WRITTEN QUESTION E-3114/03 by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Council. Spreading of false scientific claims regarding the effectiveness of condoms in combating AIDS by Catholic Church leaders/the Holy See/the Vatican City State.
Date: 2003-10-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: AIDS, EU policy, Holy See, contraception, disease prevention, disinformation, public awareness campaign

C 84 E/220

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

(2004/C 84 E/0264)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3114/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Council

(22 October 2003)

Subject: Spreading of false scientific claims regarding the effectiveness of condoms in combating AIDS by

Catholic Church leaders/the Holy See/the Vatican City State

Knowing that:

(cid:1) on 10 October 2003 the British daily newspaper ‘The Guardian’ published an article entitled ‘We have
faith in condoms’ stating that Catholic Church leaders/alias the Holy See/alias the Vatican City State
are warning against using condoms to prevent AIDS, claiming that the HIV virus can pass through the
thick mesh of rubber in condoms, hence making them useless for protection;

(cid:1) the article announced that the BBC’s Panorama programme, due to be televised the following Sunday,
would broadcast an interview with the president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Family,
Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, who told British journalists ‘The Aids virus is roughly 450 times
smaller than a spermatozoon’ and can therefore easily pass through the ‘net’ that is formed by the
condom … ‘These margins of uncertainty should represent an obligation on the part of the health
ministries and all these campaigns to act in the same way as they do with regard to cigarettes, which
they state to be a danger’;

(cid:1) in response to these statements the World Health Organisation said ‘These incorrect statements about
condoms and HIV are dangerous when we are facing a global pandemic which has already killed more
than 20 million people, and currently affects at least 42 million …’;

(cid:1) the anti-condom campaign by the Catholic Church/alias the Holy See/alias the Vatican City State is
being conducted in particular in third-world countries devastated by AIDS, where it has substantial
power over the distribution of medicine and health-care supplies and where the campaign is likely to
have catastrophic effects.

In view of the European Union’s institutional and diplomatic relations with the Holy See,

can the Council say:

(cid:1) whether it considers that the statements made by leaders of the Catholic Church/alias the Holy See/
alias the Vatican City State regarding condoms are correct according to the scientific information it
has as its disposal;

(cid:1) what measures in the form of information, prevention, sanctions and diplomatic moves it intends to
promote in response to these claims and in order to oppose the irresponsible campaign by the
Catholic Church/alias the Holy See/alias the Vatican City State, which threatens to nullify the European
and international policies to combat the spread of AIDS, the deaths caused by it and other sexually
transmitted diseases in Europe and worldwide;

(cid:1) whether it considers that

the draft European
Constitution in order to ensure that ‘recognising their identity and their specific contribution’ does not
entail having to accept as ‘scientific’ statements dictated by prejudice?

there is an urgent need to revise Article 51 of

Reply

(9 March 2004)

It is not for the Council to comment on statements appearing in the press. Within the framework of its
powers, the Union attaches great importance to the prevention of diseases such as AIDS, in particular in
the context of its development policy.

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/221

With regard to revision of Article 51 of the draft Constitution, the Council would advise the Honourable
Member to address his question directly to the relevant bodies.

(2004/C 84 E/0265)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3122/03

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(22 October 2003)

Subject: Reduction of VAT on CDs and cassettes

At the recent Ecofin Council in Luxembourg 7 October 2003, Commissioner Bolkestein announced that
the Commission was against any reduction in VAT on audio recording media and CDs as this might create
distortions of competition.

instrument

Against the background of the current discussions in Unesco concerning the creation of an international
legal
the European Commission examine whether a
reduction in VAT is feasible and desirable for CDs by new artists and/or artists singing in local or regional
languages and/or home-grown musicians (irrespective of whether or not they sing in their own language)
and/or for certain genres of music?

to safeguard cultural diversity, will

Is the European Commission prepared to authorise some reduced VAT rates for CDs with the specific aim
of safeguarding cultural diversity?

If so, what steps will the Commission take to bring this about in the near future?

If not, what measures does the Commission consider have higher priority in safeguarding cultural
diversity?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf the Commission

(21 November 2003)

The Commission adopted a proposal for a Directive on reduced VAT rates (1) on 23 July 2003. This
proposal does not introduce reduced rates for CDs and other audiovisual media. Its objective is to improve
the Internal Market through further simplification and more uniform application of VAT.

The standard rate of VAT (which ranges from 15 % to 25 %) currently applies to CDs and cassettes in the
15 Member States. After very careful consideration the Commission concluded that,
in view of the
divergences between Member States, the optional application of reduced rates for CDs and cassettes would
inevitably have an adverse impact on the European Internal Market
in a sector where the risk of
distorsions of competition which would thereby be created is far from insignificant.

VAT rates have to be set in an objective way and different rates cannot be applied according to type of
music, artist, language, etc. Such practices would be discriminatory and could call into question one of the
basic features of VAT, its neutrality and objectivity. Consequently, VAT is not an appropriate instrument to
promote certain genres of music and the Commission does not intend to propose that reduced VAT rates
be authorised for CDs or cassettes.

instrument to promote cultural diversity in Unesco, the
As regards the creation of an international
Commission welcomes the unanimous decision taken by the Unesco General Conference on 17 October
2003 to begin work on a convention.

The Commission indicated its approval of the creation of such a legal
Communication of 27 August 2003 (Towards an international instrument on cultural diversity) (2).

instrument by Unesco in its