WRITTEN QUESTION E-3031/03 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Community subsidies in the cultural sphere.
Date: 2003-10-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community budget, EU Member State, EU aid, association, culture, implementation of the budget, music

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/201

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(26 November 2003)

The Commission on 5 September 2003 decided not to raise objections against an aid of EUR 45,06 million,
which the Belgian authorities intend to grant to Ford Werke AG in Genk and to EUR 2,57 million in
favour of five first-tier component suppliers.

The planned aid was assessed under the provisions of the Multisectoral framework on regional aid for large
investment projects (1), which applies to the motor vehicle sector since 1 January 2003. As the measure
concerns an ad hoc aid,
it had to be notified individually.
According to the framework, the maximum aid intensity for regional investment aid in the motor vehicle
sector is 30 % of the regional aid ceiling.

i.e. not aid under an approved scheme,

Genk is an assisted Article 87(3)(c) area with a regional ceiling of 14,46 % gross grant equivalent (10 % net
grant equivalent). Consequently, the maximum allowable aid intensity was 4,3 %. Belgium intended to
grant an intensity of 4,2 %. Based on eligible investments of EUR 1,073 billion, the foreseen aid intensity of
4,2 % resulted into an allowable aid amount in favour of Ford of EUR 45,06 million. Based on the same aid
intensity, an aid of EUR 2,57 million was authorised in favour of five first-tier component suppliers.

The aid may only be granted to the extent that the notified investments are in fact carried out. The decision
will be published shortly in the Official Journal of the European Union.

(1) OJ C 70, 19.3.2002.

(2004/C 70 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3031/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(17 October 2003)

Subject: Community subsidies in the cultural sphere

Associations play a central role in any country’s social development, not only in terms of active
involvement and self-organisation on the part of citizens, but also of the services which associations
provide, particularly in culture and sport. Recreational associations are often the main channels for
publicising and preserving the cultural heritage of many regions, thus contributing to cultural wealth and
diversity within the European Union. Associations are responsible for amateur drama, folk clubs, brass
bands, music schools and a whole range of exhibition spaces for art. Resources, particularly funds, are
generally in short supply to cover the working requirements of these associations in the tasks they perform
for the community, above all in providing leisure time activities. I personally encounter this hard fact with
some frequency, and likewise the lack of available information as to sources of support, particularly at
Community level.

Can the Commission answer the following:

(cid:1) What Community resources exist to support culture, particularly for recreational associations?

(cid:1) In the specific case of wind band associations, what Community aids exist for buying instruments and

support material for music schools, and doing up auditoria and halls to perform in?

(cid:1) What are the global Community budget totals authorised and actually paid out for culture, and how
have these totals varied between 1994 and 2003? What is the breakdown of this total by Member
State and number of projects funded?

C 70 E/202

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(20 November 2003)

The Commission is in the process of obtaining the necessary information to answer your question and will
inform you of the results of its inquiries as soon as possible.

(2004/C 70 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3035/03

by Marit Paulsen (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 October 2003)

Subject: Traceability requirement under Article 18(2) of Regulation (EC) 178/2002

Article 18(2) of the EU’s Regulation (EC) 178/2002 (1) laying down the general principles and requirements
of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of
food safety (the General Food Regulation) states that food and feed business operators shall be able to
identify ‘any person’ [in the Swedish text ‘alla personer’, literally ‘all persons’] from whom they have been
supplied with a food, a feed, a food-producing animal, or any substance intended to be, or expected to be,
incorporated into a food or feed.

However, the English phrase ‘any person’ used here would most closely be translated in Swedish with ‘varje
person’ (‘each person’).

With every respect for the translation preferences of the EC Court of Justice, how, in the Commission’s
view, should this point be interpreted? Is any distinction intended, or is this merely a linguistic
discrepancy?

(1) OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 2003)

The traceability requirement as set up by Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the Parliament and
of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law,
establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (the
General Food Law Regulation) is limited to the identification of the immediate supplier of a particular
product and its immediate subsequent recipient.

The said provision does not require food and feed business operators to be able to follow the path of a
particular product or ingredient
through identification of all preceding suppliers and all succeeding
customers throughout the whole supply chain.

The legislation relies on a one up, one down approach between businesses to ensure full chain traceability.

Any linguistic version, which would risk altering the meaning and scope of the general traceability
requirement as outlined above, should be considered as a purely linguistic discrepancy and not as an
intended distinction in terms of substance.

However, in the case of the Swedish text, ‘alla personer’ or ‘varje person’ are two equivalent expressions
that both conform to the ‘one up, one down’ approach. The use of either of them does not alter the
meaning of the phrase. Similar stylistic differences exist in the Danish and Dutch versions.