91998E2788

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2788/98

by Carmen Díez de Rivera Icaza (PSE) to the Commission

(9 September 1998)

Subject: Misleading tourist advertising

The public is inundated with tourist brochures that claim to promote idyllic resorts or islands in the Mediterranean, using photographs suggesting an unspoiled and virtually undeveloped natural habitat, which can easily mislead. The reality is another matter altogether, with mushrooming apartments and hotels, piles of rubbish, sound pollution, water shortages, deficient infrastructures, etc.

1. What measures does the Commission intend to take to ensure awareness and observation of Directive 84/450/EEC(1)?

2. Has the Commission any plans to make it compulsory for advertising material for tourist accommodation to give an accurate picture of the actually existing environmental condition of the location concerned?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(9 October 1998)

All the Member States have transposed into their national legislation Council Directive 84/450/EEC of 10 September 1984 relating to the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning misleading advertising.

The Community legislation applies to all areas, including tourism and the environment.

Article 4 of the Directive provides that all the Member States shall ensure that adequate and effective means exist for the control of misleading advertising. The Commission is of the opinion that the means and procedures implemented by the Member States make it possible to take effective action against specific cases of misleading advertising.

(1) OJ L 250, 19.9.1984, p. 17.