WRITTEN QUESTION E-3456/97 by Olivier Duhamel (PSE) and Catherine Lalumière (ARE) to the Commission (31 October 1997)

Subject: Allocation of PHARE funds for educational books

The history textbook which was issued to schools in Slovakia by the Ministry of Education at the end of 1996 is openly revisionist. The author was Milan S. Durica, who has acted, inter alia, as an apologist for Fascist Slovakia. The disputed work was withdrawn from schools at the end of August this year. Slovakia has no shortage of reputable historians, and there is a great need for the young generation of the countries of Eastern Europe to re-learn their history.

Is it true, as our information appears to indicate, that PHARE funds were used to support this work? If so, was the Commission aware of the decision to provide funding and of the book's author? Does it not consider that such mistakes are regrettable, to say the least? What steps can the Commission take to ensure that such events, which run counter to its principles, do not happen again?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (18 November 1997)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Questions E-2343/97 and E-2469/97 by Mrs d'Ancona ((OJ C 76, 11.3.1998, p. 98. )) and Mrs van Bladel ((OJ C 76, 11.3.1998, p. 114. )).