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(2004/C 33 E/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1729/03

by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 May 2003)

Subject:   Motor insurance in Lithuania

Would the Commission please tell me whether arrangements are in place for Lithuania to comply with EU standards on motor insurance, especially the First Directive on Motor Insurance, which says that every insurance policy issued in the EU must offer the minimum insurance cover required by law in any other EU country?

Currently, all EU Member States operate under the green-card system for motor insurance, which means that standard minimum insurance cover is offered throughout the EU. All Member States are also signatories to the ‘Multilateral Guarantee Agreement’, which means that Green Cards are not strictly necessary to enter other EU Member States. Will the Commission say whether Lithuania will operate the green-card system when it signs up for full EU membership? Will the Commission further state whether Lithuania will be signatory to the ‘Multilateral Guarantee Agreement’?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(10 June 2003)

According to the latest information available to the Commission, Lithuania has not yet fully implemented Union provisions on Motor Insurance. According to the information provided by the Lithuanian authorities, draft legislation in order to implement the first Motor Insurance Directive 72/166/EEC (1) mentioned by the Honourable Member as well as the other three Motor Directives (84/5/EEC (2), 90/232/EEC (3) and 2000/26/EC (4)) is at the moment being prepared and should be submitted shortly for consideration by the national legislative authorities.

As regards the Agreement between the National Insurer's Bureaux of the Member States of the European Economic Area and other Associate States, concluded in accordance with the principles laid down in Article 2(2) of the first Motor Directive above, Lithuania is not yet part of such agreement but its incorporation is expected for the near future and, in any case, before the date of the accession.

Lithuania, as all the other Candidate Countries, must fully transpose the Union insurance legislation, including the Motor Insurance Directives, before the date of accession. The Commission will continue to monitor this process and in particular to check that all the conditions required for the suppression of the insurance border controls are fulfilled. If needed, the Commission will take the necessary measures to ensure the good functioning of the system.

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(1)  Council Directive 72/166/EEC of 24 April 1972 on the approximation of the laws of Member States relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles, and to the enforcement of the obligation to insure against such liability, OJ L 103, 2.5.1972.

(2)  Second Council Directive 84/5/EEC of 30 December 1983 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles, OJ L 8, 11.1.1984.

(3)  Third Council Directive 90/232/EEC of 14 May 1990 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles, OJ L 129, 19.5.1990.

(4)  Directive 2000/26/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 16 May 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles and amending Council Directives 73/239/EEC and 88/357/EEC (Fourth motor insurance Directive), OJ L 181, 20.7.2000.

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