WRITTEN QUESTION E-2009/99 by Ulpu Iivari (PSE) to the Commission. The role of libraries in modern society.
C 203 E/114 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 How does the Commission intend to defend our fisheries sector at the Third Ministerial Conference in Seattle? Does it intend to draw attention to the social, environmental and health aspects of the fisheries sector, as well as the purely industrial considerations? In addition, at the Verona agricultural fair Commissioner Fischler announced the creation of a WTO Forum for the defence of the European agriculture model, made up inter alia of representatives of agricultural federations, the processing industry, consumers, workers and environmentalists. Does the Commission also intend to create a similar forum for fisheries issues? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (30 November 1999) In its communication of 8 July 1999 on the EU Approach to the WTO Millennium Round, the Commission set out a possible Community agenda. This covers a series of areas such as agriculture and services, customs duties on non-agricultural products, investment, competition, facilitating trade and the relation between trade and the environment. The Commission believes that tariff aspects of the fisheries sector should be included in the framework of tariff negotiations for non-agricultural products. As regards customs duties, the Commission advocates a global tariff negotiation aiming to reduce tariffs, eliminate large variations and harmonise tariff structures. Tariff bracket definitions (low, average and high) flexibility, enabling a reasonable level of applicable to all tariffs could provide a certain degree of protection to be maintained for products that contribute most to maintaining producersí revenue and still constitute the main economic activity for some Community coastal regions. Concerning subsidies in the fisheries sector and their effects on trade, the state of fishery resources and the environment, there is no guarantee that this topic will appear on the WTO Millennium Round agenda itself. Recently, during debates with the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment, the Commission expressed its support for the work of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and in particular for the international action plan for managing fishing capacity. The FAO assessment of the possible factors influencing fishing capacity (insufficient monitoring of the fleet, unsustainable manage- ment of fisheries, subsidies) is a prerequisite to any discussion with the WTO on a possible link between subsidies, overcapacity and overfishing. With reference to defending Community interests in the fisheries sector, the Commission will ensure that the results of the negotiations are balanced regarding customs duties and other areas and will act in accordance with the negotiating instructions issued by the Council. Regarding the Honourable Memberís suggestion to create a WTO Forumí for fisheries similar to that for agriculture, the Commission will consider whether this is appropriate with regard to the scope of WTO negotiations on fisheries as it will be decided at the Seattle ministerial conference. (2000/C 203 E/145) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2009/99 by Ulpu Iivari (PSE) to the Commission (9 November 1999) Subject: The role of libraries in modern society On 15 May 1998, at the request of the Conference of Presidents, the President of Parliament announced that Parliamentís Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media had been authorised to table a report on the role of libraries in modern society. The committee appointed Mirja Ryynänen MEP, rapporteur. The own-initiative report was adopted in plenary at the October 1998 part-session (1). The discussion on the report was said to have reached the Green Paper stage. 18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/115 The Commission has decided to issue a communication on this topic and to offer for further discussion significantly more detailed information than was contained in the report. This communication has been awaited for a year now. What stage has the Commission reached in the drafting of this communication? What progress is the Commission making, and what is its timetable for further action, on the subject of libraries? (1) OJ C 341, 9. 11. 1998, p. 373. Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (3 December 1999) The report to which the Honourable Member refers is important, raising significant issues for libraries in the modern world. The Commission recognises too that libraries exist in a wider context with archives and museums, the other cultural institutions, in providing and safeguarding citizensí access to knowledge and culture in a modern networked information society. While fully supportive of the committeeís work, the Commission is considering whether and how best to take account of this wider context, in particular in the light of the work being undertaken in the field of the information society under the Fifth framework programme and with a view to producing concrete frameworks for coordination and cooperation between the various memory institutions in the coming months. (2000/C 203 E/146) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2010/99 by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Commission (9 November 1999) Subject: OCT association arrangements There appears to be some confusion as to the nature of the European Unionís relations with the OCT countries, which have links with only four Member States (United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and Denmark). While the European Union plays an essential role in the development of the former OCTs that have become ACP states, it appears to have abandoned the remaining OCTs, which are viewed as hybrids. Ambivalence in terms of legal status, unanimous decision-making in the Council and áartificial trade flowsí which contribute little to development in the OCTs but have a highly disruptive effect on the Community market are just some of the very real difficulties experienced by these countries. With the signature of the Treaty of Amsterdam, the Intergovernmental Conference invited áthe Council, acting in accordance with the provisions of Article 136 of the Treaty ( ) to review the association arrangements ( ) by February 2000, with [a] fourfold objective. í What specific measures does the Commission intend to propose to the Council to further the aims of economic and social development, progress in EU-OCT relations, taking greater account of the diversity and specific characteristics of the OCTs and, finally, improving the financial instrument? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (17 November 1999) The Honourable Member rightly refers to the declaration on the overseas countries and territories (OCTs) in the Final Act of the Amsterdam Conference. Following that declaration the Commission entered into consultations with the four Member States to which the 20 OCTs are linked and also, under the partnership arrangements, with the authorities of the 20 OCTs in question, who met in Brussels at the highest level for the first time