1. Letter dated 27 February 2006,
from Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Minister of State (Europe),
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Following my Evidence Session before the Committee
on Wednesday 8 February, I promised to follow up in writing on
the following issues:
ARTISTS' RESALE
RIGHTS DIRECTIVE
David Heathcoat-Amory MP asked about the implementation
of the Artists' Resale Right Directive (question 14). The Davidson
Review, established to review areas of EU-derived legislation
for evidence of over-implementation, is aware of the case. The
background, as you may be aware, is that Member States have set
different thresholds below which an artist's resale right would
not apply: they range from €500 to €3,000.
After consultation, including with the Culture
and Media Select Committee, the Government set the threshold for
the UK at €1,000. We believe that this figure balances the
benefits to British artists and ensures that any administrative
burden on the art market itself is minimised.
The Government is committed to protecting the
art market: the €1,000 threshold makes it uneconomic for
sales to be diverted outside the EU. We will also continue to
retain the derogation for deceased artists. The Government believes
that our approach balances the need to protect the art market
on one hand whilst rewarding as many UK artists as possible on
the other.
IRAN
Michael Gove MP asked about UK support for democracy
activists in Iran (question 30). I have passed his question to
my colleague Kim Howells who will be writing to the Committee
on this issue separately.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
OF CONGO
Finally, towards the end of the session, Nia
Griffith asked me about the Democratic Republic of Congo, in particular
if there is likely to be a new EU military mission to back up
the UN during the elections there this spring (question 38). Unfortunately
I misheard her question and so would like to take the opportunity
to cover this now.
The UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping
Operations, Jean-Marie Guehenno, wrote to the Foreign Secretary
in his capacity as President of the General Affairs Council on
28 December 2005. He asked if the EU could consider making available
a deterrent force which could be deployed, if necessary, to the
Democratic Republic of Congo during the forthcoming election period.
The EU is now working with the UN to clarify
requirements. An EU Fact Finding Mission visited Kinshasa and
New York in early February. EU experts are currently looking at
the results of this mission. The UK believes that the EU should
look to consider the UN request favourably. But the UK's ability
to contribute to any EU mission will also be constrained by operational
commitments elsewhere.
| 
