WRITTEN QUESTION E-0464/00 by Gunilla Carlsson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Must-carry rules for cable networks and their impact on the EU's policy on Television without Frontiers.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/165 (2000/C 330 E/186) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0462/00 by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Commission (24 February 2000) Subject: Blood alcohol levels for drivers Can the Commission state whether a new proposal for the reduction of blood alcohol levels permitted for drivers of motor vehicles throughout the European Union is being considered and, if so, when is the Commission likely to come forward with these proposals? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (20 March 2000) For many years the Commission has investigated the problem of drinking and driving and the road accidents which it generates. The conclusion, from a road safety as well as from a public health point of view, is that national and European actions to reduce the incidence of drinking and driving are a priority to make Community roads safer and to prevent much human suffering. Most experts will agree that what is required is a package of measures to tackle this problem embracing blood alcohol content (BAC) limits, appropriate health promotion programmes and campaigns, effective and targeted enforcement, penalties, and rehabilitation programmes for serious offenders. The original proposal for a BAC limit of 0,5 milligramme per milliliter (mg/ml) brought forward in 1988, remained unadopted simply because too many Member States objected to such a measure on the grounds of subsidiarity, even though they themselves were prepared to accept 0,5 mg/ml. Indeed, since 1988 some Member States have accepted 0,5 mg/ml in their national legislation. Against this background, the Commission has no intention to put forward a new directive but sees a Council recommendation has the best way to deal with this important road safety and public health problem. (2000/C 330 E/187) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0464/00 by Gunilla Carlsson (PPE-DE) to the Commission (24 February 2000) Subject: Must-carry rules for cable networks and their impact on the EUís policy on Television without Frontiersí Must-carry rules imposed on cable networks pose a problem in several Member States. Such rules oblige cable operators to transmit a number of mostly national broadcasts, including in some cases pay-television services. Cable capacity is scarce and only a limited number of broadcasts and services can be transmitted. Must-carry rules reduce the transmission capacity available to meet customer demand. Such rules have an adverse impact on the functioning of the internal market, the freedom to provide services and on the retransmission of transborder television services. In addition, they discriminate in favour of national broadcasts, to which they grant privileged access to cable. I refer to my previous parliamentary question E-2006/98 (1) and ask the Commission to state what steps it has taken in the meantime and what further steps it plans to take in the near future. A time schedule in this respect would be welcome. (1) OJ C 13, 18. 1. 1999, p. 134. C 330 E/166 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (6 April 2000) In reply to the Honourable Memberís previous written question E-2006/98 (1), the Commission indicated that a questionnaire was under preparation for circulation to all interested parties. Such a questionnaire was sent to Member States, cable operators, broadcasters, consumer organisations and copyright organisa- tions throughout the Community. The Commission has also issued a communication reviewing regulation in the communications sector (2), which considered the economic impact on cable operatorsí ability to compete in convergent communications markets. On the basis of a substantial number of replies received, in the context of both initiatives, the Commission is examining whether a horizontal initiative in this area is necessary. The need for such an initiative also has to be examined in the light of the growing number of complaints in this area, which shows the importance of this issue for the functioning of the internal market. (1) OJ C 13, 18. 1. 1999, p. 134. (2) COM(1999) 539. (2000/C 330 E/188) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0466/00 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission (24 February 2000) Subject: Commission policy on implementation of the EU budget for 2000 in respect of the promotion and safeguard of regional and minority languages The two EU budgetary authorities, Parliament and the Council, have decided to set aside a number of headings under the Community budget for 2000 to promote and safeguard regional and minority languages. To be more precise, it has been indicated that line B3-1003N (Preparatory measures for promotion of the linguistic diversity of the Community in the information society), to which the sum of EUR 2 million has been earmarked, aims, within the information society, to promote the linguistic diversity of the Commun- ity, including regional and minority languages, and to finance preparatory measures with a view to the designation of 2001 as the European Year of Languages, including sign languages. Will the Commission say exactly how much of the sum of EUR 2 million is to be earmarked for the protection and safeguard of minority languages in the Community, and what sum is to be allocated specifically in order to the achieve the two basic aims mentioned above? What procedure will it be pursuing with a view to implementing the aforementioned budget line? When does it intend to begin accepting applications for specific projects which may be eligible for funding to promote and safeguard minority languages? What will be the guidelines and requirements governing the eligibility of projects for Community funding? When can the selected projects hope to receive the Community funding allocated to them? Is any other heading or sum in the EU budget for 2000 likely to be in any way earmarked for the promotion and safeguard of regional and minority languages, and if so, what will be the amounts of money involved?