WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2289/97 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. EU contributions to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO)
C 117/8 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 4. 98 (98/C 117/10) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2277/97 by Sebastiano Musumeci (NI) to the Commission (2 July 1997) Subject: Shameful attack on the reputation of Sicily by the German press In May 1997 the German daily newspaper Das Bildí published an article entitled Unfaithful lover torn to pieces by dogsí, written by journalist Andreas Englisch, which, instead of providing a factual account of a recent tragedy in Catania, includes unverified details of the event so outrageous as to be laughable. This is the latest in a long series of efforts by the German media to sully the reputation of Italy and its people and in particular Sicily. 1. Does the Commission believe that stricter controls should be imposed on the press, which is clearly in the hands of unscrupulous and unethical journalists who may be acting at the behest of organized interests wishing to undermine the image of itself as a tourist destination which Sicily promotes overseas? 2. Does it not consider that representation should be made to the German Government in order to end squalid behaviour of this kind, which runs counter to the principles of solidarity and respect among peoples enshrined in the Maastricht Treaty? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (20 October 1997) The Commission appreciates that the Honourable Member is concerned by the issue raised in this question. In response to the specific points, however, it should be noted that, in general, the supervision of the press falls within the competence of each Member State, according to the rule of subsidiarity. The rules of the EC Treaty empower the Commission to act in this area, only when the regulatory framework or the behaviour of the publication in question would be incompatible with Community law, in particular as regards the internal market. (98/C 117/11) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2289/97 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (2 July 1997) Subject: EU contributions to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) The European Union has agreed to pay 15 million ecus per annum for five years to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO). Along with US and Japanese contributions, the money will be used to help the construction of two Western-designed light water reactors (LWRs) in North Korea, which is currently experiencing a famine. A Commission report from May 1997 › Activities report related to the use of the intended Community financial contribution to KEDOí › states that áthrough KEDO, the EU can support peace and stability in the regioní and áwould make a significant contribution towards upholding international non-proliferation objectives and improving nuclear safety on the Korean peninsulaí. On what basis did the Commission reach the conclusion that building nuclear reactors in a famine-stricken country would contribute to regional peace and stability? The reactors financed by the EU will produce plutonium. How will the EU ensure that the resulting plutonium will not be diverted to the manufacture of nuclear weapons? Have sites for the reactors been identified? If so, can the Commission give details of the site selection process undertaken?