WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2730/98 by Jessica LARIVE to the Commission. DG XIII's failure to pay a subsidy promised to the Netherlands Film Festival
C 135/106 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 14. 5. 1999 (1999/C 135/125) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2730/98 by Jessica Larive (ELDR) to the Commission (1 September 1998) Subject: DG XIII’s failure to pay a subsidy promised to the Netherlands Film Festival In 1995 the Commission (DG XIII) decided to grant the Netherlands Film Festival a subsidy of ECU 12 000 to organise the Scientific Technical Festival. After a series of letters, phone calls and requests for payments the sum in question was eventually received in early 1997. In 1996 another subsidy, this time of twice ECU 12 000, was promised by an official of DG XIII. The requisite papers were completed and returned by the recipient. However, despite a number of letters, petitions and a complaint to the European Ombudsman no money has yet been forthcoming. Is the Commission aware of the facts concerning the granting of subsidies by an official of DG XIII 1. and excuses about mail not being received and the service moving premises? 2. Has the official in question promised more than he can deliver? 3. What action is the Commission going to take? 4. When does the Commission think it will be paying out the money? Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (7 October 1998) A complaint concerning the case referred to by the Honourable Member has already been made to the European Ombudsman. The Commission provided a detailed response to an initial request for information by the Ombudsman. In addition, following a request for further information by the Ombudsman, the Commission provided further details on specific points concerning the subsidy-granting procedure. The Ombudsman has so far not announced his conclusions. Since the facts at issue are being examined closely by the European Ombudsman the Commission feels that the Ombudsman¢s conclusions should be awaited before any possible follow-up work in this areas is examined. (1999/C 135/126) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2732/98 by Christine Oddy (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1998) Subject: Religious persecution in Sudan Will the Commission protest in the strongest possible terms to the government of the Republic of Sudan over that country’s continuing persecution of people who convert to the Christian faith? Its attention should be drawn particularly to the cases of Faisal Abdallah, Ahmad Abdulraham and Al Faki Kuku Hassan, all converts from Islam who have been imprisoned and against whom charges of subversion have been made, simply as a pretext to persecute them for their faith