WRITTEN QUESTION E-2825/03 by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Linguistic diversity.
Date: 2003-09-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, action programme, cultural heritage, heritage protection, language policy, language teaching, minority language, regional language, teacher training

13.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65 E/225

The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health is a regulatory committee consisting of
representatives of
the Member States and chaired by a Commission representative that advises on
implementing legislative rules.

It should be noted that the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare adopted in 1999 a
report on animal welfare aspects of the use of bovine somatotrophin, which contained a specific chapter
describing welfare problems in high yielding dairy cows. A number of research projects funded under the
Community’s Fifth Framework Programme on Research and Technological Development have also
addressed the issue of the health and welfare of dairy cows. Specifically, the Commission currently
supports research on lameness in dairy cattle and on nutrition of dairy cattle through the better utilisation
of pasture. It also supports projects on the genetics of mastitis and milk production. Research of a more
generic welfare nature, such as on cattle transport, also has important implications for dairy cattle.

(1) OJ L 31, 1.2.2002.

(2004/C 65 E/240)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2825/03

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 September 2003)

Subject: Linguistic diversity

The Action Plan for 2004-2006 promoting language learning and linguistic diversity makes repeated
reference to the learning of ‘regional’ and ‘minority’
languages as well as of the more widely spoken
languages. It states that national and regional authorities are encouraged to give special attention to
supporting language communities whose number of native speakers is in decline from generation to
generation. After all, these languages also form part of the European cultural heritage.

Should the protection of these languages be left up to the goodwill of Member States?

Does the EU itself not have to take an active role in supporting teacher training activities and schools that
take on this task?

What instruments are available to the EU to encourage Member States to take action if they are currently
failing to support this part of our cultural heritage?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 2003)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member’s view that regional and minority languages are part of
Europe’s cultural heritage.

in the field of culture,

However,
it intervenes within the scope of the powers granted to it under
Article 151 of the EC Treaty, which states that ‘Action by the Community shall be aimed at encouraging
if necessary, supporting and supplementing their action …’.
cooperation between Member States and,
Under the subsidiarity principle, responsibility for protecting regional and minority languages is a matter
for Member States.

Under Article 149 of the EC Treaty, the Community contributes to the development of quality education
by encouraging cooperation between Member States and supporting and complementing their action. This
includes ‘developing the European dimension in education, particularly through the teaching and
dissemination of the languages of the Member States’. Educational establishments teaching a regional or
minority language can take part
in the Socrates/Comenius programme in the same way as other
educational establishments. The teaching of these languages can also form the subject of cooperation

C 65 E/226

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

projects between teacher-training colleges funded under Socrates/Comenius, which also offers grants for
teacher training. Only those activities involving learning a language as a foreign language are limited to the
official languages plus Irish and Luxembourgish, under the decision establishing the Socrates programme.

The Commission Action Plan ‘Promoting Language Learning and Linguistic Diversity’ provides in point
III.1.1 for the organisation of a conference in 2005 to promote cooperation on questions relating to
regional and minority languages in education systems.

(2004/C 65 E/241)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2828/03

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(23 September 2003)

Subject: Readability of rewritable CD ROMs

Valuable data on CD ROMs does not always last long in practice. A trial carried out by a Dutch computer
magazine, PC-Active, has shown that data on a self-burned CD (CD-R/REW) can become unreadable in less
than two years. PC-Active tested the quality of thirty brands of rewritable CD. The discs were stored for
20 months in their original packaging in a locked cupboard. Then the condition of the CDs was assessed
by a professional CD analyser. The test showed that a number of CD-Rs had become totally unreadable,
and others partly unreadable. Data that had been saved on the discs 20 months before had become
unreadable. The manufacturers involved include both well-known and less well-known brands. CD-ROM
manufacturers claim, however, that their products last at least ten years; some even claim they have a
useful life of a hundred years.

Is the Commission aware of this research?

Does the Commission intend to take action in light of these findings? If so, what?

If not, why not? Does the Commission believe that the claims of readability of CD-ROMs are misleading?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 October 2003)

The Commission has not been informed of this particular research into the durability of CD-ROMs and is
not competent to intervene in concrete cases.

The Commission would like, however, to inform the Honourable Member that, in business-to-consumer
relationships, public statements on the specific characteristics of goods made by a seller or a producer or a
representative can determine whether goods are in conformity with the contract. Goods must, above all,
conform with the contractual specifications (recital 7 of the Directive 1999/44/EC of the Parliament and of
the Council of 25 May 1999, on certain aspects of
the sale of consumer goods and associated
guarantees (1)). Article 2(2)(d) of the Directive provides that goods are in conformity with the contract if
they show the quality and performance which are normal in goods of the same type taking into account
any public statement made on the specific characteristics of the goods, in particular in advertisements and
labelling.

The life span of a CD-ROM and the durability of data saved on it can amount to specific characteristics.
If these specific characteristics are not met, the consumer can ask to have the goods brought in conformity
with the contract by repair or replacement, ask for a price reduction or have the contract of sale rescinded
according to Article 3 of the Directive. The consumer disposes of this legal guarantee for a minimum
period of two years from the delivery of the goods.