WRITTEN QUESTION E-3335/03 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Editorial offices of the daily newspaper Il Giornale searched.
Date: 2003-11-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, communications profession, freedom of the press, law relating to information, newspaper, press, professional secret, search

C 78 E/264

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

The Commission would stress that the Eurobarometer findings in no way reflect its own positions, that it
does not base its action on the findings of surveys and that it condemns outright any form of antisemitism.

1.
The purpose of the Eurobarometer Flash 151 survey was to gauge people’s attitudes towards the
reconstruction process in Iraq, peace in the world and the role of the Union on the international stage,
particularly in the Near and Middle East. Among the many questions asked, one concerned the level of
threat perceived in the case of certain countries.

The list of countries included,
discussed in the media in previous months and met one or more of the following criteria:

in addition to the Union, a number of third countries that had been

(cid:1) countries that are major actors in areas exposed to regional conflict;

(cid:1) countries that had developed, or had the capacity to develop, nuclear programmes for military

purposes;

(cid:1) countries with possible links to international terrorism.

The questionnaire was prepared jointly by the Press and Communication Directorate-General and by our
contractor, TNS Sofres, whose coordination centre for the Eurobarometre Flash 151 survey is EOS Gallup
Europe.

The Commission had no intention of conducting a provocative survey. It neither determines nor

2.
controls the content of public opinion.

3.
This question was concerned not with the level of democracy in the countries tested but solely with
how individuals perceived any threat to peace. The criteria for selecting the countries to be included in the
list are spelt out above.

4.
By virtue of its very nature, an opinion poll is not necessarily ‘diplomatic’ since its purpose is to
capture the state of public opinion and by no means to represent the position of a particular institution. In
order to be understood by the majority, any question asked in an opinion poll proceeds by simplification.
The question on countries that could pose a threat to world peace needs to be seen in the wider context of
this study, of which it was only one aspect among many others.

5.
The cost of the study on Iraq and world peace (preparation, fieldwork, processing of statistics and
drafting of the report) was EUR 150 098,34, financed out of budget line B-3-300. The opinion poll
financing, political
contained fifteen or so questions on the reconstruction of
transition, security, military aspects, humanitarian aid), on the Union’s role on the international stage
(impact of the war in Iraq, peace process in the Middle East, development of cultural relations with the
Arab world, closeness to the foreign policy of the United States) and on the perception of certain risks
(terrorism, countries regarded as posing a threat to peace). This opinion poll captures the attitudes of
individuals in the Union to these various aspects. The findings, broken down by country and by socio-
demographic variable, have been made available to decision-makers, journalists, the scientific community
and any interested individual.

Iraq (administration,

(2004/C 78 E/0264)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3335/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(12 November 2003)

Subject: Editorial offices of the daily newspaper ‘Il Giornale’ searched

On 17 October last the head office of the daily newspaper ‘Il Giornale’ in Rome was subjected to a seven-
hour search ordered by the Public Prosecutor of Perugia in the context of investigations into the ‘Telekom
Serbia’ case.

The newspaper had been conducting a detailed inquiry into the growing scandal involving the former
State-owned company Telecom Italia, which purchased the Serbian company in 1997, and a number of
politicians in the government at the time. The inquiry had recently revealed new aspects of the case and
evidence submitted by some individuals acquainted with the facts had been published.

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/265

The editor Maurizio Belpietro and the correspondent Gianmarco Chiocci were notified of charges of
defamation and violation of confidentiality by the Public Prosecutor, and Chiocci’s computer was sealed.

The episode is particularly unpleasant because it constitutes a serious violation of press freedom and
freedom of information, as well as the professional freedom of those subjected to the search. These
principles are recognised as fundamental by the national constitutions of all democratic countries, as well
as by the Council of Europe which,
in Recommendation R(200)7 of 8 March 2000, stressed that the
interception of communications, surveillance and judicial search and seizure are unacceptable if their
purpose is to circumvent the right of journalists to information. Article 11 of the European Charter of
Fundamental Rights considers this right to be inalienable and the European Court of Human Rights has on
several occasions expressed views on the subject. Recently (judgment of 15 July 2003 in Case No 33400/
96, Ernst v. Belgium) it established,
in a similar case, that the investigators’ aim of identifying those
responsible for leaks of information from legal departments did not justify searching the workplace of
journalists in order to discover their sources of information.

In the light of all these considerations can the Commission say:

1. whether it considers that the episode mentioned constitutes a serious violation of the principles and

provisions mentioned;

2. how the European Union might act to sanction such restrictions on freedom of the press;

3. whether it intends to make a statement on the issue?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 2003)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written P-3201/03 by Mr Tajani (1)

(1) See page 240.

(2004/C 78 E/0265)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3336/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(12 November 2003)

Subject: Suspected violation of the rights of the employees of Alcatel Italia S.p.A.

With reference to the answer of 23 October 2003 given by the Commissioner Mrs Diamantopoulou to
question P-2897/03 (1), it should be noted that the restructuring plan would lead to the fragmentation of a
well-established industrial centre with ultra-modern structures and equipment and highly specialised
workers. Furthermore,
the
workforce are women and young people.

there would be serious social repercussions, since a large percentage of

Finally, it appears that Alcatel has obtained substantial funding from the Region of Lazio and the Italian
government in the past.

In view of all this, can the Commission say:

1. whether it does not consider that the plan is contrary to the procedures laid down in Directive 2001/

23/EC (2) and Directive 2000/78/EC (3);

2. what steps should be taken to safeguard the jobs of women and young people?

(1) OJ C 65 E, 13.3.2004.
(2) OJ L 82, 22.3.2001, p. 16.
(3) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16.