WRITTEN QUESTION P-1190/04 by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission. Forum of Cultures 2004.
Date: 2004-04-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Catalonia, cultural event, cultural pluralism, cultural policy, regional language

C 88 E/724

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

(2004/C 88 E/0744)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1125/04

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(6 April 2004)

Subject: EU programmes with Turkey (cid:1) potential consequences of full membership

Before the European Council takes a decision in December 2004 on the opening of accession negotiations
with Turkey, the following questions need to be answered:

(cid:1) Under what programmes have EU funds already been made available to Turkey?

(cid:1) What level of funding has been made available?

(cid:1) What financial consequences and/or obligations would the EU face in the event of Turkey becoming a

full EU Member State?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 2004)

Until 2002, Turkey had received support under the MEDA programme and through two regulations to
the customs union (1) and economic and social development (2). The Council adopted on
support
17 December 2001 a regulation concerning pre-accession financial assistance for Turkey. This came into
effect in January 2002 and continues to provide the legal base for our financial cooperation with Turkey.

Over the period 2000-2003 annual financial assistance to Turkey averaged EUR 177 million. In April
2003 agreement was reached between the Parliament, Council and Commission to include Turkey in the
pre-accession heading of
the financial perspectives and to provide substantially increased financial
assistance for the period 2004-2006, amounting to EUR 1050 million over the three years (EUR 250 million
in 2004, EUR 300 million in 2005 and EUR 500 million in 2006).

It should be recalled that the decision to be taken by the European Council in December 2004 will be
based on an assessment of whether Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria. It is clear that the
accession of a country with the size and population of Turkey would have a major impact on the EU, its
policies and institutions. The concrete financial consequences and/or obligations for the EU would depend
on the outcome of the negotiations.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 764/2000 of 10 April 2000 regarding the implementation of measures to intensify the

EC-Turkey customs union, OJ L 94, 14.4.2000.

(2) Regulation (EC) No 257/2001 of

the Parliament and of

the Council of 22 January 2001 regarding the

implementation of measures to promote economic and social development in Turkey, OJ L 39, 9.2.2001.

(2004/C 88 E/0745)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1190/04

by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 April 2004)

Subject: Forum of Cultures 2004

In its answer of 21 October 2003 to my question on the Forum of Cultures (H-0539/03 (1)), which will
formally open in Barcelona on 9 May 2004, the Commission stated that it was keeping track of the
preparations for the Forum and implementing a series of initiatives aimed at fostering intercultural
dialogue.

Since the opening of the Forum is approaching, I would like to know what initiatives the Commission
intends to implement. I should also like to know whether the intercultural dialogue referred to will take
into account the specific cultural characteristics of Catalonia, and more particularly the Catalan language,
which is an official Forum language.

(1) Written answer of 21.10.2003.

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/725

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2004)

The Commission recently presented the outline of the future new-generation programme on culture, in its
Communication on citizenship in action. It proposes to focus on promoting the dialogue between cultures
in this future programme, as the contribution to this dialogue is one of the main benefits offered by
cultural action at Community level.

With regard to the Forum to be held in Barcelona from May to September 2004, the Commission can only
reiterate that it will follow the event closely, as it is not the organiser. As regards any official languages for
the event, therefore, the Commission would suggest contacting the organisers, namely Unesco, the Spanish
State, the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Ajuntament de Barcelona. In any event, the event’s website
(http://www.barcelona2004.org) exists in three languages: English, Catalan and Spanish.

(2004/C 88 E/0746)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1200/04

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 April 2004)

Subject: The progress in Ukraine being recognised by the EU as having Market Economy Status (MES)

The progress in the assessment of the compatibility of the economy of Ukraine with the criteria required
by EU antidumping legislation seems to have arrested. This process was started in September 2000 when
Ukraine was granted special MES and negotiations commenced in October 2000 in order to obtain full
MES. The European Commission has examined as required under customary practice the compliance of
Ukraine under a number of Market Economy Status headings, in particular; non-interference by the State
in company decision making procedures and asset allocation, clear corporate accounting and independent
audit procedures, continuing market distortions carried over from the command economy period during
the Soviet Union times, legal certainty to title and bankruptcy procedures in accord with international
norms, and the possesion of a floating market driven currency exchange mechanism.

In September 2002 Mr. Prodi met President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine and assured him that the EC would
announce its decision within six months following the provision of extensive answers by the Government
of Ukraine on the market status nature of Ukraine’s economy. Despite further questioning during the
course of the 4th and 6th EU-Ukraine Co-operation Committee and further assurances by External Trade
Commissioner Lamy as to the readiness of Ukraine in October 2003, Ukraine still has not had an answer
on whether
the Ukrainian economy has made further
improvements over the last three years. For instance, its GDP has increased by 8,5 % between 2002 and
2003, there is now no state interference into companies’ decision making process, equal rights exist for the
activity of enterprises regardless of the form of ownership, price regulation is settled almost entirely by free
market mechanisms rather than the state and over 90 % share of the market is private, whilst less than
10 % of market is state owned.

it will be granted full MES. Futhermore,

Mindful of these objective facts and with the geo-politically driven decision to grant Russia full MES is the
Commission deliberately stalling on this decision for political reasons rather than the strict economic
criteria required?