WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1343/97 by André FOURÇANS to the Commission. Non-discrimination rule
Date: 1997-04-21
Institutions: European Parliament, FOURCANS
Subjects: EU Member State, EU law, bank charges, competition, consumer protection, electronic banking, electronic money, payment

C 21/46

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

22. 1. 98

(98/C 21/124)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1341/97

by Andre· Four(cid:231)ans (PPE) to the Commission

(21 April 1997)

Subject: Non-discrimination rule

The unpredictability of the amount of commission which shopkeepers might charge when payment is made by
cash card will make it impossible for consumers to assess how much their card will cost when they obtain it,
while the institution issuing the card will similarly be unable to provide card-holders with information on the cost
of using such cards.

Does the Commission nevertheless consider that its plan is likely to make charges more transparent and improve
competition among different means of payment?

(98/C 21/125)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1342/97

by Andre· Four(cid:231)ans (PPE) to the Commission

(21 April 1997)

Subject: Non-discrimination rule

Would abolition of the non-discrimination rule not result in consumers paying by card being required to bear the
cost of banking services which benefit shopkeepers, particularly the guarantee of payment and more rapid receipt
of payment offered by the electronic processing of cash-card operations?

(98/C 21/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1343/97

by Andre· Four(cid:231)ans (PPE) to the Commission

(21 April 1997)

Subject: Non-discrimination rule

Given that the use and stage reached in the development of the various means of payment vary considerably
between the Member States, is the uniform abolition of the non-discrimination rule throughout the European
Union justified?

Would it not be more appropriate to determine whether this rule is justified in view of the specific situation in
each Member State, particularly the state of competition between the various means of payment and the degree of
satisfaction among users?

(98/C 21/127)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1344/97

by Andre· Four(cid:231)ans (PPE) to the Commission

(21 April 1997)

Subject: Non-discrimination rule

Will the Commission take steps to ensure that consumers are protected against possible abuse, particularly in
situations where they are most vulnerable?

In particular, will residents of one Member State travelling on business or as a tourist in another Member State
and purchasing articles on the way not become the classic victims of abuse?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1338/97, E-1339/97, E-1340/97, E-1341/97, E-1342/97,
E-1343/97 and E-1344/97
given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1997)

The Commission is unable at this juncture to reply in detail to the questions put by the Honourable Member. It is
currently  examining  in  the  light  of  Community  competition  law  a  number  of  card  payment  systems  notified
under Article 4 of Council Regulation No 17 of 6 February 1962 (1). They include, for example, national systems
such as the (cid:145)CB(cid:146) system in France as well as international systems such as those operated by Visa International
and  Europay  Interntional.  Some  of  these  systems  have  a  so-called  non-discrimination  rule  to  which  the
Honourable Member refers.