WRITTEN QUESTION E-2667/99 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council. Prospects of Azerbaijan joining the Council of Europe and development of EU/Azerbaijan relations.
3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/97 for Internal Affairs) disappeared in May 1999 and Mr Gonchar Two front-rank political personalities have disappeared over the last few months: Mr Zakharenko (former Minister the 13th Supreme Soviet) in September 1999; we have no information concerning their whereabouts. The case of a third major personality, Mrs Vinnikova (former Chairwoman of the Belarusian Central Bank) has been solved. She joined her son in the United Kingdom at the end of 1999. (Vice-Chairman of In the light of these developments the Council is not in a position to lift the 1997 restrictions. The EU makes its position clear to Belarus at every appropriate occasion and presses for more democratic reforms (senior officialsí Troika mission to Minsk on 1 and 2 November, meeting between Under-Secretary of State Blomberg and Foreign Minister Latypov in Istanbul on 18 November and dØmarches by heads of mission whenever necessary). Moreover, the recently signed TACIS Civil Society Development Programme will contribute to improving the democratic reform process in Belarus. The EUís overriding aim is the holding of free and fair, internationally observed and recognised elections in 2000. The Council has taken good note of President Lukashenkoís commitment to such elections, and will hold him to his word. To set the electoral process in motion, a dialogue between the Government and the opposition is indispensable. The EU fully supports the efforts of the OSCE as the only organisation able to kick-start this dialogue. (2000/C 280 E/098) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2665/99 by Yasmine Boudjenah (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Restructuring of ABB Alstom Power (12 January 2000) The management of the ABB Alstom Power group, which was formed in a merger on 30 June 1999, has announced a restructuring programme. In some countries where the undertaking operates job cuts have already been announced. Have this group and/or its pre-merger constituent groups received any EU aid? If so, could the Commission give details of the amount and the conditions under which it was granted? Was such aid conditional on job creation? Is the Commission prepared to ask for it to be repaid? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (10 February 2000) The Commission is making the necessary inquiries in the various Member States. It will make the results of its investigation known as soon as possible. (2000/C 280 E/099) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2667/99 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council (13 January 2000) Subject: Prospects of Azerbaijan joining the Council of Europe and development of EU/Azerbaijan relations Can the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy give full details on the state of progress of Azerbaijanís accession to the Council of Europe? More generally, can the High Representative indicate how the EU intends to develop relations with the country? C 280 E/98 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 Reply (16 March 2000) The Council fully supports the objective of Azerbaijan to become a member of the Council of Europe. However, neither the Council nor the High Representative is involved in this accession process and is therefore not in a position to comment on it. in support of developing closer relations The High Representative will continue to assist the Council between the European Union and Azerbaijan. The European Union has contractual relations with Azerbaijan through a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which provides for, amongst other things, enhanced trade relations, financial cooperation, and a political dialogue. The first meeting of the EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation Council established under this agreement took place in October 1999 and a further meeting is planned later this year. The political dialogue provides the European Union with the opportunity to raise a number of issues of interest including human rights, regional cooperation and the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. (2000/C 280 E/100) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2668/99 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Regulations on advertisements during election campaigns In Italy one of the great topics of debate at the moment is equal opportunities in the field of television advertising during election campaigns; in fact, for parties and individual politicians, a ban on interrupting television programmes with advertisements could be in force as early as the next local elections. According to the proposal television advertising slots would be granted. For national television, on the other hand, the parties would be granted self-managed slots for transmission between television programmes. for legislation submitted by the Italian Government, only private local In the light of the above: 1. Can the Commission say how the other Member States deal with television advertising during election campaigns? 2. Are there any relevant EU directives? 3. What is the Commissionís assessment of the issue? Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission (29 February 2000) includes provisions relating to advertising, sponsorship and teleshopping. However, Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities (1), as amended by Directive 97/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 1997 (2), these provisions do not govern political broadcasts or political advertising, but relate to advertising spots without distinction in terms of time. The Commission has not received any complaints concerning arrangements in the Member States similar to those described by the Honourable Member. The Commun- ity rules in force in this area do not make provision for any examination of national regulations at the draft stage, such as the proposal referred to, unless the text contains provisions relating specifically to information society services, which are subject to the prior notification obligation under Directive 98/34/EC