WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3190/97 by Glyn FORD to the Commission. Harmonization of film classification
C 117/162 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 4. 98 The main airline using the airport will of course be Olympic Airways, and its needs should therefore be taken into account in constructing this project. However, Olympic Airways has not yet forwarded its proposals with a description of its needs, and as a result implementation of the project is being delayed. Will the Commission say whether Olympic Airways has been requested to send a list of its needs regarding the new airport of Spata › and, if so, when›, and what action it intends to take to unblock the whole affair so that progress can be made without further delay? Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (28 October 1997) According to the information obtained by the Commission from the Cohesion Fund monitoring committee, the project for the new Athens international airport at Spata is proceeding as planned. The same sources also indicate that the Greek authorities are currently examining the list of needs submitted by Olympic Airways. The Commission will monitor the progress of work on this project closely. (98/C 117/220) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3190/97 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (16 October 1997) Subject: Harmonization of film classification Does the Commission have any plans to harmonize film classification across the Union given that certain companies on internal EU flights and ferries ignore film classification? Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (11 November 1997) Film classifications are first and foremost a matter for the Member States. Classification may vary according to the medium (cinema release, television films, videos, etc. ). In the absence of specific instances which might constitute serious barriers to trade, no detailed examination is being carried out at European level at present into possible problems posed by such differences in classification. However, in connection with the work being carried out into the protection of minors, especially in connection with the Green Paper on the protection of minors and human dignity in audiovisual and information services (1), a study has been conducted into the protection of minors in all audiovisual and information services. As a follow-up to the Green Paper, and after consulting Parliament, the Commission is preparing a communication accompanied by a proposal for a recommendation aimed at strengthening cooperation between those concerned. The question of the classification of content forms part of the overall problem of álabelling of contentsí and will be one of the areas in which cooperation will be developed. Future work is planned on the relationship between existing film classifications (for the cinema, television and video) and the labelling of content in the case of on-line services in the context of the protection of minors in audiovisual services in general. This work will lead to an examination of the question of classification at European level. (1) COM(96) 483 final