WRITTEN QUESTION No. 192/99 by Robert EVANS Ariane
C 348/32 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 12. 1999 (1999/C 348/039) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0192/99 by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission (11 February 1999) Subject: Ariane Would the Commission indicate whether it will accept project applications which aim to make books and reading more acceptable to blind and partially-sighted people under the recently agreed ARIANE Programme? Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (23 March 1999) The Ariane programme, adopted by the Parliament and the Council on 24 October 1997 (Decision No 2085/ 97/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 6 October 1997 establishing a programme of support including translation, in the field of books and reading (Ariane) (1)) aims to encourage cooperation between the Member States in the field of books and reading; to support and complement their activities in this area, by contributing to the development of their cultures while respecting national and regional diversity; to increase the knowledge and dissemination for the literature and history of the European peoples, as well as access thereto by European citizens, notably through support for the translation of literary works, plays and reference works, support for cooperation projects carried out in partnership and improvement of the skills of professionals in this field. In the context of action 1, which concerns support for the translation of literary works, plays and reference works, all of the projects submitted must involve the translation of the work at least into one other Community language. Consequently, a project which does not foresee translation to another Community language, but rather concentrates on the changes required in order to make books and reading more accessible to blind and partially sighted people, cannot be eligible under this action. However, any application submitted under action 2 ; support for cooperation projects carried out in partnership which aim to improve the promotion of books and reading, and access by the citizen to them ; can involve projects which aim to make books and reading more accessible to blind and partially sighted people, as with any other people. Such projects must of course respect the eligibility criteria, particularly as regards the need for a European dimension. Finally, the projects submitted under action 3 ; which concerns support for improvement of the skills of professionals ; may involve both blind people and partially sighted people, on condition that the other criteria for participation are respected. (1) OJ L 291, 24. 10. 1997. (1999/C 348/040) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0193/99 by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission (11 February 1999) Subject: Grey whales in Mexico The European Union is currently conducting negotiations with the Government of Mexico for a wide-ranging and ambitious economic association and political cooperation agreement. The preamble to the draft Proposal for a Council Decision (COM(97) 527 final) (1) refers to the importance both parties attach to the application of sustainable development principles, as set out in Agenda 21 of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment in Article 34 of the proposal under negotiation, the parties commit and Development. Furthermore, themselves to preserve the environment and ecological balance of their respective jurisdictions. Since the proposed Mexico-EU Free-Trade Agreement contains as yet no environmental ‘side agreement’ ; a level of protection found in the North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ; there is a concern that Mexican environmental laws and regulations will not be fully enforced and implemented and that this will lead to an unfair trade advantage between the EU and Mexico