WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2765/97 by Irene SOLTWEDEL-SCHÄFER to the Commission. Promoting children*s theatre
C 102/114 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 3. 4. 98 (98/C 102/164) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2765/97 by Irene Soltwedel-Scha¤fer (V) to the Commission (1 September 1997) Subject: Promoting children•s theatre Drama can play an important part in the personal development of children. It encourages self-confidence, team spirit and creativity in a very special way. For this reason, the promotion of children’s theatre takes on particular significance. What has the Commission done in the past three years to promote children’s theatre in the European Community? What projects has it supported through the various directorates-general, under which promotional programmes? Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (21 October 1997) The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that artistic disciplines, and in particular the theatre, can foster the development of the individual from a very early age. The Commission recalls that, within the framework of its cultural activities, cooperation projects in the theatre, including children’s theatre, have been supported in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Community programme in support of cultural cooperation projects › the Kaleidoscope programme (Decision 719/96/EC (1)) › and under the pilot project of the same name which preceded it. Alarge number of projects in the theatre have been supported in the last three years, including performances, further training projects and European network projects to strengthen and improve the quality of cooperation and exchanges between European theatres and professionals in the theatre. Six projects (2) centred mainly around children’s theatre (a list of these projects is being sent direct to the Honourable Member and Parliament’s Secretariat). European educational projects supported by the Commission under the Socrates programme, Chapter II (School Education (Comenius)), also attach much importance to the theatre. Several European educational projects which involve at least three schools in three different Member States, gave rise to performances by their pupils and teachers, sometimes in several languages. (1) OJ L 99, 20. 4. 1996. (2) Successful projects of a pluridisciplinary nature (for example a festival or a network extending to projects in children’s theatre), are not included in this total. (98/C 102/165) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2766/97 by Christoph Konrad (PPE) to the Commission (1 September 1997) Subject: State aid from the Kingdom of Belgium to the Forges de Clabecq steel company 1. On 18 December 1996 the Commission ruled that subsidies amounting to BEF 3 billion from the Kingdom of Belgium to the Forges de Clabecq steel company were incompatible with the common market. Belgium was required to reclaim the subsidies within two months of the decision. Does the Commission know whether repayment has duly taken place? If repayment of the subsidies should prove unenforceable, is the Commission prepared to examine whether the distortion of competition caused by subsidies must not be alleviated by a reduction in capacity? 2. On 13 June 1997 the Belgian daily Le Soir reported that in the possible sale of Forges de Clabecq to a private company the Walloon Region was prepared to grant the company an extra BEF 1. 8 billion. Does the Commission find this further subsidy incompatible with the steel aid code, and what steps does it intend to take to bring about the necessary reduction in capacity?