WRITTEN QUESTION P-0390/00 by Liam Hyland (UEN) to the Commission. Israeli refusal of entry visa to EU citizens.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/187 Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission (30 March 2000) The Commission has a good relationship with the European Journalism Training Association (EJTA) and values its programme for the training of future European journalists. The Commission has given annual financial support to a series of Euroreporterí projects amounting to some € 200 000 per year for the past decade. Late payments from the Commission are mainly due to the late submission of the final reports from the EJTA secretariat, without which no commitments for new applications can be made. The EJTAís final report for 1997 and the application for 1998 arrived too late to ensure a financial contribution from the Commission for 1998. The Commission is prevented from giving retroactive support to projects. As for Euroreporterí 1999, the first 50 % of the contribution has already been paid and the remaining balance will be paid as soon as the Commission receives the final 1999 accounts from EJTA. No formal request has yet been submitted by EJTA to the Commission for the year 2000. (2000/C 303 E/213) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0389/00 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Council (16 February 2000) Subject: Genetic tests on immigrants in Switzerland On Sunday the Mise au Point programme broadcast by the Swiss French-language television channel TSR broke the news about a draft law which is already in the hands of the Federal Councillor Ruth Metzler. According to the programme, would-be immigrants wishing to enter the country in order to join other members of their family will in future (if the law is adopted) be required to undergo genetic tests in order to establish kinship. In view of the fact that an Agreement exists between the European Union and Switzerland: 1. What is the European Union intending to do about disturbing evidence of a xenophobic attitude towards foreigners which, in this particular case, brings Nazi practices to mind? 2. What will the Council do in the light of the fact that many foreign nationals live in Switzerland, including nationals from a number of EU Member States? Reply (13 April 2000) It is not for the Council to express an opinion on broadcasts by the television channel mentioned by the Honourable Member. (2000/C 303 E/214) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0390/00 by Liam Hyland (UEN) to the Commission (8 February 2000) Subject: Israeli refusal of entry visa to EU citizens On 10 October 1999, 25 members of a Catholic charity from Co. Wexford, Ireland were denied entry to Israel, manhandled by police and defamed in the media. Following high level intervention by the Irish government and Catholic church leaders, Israel proposes allowing the group to enter its territory but not C 303 E/188 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 before 31 March 2000, for a maximum period of 30 days, and under certain other conditions which the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs deems unacceptable. Can the Commission state that it will investigate as a matter of urgency the actions of the Israeli authorities and commit itself to intervening on behalf of these EU citizens to ensure that they are accorded access to Israel under conditions which do not treat them as a threat to national security? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (24 February 2000) The Commission is fully aware of the events involving the Catholic charity group from Co Wexford trying to visit Israel. Extensive and detailed information was handed to the Commission both by Members of the Parliament and by the Israeli Mission in Brussels. These documents described an unfortunate chain of events which led to this regrettable situation. The Commission shares the concern of the Irish authorities and trusts an appropriate solution can be found in the very near future. It notes that the Irish Foreign Ministry is in close contact with the Israeli government in order to find a swift resolution of the issue. Matters of consular protection and access to third countries do not fall within competence of the Commission, but it would be ready to offer its good services if requested by the Irish authorities. (2000/C 303 E/215) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0396/00 by Doris Pack (PPE-DE) to the Commission (15 February 2000) Subject: FIBT TV rights Every year, the Milan-based FIBT (International Bobsleighing and Tobogganing Federation) organises World Cup and European and world championship competitions for two-man and four-man bobs. It awards the right to stage these events to individual national associations and bobsleigh-run owners subject to the terms of an agreement which it draws up and which applicants are required to accept. Section 1. 13. 4 of the FIBTís International Rules states that all TV, film, video and radio rights and rights pertaining to new media, including CD-ROM and the Internet, for FIBT events are owned exclusively by the FIBT. The FIBT has concluded a long-term contract with Eurosport on the basis of this provision. Local event organisers and national associations, who bear all the financial risk in respect of the competitions, are not allowed themselves to sell broadcasting rights. Local event organisers and FIBT member associations are thus deprived of the funds they need to finance the artificial-ice bobsleigh runs in future. Will the Commission please state: 1. Whether the FIBTís rules and its agreement with event organisers run counter to Community case law as it is currently evolving with regard to sport? 2. Whether the FIBTís rules are an obstacle to the free movement of services?