92000E3010

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3010/00

by Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN) to the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Subject: Bicentenary of the birth of Vincenzo Bellini

2001 will mark the bicentenary of the birth of the Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini, considered to be one of the greatest composers of all time.

The local authorities in the region where he was born will commemorate him with a series of events which will involve the principal places where he lived and worked (Italy, Great Britain and France).

Since Bellini's works can be considered as part of the world's cultural heritage, can the Commission say what moral and financial support it intends to offer to the planned celebrations?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2000)

The Commission can support cultural initiatives as part of and according to the criteria of the Culture 2000 programme, the Union's only financing and programming instrument for cultural cooperation.

In this context, the Commission would like to draw the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that a call for proposals for projects taking place during 2001 will be published in the Official Journal before the end of this year and, consequently, actors in this field will then have the opportunity to submit projects for possible funding.