WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3931/97 by John CUSHNAHAN to the Commission. Competition
Date: 1997-12-04
Institutions: CUSHNAHAN, European Parliament
Subjects: Ireland, application of EU law, distributive trades, optical industry, pharmacology, restriction on competition

C 323/4

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

21. 10. 98

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 1998)

The projects being financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) within the framework of the Rome 2000
project were individually selected by the Bank, in accordance with its own criteria, as meeting an urgent need,
viz.  to  improve  infrastructures  in  Rome,  and  as  having  a  significant  and  permanent  impact  on  the  economy.
The vetting  undertaken  by  the  EIB  confirmed  the  promoters(cid:146)  technical  competence  to  carry  out  the  projects
satisfactorily.

Among the projects in the Jubilee programme, some larger-scale works require a relatively lengthy authorisation
procedure.  This  is  why  the  national  authorities(cid:146)  supervisory  and  coordinating  roles  have  been  strengthened.
The EIB resources are managed by the national authorities, who pay them out as work progresses. A summary of
these disbursements is presented to the Italian Parliament every six months.

(98/C 323/04)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3931/97

by John Cushnahan (PPE) to the Commission

(4 December 1997)

Subject: Competition

Could the Commission inform me if the present situation in Ireland, where it is not possible to sell ready-made
reading/magnifying  glasses  in  pharmacists,  is  a  restrictive  practice  under  the  competition  articles  of  the  EC
Treaty?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(13 January 1998)

The Commission regrets that it does not have sufficient information to answer the question. The Honourable
Member is invited to inform the Commission whether the situation which he describes is a result of Irish law or
administrative  provisions,  or  results  from  the  actions  of  one  or  more  suppliers  refusing  to  sell  glasses  to
pharmacists.

(98/C 323/05)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4065/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(14 January 1998)

Subject: IRAP and unemployment

The  sectors  to  be  hardest  hit  by  the  tax  IRAP  are  those  which  are  most  labour-intensive  ›  the  professions,
commerce,  craft  industries,  farming,  transport,  the  building  industry,  etc.  IRAP  will  also  affect  investments
because it taxes the interest on debts. This will have an adverse impact on employment, because it will remove
any incentive to develop companies or create new ones, which will do little for the new jobs envisaged by the
Italian Government.

Can the Commission say whether, in view of the European Employment Summit, the fiscal policy pursued by the
Italian Finance Minister Visco does not conflict with the overall strategy of the Commission, the Council and the
European Parliament?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 1998)

The IRAP (imposta regionale sulle attivita· produttive) is a new regional tax which was introduced in 1998 as a
replacement for a number of other taxes previously levied in Italy.