(2004/C58E/159) WRITTENQUESTIONE-2209/03
byPeterSkinner(PSE)totheCommission
(2July2003)
Subject:VATonrepairstolistedplacesofworshipwithintheUK
AschurchesinScotlandarefacingfinancialpressures,securingtheVATreductionisveryimportantandit
isofcourseofbenefittoeveryonethathistoricchurchesbewellcaredfor.Scottishchurcheshavealwaysfelt it inappropriate to levy admission charges and apart from grants from bodies such as HistoricScotland/HeritageLottery(whichareannuallyreducing)thecostofrepairshavehadtobemetoutofmembers’offerings.CouldtheCommissiontellmewhatisthecurrentsituationwithregardtothis.
AnswergivenbyMrBolkesteinonbehalfoftheCommission
(4September2003)
TheCommissionwouldrefertheHonourableMembertoitsanswertoWrittenQuestionE-1676/03by
MrMacCormick(
1).
ItwouldinformtheHonourableMemberthatitrecentlyadoptedaproposalforaDirectiveasregards
reducedratesofvalueaddedtax(2).Themainobjectiveofthisproposalistoimprovetheoperationofthe
internal market by rationalising Member States’ use of reduced rates in order to avoid distortion ofcompetitionbygivingallMemberStatesthesameopportunitiestoapplyreducedrates.
Wideningthescopeofreducedrateswasconsideredatthetimetheproposalwasbeingdrafted.Itwas
decidedtoextendtheoptiontoapplyreducedratestocategoriesofgoodsandservicesforwhichsomeMemberStatesarealreadyauthorisedtoapplyreducedratesunderspecificderogationswheretheydonotimpairtheoperationoftheinternalmarket.Thismeasureconcernsaccommodationbutnotrepairstolistedplacesofworship.AsfarastheCommissionknows,mostMemberStatesdonotapplyreducedratestothistypeofservicebutsubsidiseitinotherways.
(1) OJC11E,15.1.2004,p.214.
(2) COM(2003)397final.
(2004/C58E/160) WRITTENQUESTIONE-2233/03
bySebastianoMusumeci(UEN)totheCommission
(3July2003)
Subject:EuromediterraneanBankinSicily
AttherequestoftheLaekenEuropeanCouncilofDecember2001,theCommissionandtheCouncilhave
examinedthepossibilityofsettingupaEuromediterranean Bank.TheBarcelonaEuropeanCouncilof15/16March2002approvedthecreationofareinforcedEuro-MediterraneaninvestmentfacilitywithintheEIB,complementedbyaEuro-MediterraneanpartnershiparrangementandanEIBrepresentativeofficeinthearea.
CouldtheCommissionthereforeindicate:
1. what criteria will be adopted for selecting the country in which to base the Euro-Mediterranean
branchoftheEIB;
2. whetheritdoesnotconsiderthatSicilymightbethemostappropriateregioninwhichtositethat
bank,givenitsgeopoliticalpositionintheEurope-Africa-Asiabasinanditsage-oldhistorical,culturalandreligioustradition?6.3.2004EN C58E/145 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
AnswergivenbyMrSolbesMiraonbehalfoftheCommission
(23July2003)
On14/15March2002theEcofinandEuropeanCouncildecidedtoestablishaninvestmentFacilitywith
theaimofenhancingEuropeanInvestmentBank(EIB)operationsinMediterraneanPartnerCountries,withtheclearpriorityofprivatesectordevelopment.TheyalsodecidedtoexamineoneyearafterthecreationoftheFacilitywhethertoincorporateitintoanEIBmajority-ownedsubsidiary.
TheFacilitywasestablishedinAutumn2002andthedecisiononwhethertocreateanEIBmajority-
ownedsubsidiary is nowexpected tobe takenin Autumn 2003by the Council, in liaisonwith theCommissionandtheEIBandafterconsultationswithMediterraneanPartnerCountries.Shouldadecisiontocreateasubsidiarybetaken,itslocationwillhavetobechosen.
TheCommissionappreciatestheHonourableMember’sinterestinthismatterandinthelocationofsucha
bankinSicily.Whileitisatthisstageprematuretoenterintosuchconsiderations,thechoiceofthehostcountry and region would obviously be carefully examined in due course, taking into account therespectiveadvantagesofeachpossiblelocation.
(2004/C58E/161) WRITTENQUESTIONE-2235/03
byWilhelmPiecyk(PSE)totheCommission
(7July2003)
Subject:EstablishingresponsibilitywithintheEUfortheissueofseaman’sbooks
Itisstillnecessaryforseafarerstohavewhatisknownasaseaman’sbook,inordertoprovidearecordof
thetimeatseaandtheholder’sidentity.
FreedomofmovementwithintheEuropeanUnionhasmadeitpossibleforpeopletopursueaprofession
throughouttheEUunhindered.
Difficultiesarisewhenitcomestoascertainingwhichauthorityisresponsibleforissuingthisdocument.
TheMemberStatesoftheEuropeanUnionhavenouniformapproachregardingcompetenceinthisarea.Theyhavedifferentcriteriaconcerningtheconditionsforissuingthedocument.
According to the regulations applicable in Denmark, their authorities are only responsible when the
applicantisaDanishcitizen.InGermany,thelawstatesthatseafarersmustsailundertheGermanflag.
Thisappearstocreateproblems.
The IMO (International Maritime Organisation) is currently discussing how responsibility in this area
shouldbedetermined.Noconclusionhasyetbeenreached.
Inthelightofthis,cantheCommissionanswerthefollowingquestions:
1. WhatstagehavetheIMOnegotiationsreached?2. Whencanweexpectaninternationalregulation?
3. DoestheCommissionbelievethattheregulationsinforceintheEUMemberStatesarecompatible
withthefundamentalfreedomsoftheinternalmarket?
4. IstheCommissionconsideringintroducingastandardEuropeanregulationuntilsuchtimeasanIMO
regulationisenacted?C58E/146 EN6.3.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion