WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3550/98 by Katerina DASKALAKI to the Council. Threatened monuments of Kosovo
C 207/88 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 7. 1999 (1999/C 207/117) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3550/98 by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Council (1 December 1998) Subject: Threatened monuments of Kosovo An increasing number of reports are appearing in the international press about the risk of a terrible disaster befalling the extremely important monuments of Kosovo: Roman monuments, Christian monasteries with rare manuscripts and icons, Muslim temples of exceptional architectural value etc. In reply to a question on this subject, the Commission answered that it was not within its terms of reference and referred to the Council. Will the Council, therefore, say whether it is apprised of the matter and whether it intends to examine the possibility of intervening, e. g. by sending a team of experts to assess the situation or making representations to the relevant authorities in the area? Reply (9 March 1999) 1. Article 128 of the Treaty establishing the European Community stipulates, inter alia, that: The Community and the Member States shall foster cooperation with third countries and the competent international organisations in the sphere of culture [. ]. Implementation of this provision by the Community, action by which in the cultural sphere is aimed solely at supporting and supplementing action by the Member States, requires a proposal from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. Since no such proposal concerning the question raised by the Honourable Member has been put to the Parliament and the Council, they cannot act officially in this context. 2. The Council is, however, aware of the threats to the historical heritage in Kosovo. The question of the protection of sites and monuments of great cultural and/or religious value has been tackled on several occasions by the European Union in its proposals on the future status of Kosovo, in particular in the context of the Contact Group. The Council hopes that these representations will help towards a resolution of the present crisis and the safeguarding of Kosovo’s historic monuments. (1999/C 207/118) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3556/98 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (1 December 1998) Subject: Promotion of local speciality agricultural products The opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Promotion of local speciality agricultural products as a development instrument under the new CAP’ points out that original manufacturing methods are used to make premium local products, always from quality raw materials, that the appearance and specific taste of these products make them more appealing than other similar products, and that they are always associated with a particular region. Premium local products are mainly produced in disadvantaged mountainous areas. The added value generated by these products provides greater stability in the production system and the employment situation, which helps to prevent rural depopulation, preserves the dignity of local populations and makes a valuable contribution to rural development. Against the background of a new CAP and of Agenda 2000, which promises another period of great change for European farmers, can the Commission put into practice effective measures and methods to promote quality local products, which are an integral part of Europe’s historical and cultural heritage? The use of designations of origin for product imitations made outside the official place of origin must not be allowed. No country, region or product, within or even outside the European Union, has the right to usurp something which has been built up by the hard work of the manufacturers of quality local products