selection committee, the
Commission will decide whether or not to award all or part of the amount earmarked on line B3-300. If it
does so, as generally applies with grants for actions, the editorial freedom of Euronews will be fully
respected.

The decision on continued cooperation with Euronews or any change in the arrangements will be taken in
the light of the findings of an evaluation of the channel’s Community-funded activities.

(1) Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the

general budget of the European Communities OJ L 248, 16.9.2002.

(2) Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the

implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002, OJ L 357, 31.12.2002.