WRITTEN QUESTION P-4149/97 by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission (7 January 1998)

Subject: The Netherlands' financial contribution to the European Union

Is it true that, on the basis of reports by the Netherlands Government and the Commission, there is a difference of opinion/dispute between the Commission and the Netherlands Government over the size of the financial contribution paid by the Netherlands to the European Union? In this difference of opinion/dispute what are the respective stances of the Netherlands and the Commission?

Is it correct, as stated in the Lower House of Parliament by the Netherlands State Secretary for European Affairs, that the report by three Dutch academics from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, requested by the Commission, on the 'Rotterdam effect' on the Netherlands contribution to the European Union, was 'rejected and binned' by the Commission? Can the Commission confirm this, and state what the report's shortcomings were?

Or was the State Secretary's statement incorrect and has the Commission merely asked for the recalculation of a particular part of the report? If so, which part, and what consequences does this recalculation, or its outcome, have on the conclusions of the report and the Commission's stance in the above-mentioned dispute/difference of opinion?

Is it true that this recalculation makes little difference to the Commission's stance and that the Commission has already informed the Netherlands Government of this through internal channels?

What method do the other EU Member States use to account for the import and transit of goods through their ports as part of their net contribution to the European Union, and is there a uniform system for this calculation? To what extent does The Netherlands diverge in its calculation from this system, if there is one?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (9 March 1998)

The free circulation of goods within the Community raises the possibility that payments of the so-called traditional own resources (essentially customs duties) to the Community budget by a Member State do not necessarily reflect payments of residents of this Member State. Member States with large ports facilities often collect customs duties relating to goods which, although imported into the Community through their ports, are destined for use in other Member States. This discrepancy between the entity that collects and the entity that ultimately pays the duties can be designated as the gateway effect.

The study to which the Honourable Member refers, is being carried out by five well-known specialists from the universities of Antwerp, Brussels, and Rotterdam (working at the European centre for strategic analysis). Preliminary results of the study were presented in November 1997.

After the presentation of the study, the researchers, in discussions with officials from the Dutch ministry of finance and Central bureau of statistics (CBS), became aware of serious difficulties with the data set used. It was agreed that the study should be revised. This work is not yet finalised.

Commission's intention in commissioning this study is to help resolve the uncertainties in this area. However, the Commission has not endorsed any results.