WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1671/98 by Cristiana MUSCARDINI to the Commission. RAI International and the protection of plural information
C 386/154 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 11. 12. 98 (98/C 386/210) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1660/98 by Rainer Wieland (PPE) to the Commission (29 May 1998) Subject: Costs of the parliamentary system Sector IV of the German Bundestagís research service produced a document which calculated áthe costs of the parliamentary system of the USA and the Federal Republic of Germanyí on 24 February 1998 under the reference number WF IV › 4/98. Is the Commission aware of this document? Does the Commission consider that the conclusions reached are accurate? Is the Commission able to compare the costs of the parliamentary systems in the Member States of the Union and the costs of the parliamentary system of the European Union itself, in the case of the latter both with and without inclusion of the language services, for the figures available from 1993 onwards for the relevant financial years? If so, what is the outcome of this comparison? Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (12 June 1998) In the performance of its duties under the Treaties, the Commission does not acquire information of the kind requested. It is therefore unable to answer the question. (98/C 386/211) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1671/98 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (29 May 1998) Subject: RAI International and the protection of plural information Italian state television, in order to broadcast programmes and information to the Italian community living overseas, has for many years had a section known as RAI International which broacasts, in Italian, a selection of programmes devised in its Rome studios. The person appointed to head this important section, which is responsible for presenting Italyís image abroad, is a party politician › the previous head of the former Italian Communist Partyís propaganda unit › and, consequently, does not possess the independence of mind which should be an essential prerequisite for senior office in the public service. The programmes broadcast by RAI International are self-congratulatory celebrations of and by the Left, with old films and programmes being transmitted at prime time while news and cultural programmes which would provide more elevating entertainment for communities abroad are relegated to less popular viewing times. Meanwhile, the parliamentary monitoring committee which should uphold fair broadcasting standards cannot intervene for the simple reason that these programmes can be received only overseas. Could the Commision take action: 1. 2. to ensure that the RAI, as a public service broadcaster, broadcasts independent and pluralistic information, and to urge RAI International to uphold the right to receive accurate information in order to protect Italian citizens living abroad by ensuring the information provided to them is as objective, fair, independent and pluralistic as possible