92000E0990

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0990/00

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 March 2000)

Subject: MEDIA II: share-out of appropriations to participating countries

Since my Written Question E-0104/00(1) has regrettably failed to elicit a proper answer, will the Commission now say how MEDIA II funding has been allocated to participating countries since the programme was launched? What amounts have the different Member States received in absolute and percentage terms, and why have those amounts been granted?

(1) OJ C 280 E, 3.10.2000, p. 178.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2000)

A table setting out the financial aid granted to each country in the first four years of the MEDIA II programme (1996 1999) has been sent directly to the Honourable Member and the Secretariat-General of Parliament.

The table is accompanied by statistics relating to the share of the European market of each Member State and participating State in the MEDIA II programme. The statistics for the years 1998-1999 are provided by way of illustration and do not represent the final figures. Theyare expectedto be confirmed during the programme's final evaluation. These data show how the funds are allocated under the MEDIA II programme in relation to the actual situation on the market.

Example: The Netherlands represents 1,8 % of total investment in film production in Europe, and 2,7 % of the European market in terms of cinema box office receipts. Between 1996 and 1999, this Member State received 5,45 % of the funds granted under the MEDIA II programme, including 3,5 % of the funds allocated to producers and 4,9 % of the support given to distributors. The proportion of funds allocated to Netherlands professionals was therefore higher than their actual representation on the European market, in terms of both production and market share.

Under the MEDIA II programme, the Commission selects the beneficiaries in accordance with the arrangements set out in Council Decisions 95/564/EC of 22 December 1995 on the implementation of a training programme for professionals in the European audiovisual programme industry (MEDIA II Training)(1) and 95/563/EC of 10 July 1995 on the implementation of a programme encouraging the development and distribution of European audiovisual works (MEDIA II Development and distribution) (1996- 2000)(2).

The projects which are co-financed by the Commission are chosen on the basis of quality and European added value, irrespective of their nationality or country of origin. The Commission and the MEDIA Committee lay down guidelines setting out the various eligibility and selection criteria that apply.

Lastly, a final report on the evaluation of the MEDIA II programme will be sent to Parliament once the programme finishes at the end of the year 2000.

(1) OJ L 321, 30.12.1995.

(2) OJ L 321, 30.12.1995.