WRITTEN QUESTION E-0164/01

by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

(31 January 2001)

Subject: Progress reached in introducing the euro in the different Member States in the euro zone

1. The Netherlands Ministry of Finance has recently published figures (eighth progress report on the euro and public authorities) on the lack of progress in introducing the euro by public authorities. For example, it appears that 64 % of Dutch local authorities have not yet started implementation of the euro process. Some local authorities (4 %), in fact, have not even started with their preparations. Local authorities are lagging well behind in the fields of communications and information in particular. Only 16 % have drawn up an external communications plan and only 31 % have an internal communications plan. Only 45 %

have a management plan for adjusting their administrative systems. The preparations made by 60 % of social services and about 70 % of the implementing bodies are a cause for concern, with many still in the initial stock-taking phase. Is the Commission aware of these disturbing figures?

2. Does the Commission share our concern that progress in introducing the euro in the euro zone leaves much to be desired?

3. Can the Commission provide a breakdown per Member State of progress made, the problems (if any) and the bottlenecks in the individual Member States of the euro zone?

4. Can the Commission indicate whether the individual Member States of the euro zone are experiencing similar, or very different, problems in the process, and what action the Commission is intending to take?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2001)

The Commission has received information about the progress made by Dutch local authorities in preparing for the introduction of the euro. It would appear that while the present state of preparation at local level is very patchy, a number of good practices have also been observed and some Dutch towns and cities have played an active role in preparing a guide aimed at helping European local authorities to make the transition to the euro.

Work has started on improving local preparations, especially in the case of social welfare organisations, and it is particularly important to monitor progress, not only in the Netherlands but in all other participating Member States.

A recent Eurobarometer survey shows that forward planning and preparations for the introduction of the euro by small and medium-sized businesses are clearly inadequate. However, it has not yet been possible to take account of the vigorous national publicity campaigns launched at the beginning of 2001 or of the campaign by the European Central Bank which plans to introduce coordinated and specific information campaigns in the second half of 2001.

Every month the Commission prepares a scoreboard on preparations for the introduction of the euro. This document, produced on the basis of information gathered from the individual national civil services, is presented to the Eurogroup Finance Ministers and published, in summary, on the Internet.

Generally speaking, preparations for the introduction of the euro present the same kind of problems in all Member States, although the scale of these problems may vary considerably which is why solving them should be a matter for subsidiarity. However, the Commission has not been idle. It has long been supporting Member States' efforts by encouraging the exchange of information and good practice between the national officials responsible for the euro, co-financing national information campaigns and providing direct finance for specific Europe-wide actions organised by the civil society. This financial assistance is provided under the Prince programme, in which Parliament is involved at the level of preparation and monitoring.