WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1646/97 by Ursula STENZEL to the Commission. Implementation of a Media III programme
22. 1. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 21/77 (98/C 21/170) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1646/97 by Ursula Stenzel (PPE) to the Commission (14 May 1997) Subject: Implementation of a Media III programme The various Listeners and Viewers representatives of the ORF, ARD, ZDF and SRG are jointly calling for an EU Media III programme aimed at encouraging production of their own childrenís programmes. That would make high-quality products for childrenís programmes or childrenís channels available to television organizations. Is there any possibility of achieving and promoting this aspiration? Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (30 June 1997) The priority aim of the Media II programme is to support independent audiovisual production. The Commission has consequently endeavoured to put in place grant mechanisms upstream and downstream of production, in the form of assistance for training, development and distribution. In the case of assistance for television, special attention is paid to programmes for children and in particular animated programmes. Grants are thus paid for dubbing or sub-titling programmes for television and for the production of works involving at least two broadcasters from more than one Member State. The stated aim of these measures (see 1. 2. 2 of the Annex to Decision 95/563/EC) (1) is to improve the circulation of quality works in Europe and to offer broadcasters a range of programmes with a wide broadcasting potential. Thus broadcasters indirectly receive Community aid. With regard to Media III, it is too soon to anticipate the half-term assessment of the Media II programme (planned for mid-1998) or the recommendations which could result therefrom and lead to possible readjustments in the future. (1) OJ L 321, 31. 12. 1995. (98/C 21/171) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1648/97 by Leoluca Orlando (V) to the Commission (14 May 1997) Subject: Assumed conflict between Sicilian regional law 1/9/93 and Articles 92 and 93 of the Treaty of Rome Regional law 1/9/93 of the Sicilian Regional Assembly amended the rules on incentives for charter and IT (inclusive tour) flights to Sicily already operating under regional law 12. 4. 1967, No 46. Those eligible for the financial aid thus provided by the regional administration are indiscriminately tour operators and travel agencies (Sicilian, Italian, European and non-European) that intend to arrange tourist travel to Sicily. As the aid is granted not to the operators but to the consumers through the operators concerned and the rules apply absolutely indiscriminately between Sicilian and non-Sicilian tour operators and travel agencies who intend to make use of it, I do not consider there to be any distortion of competition within the meaning of Articles 92 and 93 of the Treaty of Rome. The aid in question does not constitute a reduction of costs for tour operators and travel agents but takes the form of price reductions for tour packages to Sicily for the exclusive benefit of tourists