WRITTEN QUESTION No. 467/98 by Allan MACARTNEY to the Commission. Definition of time at sea under the MAGP IV
C 304/112 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 2. 10. 98 Exclusivity of broadcasting rights to important sports events may also be examined under another measure not aimed at addressing competition problems. Article 3a of Directive 89/552/EEC, recently modified by Directive 97/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities (1), allows Member States to take measures in order to ensure that broadcasters under their jurisdiction ádo not broadcast on an exclusive basis events which are regarded by the Member State as being of major importance for society in such a way as to deprive a substantial proportion of the public in that Member State of the possibility of following such events via live coverage or deferred coverage on free televisioní. The Directive (recital No 21) makes it plain that these national measures may apply to events that áare of interest to the general public in the European Union, or in a given Member State, or in an important component part of a given Member Stateí. However, the current United Kingdom regulations (álisted eventsí Section 97 of the Broadcasting Act 1996) do not include Scotlandís qualifying matches for the European football championships. The Department of media, culture and sport is responsible for keeping the United Kingdomís list under review. (1) OJ L 202, 30. 7. 1997. (98/C 304/168) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0467/98 by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission (27 February 1998) Subject: Definition of time at sea under the MAGP IV Can the Commission provide details of those Member States which intend to achieve effort targets under the MAGP IV by a reduction in activity (i. e. number of days at sea) and indicate whether the definitions of time at sea in each case correspond with those laid down in the multiannual guidance programmes? Does the Commission appreciate that such definitions must be common to allow a proper assessment of fishing effort under the MAGP? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (2 April 1998) The Member States that have indicated their intention to use activity reductions during the period of the multiannual guidance programme (MAGP) IV are Germany, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. For the MAGPs, the activity of a vessel is measured in the number of days spent at sea, as defined in Commission Regulation (EC) No 109/94 (1) concerning the fishing vessel register of the Community. This definition applies for all Member States. Over the period of the MAGP IV the Commission will verify for all Member States that the way in which activity is defined and measured is in accordance with Community legislation. (1) OJ L 19, 22. 1. 1994