91998E3474

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3474/98

by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission

(25 November 1998)

Subject: Sponsorship of an Alleanza Nazionale initiative by the European Commission Representation in Italy

On Wednesday 28 October an advertisement appeared in the Italian daily newspaper "Il Giornale" announcing that the Alleanza Nazionale group of Members of the European Parliament was to hold a meeting in Milan, on Thursday 29 October, with the title "A Soul for Europe", in which MEPs Cristiana Muscardini, Gerard Collins and Raul Miguel Rosado Fernandes were to take part. The meeting, according to the advertisement in "Il Giornale", was sponsored by the European Commission's office in Milan.

Can the Commission say whether or not this information is correct? If it is, I should like to know whether sponsorship can be provided for meetings organised by any political party and what criteria are used in deciding whether or not to provide sponsorship.

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(3 February 1999)

Following Ms Muscardini's request of 1 October 1998, the Commission's office in Milan decided to sponsor a symposium, the stated aim of which was to "rediscover the ethical, cultural and political values" of the Union, so that the unification of the continent should not be limited to a purely commercial achievement.

Those invited to this symposium, entitled "Un'anima per l'Europa" (A soul for Europe), which was held in the main hall of the Region of Lombardy in Milan on 29 October 1998, included members of parliament from various Member States, national and regional Italian authorities, and the national representative of Alleanza Nazionale for matters of state.

Calling it a meeting of a party or delegation is merely the interpretation of the newspaper cited in the question.