WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3042/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. White Paper on railways
Date: 1997-10-01
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: closing of accounts, debt, financial management, liberalisation of the market, modernisation aid, rail transport, transport infrastructure

30. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134/63

(98/C 134/78)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3036/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(1 October 1997)

Subject: Charging of heavy goods vehicles

With reference to the Proposal for a Council directive on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of
certain infrastructures (COM (96)0331 final › 96/0182 SYN) (1), the predominant approach towards fuel taxes in
the European Union clearly owes more at present to fiscal policy than to transport policy since excise duties on
fuel are and will continue to be a major source of revenue.

Will the Commission eliminate all the inconsistencies between indirect taxes, which are the product of fiscal
policy, and direct taxes charged to cover the use of infrastructures and external costs, which are the product of
transport policy?

(1)  OJ C 59, 26.2.1997, p. 9.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 1997)

The  Commission  accepts  that  fuel  excise  duties  are  primarily  used  in  Member  States  as  a  means  of  raising
revenue. However, in its proposal for a directive restructuring the Community framework for the taxation of
energy products (1), the Commission has recognised that excise duty on motor fuels is also used by Member
States to pursue other national environment, transport and energy policy objectives.

The Commission also recognises the need for the direct and indirect charges that are imposed on individual road
users in relation to their road use to be part of a coherent charging system.

Consequently,  a  special  restructuring  provision  has  been  made  in  the  Commission(cid:146)s  recent  proposal  for  a
Council  directive  for  the  taxation  of  energy  products  which  would  allow  Member  States  to  apply  levels  of
taxation  on  motor  fuels  lower  than  the  minimum  levels  specified  in  this  directive,  in  conjunction  with  the
introduction or modification of specific charging systems for road transport that are related to the recovery of
costs, such as infrastructure, congestion and environmental costs.

(1)  OJ C 139, 6.5.1997.

(98/C 134/79)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3042/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(1 October 1997)

Subject: White Paper on railways

The Economic and Social Committee has issued an opinion on the White Paper: a strategy for revitalizing the
Community(cid:146)s  railways  (COM(96)  0421  final) (1).  As  regards  old  debts,  improving  the  financial  position  and
infrastructure, a key strategic element in the White Paper(cid:146)s push for liberalization of the railways is independent
commercial management.

An essential precondition for this and hence for compliance with Directive 91/440/EEC (2) on the development of
the Community(cid:146)s railways is the elimination of old debts.

Will the Commission say whether progress on this has been incomplete and has varied from one Member State to
another and whether it now intends to take prompt action?

(1)  OJ C 206, 7.7.1997, p. 23.
(2)  OJ L 237, 24.8.1991, p. 25.