WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1096/98 by John CUSHNAHAN to the Commission. Consumer protection in Ireland
21. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 323/113 Answer given by the Flynn on behalf of the Commission (30 April 1998) No economic impact study was made by the Commission in relation to this proposal for a directive. It is aimed at approximating the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States on the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products with a view to eliminating barriers within the internal market. As such, an estimate of its impact would be difficult to establish given the existing restrictions at Member State level, and the effect which transitional periods provided in the common position adopted by the Council on 12 February 1998 will have on all the sectors concerned. A further element to be considered is the expected reduction in tobacco consumption, estimated by the World health organisation to be responsible for over 500 000 deaths per year in the Community. (98/C 323/173) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1096/98 by John Cushnahan (PPE) to the Commission (30 March 1998) Subject: Consumer protection in Ireland The Consumersí Association of Ireland is a non-profit and non-government organization working since 1996 in the interests of Irish consumers. Is the Commission aware that this Association has been informed by DG XXIV that its application for funding is not being granted for 1998? In the context of the Amsterdam Treaty, with its emphasis on strengthening consumer protection, what action does the Commission propose to take to ensure the promotion and representation of the rights of consumers in Ireland by an independent consumer organization as exists in all other EU Member States? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (27 April 1998) The Commission can confirm that an application for funding for three linked projects was received from the Consumersí Association of Ireland (CAI) in the context of a general call for applications organised by the Commission. The Commission received around 380 applications. Some 60 have been selected for financial support. It has not been possible to fund more projects given budgetary constraints. The CAI application involved the funding of a magazine, Consumers Choiceí. The Commission has supported this financially for a number of years but it was decided that it could not be an objective of Community consumer policy to financially support the same action on a continuing basis. To do so would risk developing a dependency on Community funding, which neither the Commission nor the budget authority wishes. The decision not to fund the CAI project has to be seen in this context. This reasoning for the Commissionís decision was explained to the chief executive of the CAI at a recent meeting. The Commission would point out, however, that two projects from consumer bodies in Ireland have been accepted. These corresponded more closely to the priorities identified for support in 1998. Finally, the Commission plans to co-finance a major conference in Ireland this year concerning the new provisions in the Amsterdam Treaty on consumer policy