WRITTEN QUESTION No. 551/99 by Alexandros ALAVANOS Improved library facilities in the European Union
C 348/98 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 12. 1999 (1999/C 348/122) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0551/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Improved library facilities in the European Union (12 March 1999) In the resolution contained in an own-initiative report (A4-248/98), the Commission is urged to support the creation of libraries in the European Union under the fifth framework programme of research. Has the Commission taken steps to create new libraries? If it has when can those concerned table proposals for the creation or improvement of libraries and to whom should such proposals be addressed? Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (16 April 1999) The Commission is positively pursuing the need for further action in response to the own initiative report A4-248/98 on the role of libraries in the modern world. It is therefore currently preparing a communication addressing a number of specific issues facing libraries and raised in the report, such as lifelong learning, copyright, services in support of literacy, and wider collaboration between libraries on access to knowledge resources and services. In addition the Information society technologies (IST) programme in general , and key action 3 ‘multimedia content and tools’ in particular , offers a large scope for libraries to participate in cooperative research under the fifth framework programme. Two calls for proposals are already scheduled in 1999 for the IST programme and will be advertised in the Official journal. (1999/C 348/123) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0555/99 by Anita Pollack (PSE) to the Commission (12 March 1999) Subject: India and the environment Who will take part in the forthcoming high level meeting between the EU and India on environmental issues? Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (14 April 1999) There are currently no plans to hold a Community-India high level meeting on the environment. Environ- mental issues are, however, discussed regularly in the framework of Community-India cooperation, as was the case recently in the meetings of the sub-commission on development and of the joint commission that took place on 13 and 14 January 1999, respectively. As a follow-up to the joint commission meeting, bilateral discussions are under way on the establishment of a number of working groups of experts, including a working group on the environment. Environment has been designated as one of the three main areas of the cooperation programme with India, in addition to primary education and basic health. This is in line with the Commission’s communication on an ‘EU India Enhanced Partnership (1)’. Furthermore, the Commission has in recent months made proposals to the Indian side to deepen the bilateral dialogue and cooperation on the environment, also as part of the Commission’s endeavour to promote exchanges on soft security issues