WRITTEN QUESTION E-2072/99 by Klaus-Heiner Lehne (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Ban on tobacco advertising, freedom of the press.
C 219 E/84 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 (2000/C 219 E/100) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2072/99 by Klaus-Heiner Lehne (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Ban on tobacco advertising, freedom of the press (12 November 1999) Is it true that, in connection with the transposition of the directive concerning the prohibition of tobacco advertising, the two Member States Britain and France intend, once this directive has been transposed in their countries, to prohibit the distribution of magazines originating from countries in which there is no ban on tobacco advertising or where the directive has not yet been transposed if these publications carry tobacco advertising? How does the Commission view this against the background of the guarantee of the freedom of the press? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (13 December 1999) The Commission is not aware of the intentions of two Member States to restrict circulation of press carrying tobacco advertising. If such cases were brought to its attention, they would be considered in the framework of Directive 98/43/ EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 1998 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products (1). However, concerning the press, this Directive has only to be transposed into national law until 30 July 2002. (1) OJ L 213, 30. 7. 1998. (2000/C 219 E/101) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2073/99 by Agnes Schierhuber (PPE-DE) to the Commission (12 November 1999) Subject: Cartels and WTO compatibility 1. Is the OPEC oil cartel compatible with the WTO rules? If so, what positions will the EU adopt at the WTO Millennium Round in opposing the market- 2. distorting measures taken by the OPEC countries? 3. What view should be taken of the impact that government export organisations in New Zealand, Australia and Canada to which or through which products must be sold (dairy boards, wheat boards, etc. ) have on world trade, and how are they compatible with the WTO? 4. What view should be taken of the impact on world trade of such measures as export credits, internal transport subsidies and the fact that US states have different licensing procedures, and how are they compatible with the WTO? Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission (22 December 1999) 1. and 2. The problem of the compatibility of the Organisation of petroleum exporting countries (OPEC) with World trade organisation (WTO) rules has never arisen in practice. While the Community considers that future negotiations on competition should include commitments by governments to treat