WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3844/97 by Kirsi PIHA to the Commission. Exceptional authorization granted by the EU to Finland on the import of alcohol
Date: 1997-12-05
Institutions: European Parliament, PIHA
Subjects: Finland, alcohol, derogation from EU law, excise duty, import restriction, intra-EU trade

16. 6. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187/69

Answer given by M. Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 1998)

In the absence of detailed information, the Commission cannot judge whether the multinational group Ericsson
has  respected  Council  Directive  94/45/EC  of  22  September  1994  on  the  establishment  of  a  European  Works
Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the
purposes of informing and consulting employees (1), in the framework of the restructuring operation mentioned
by the Honourable Member.

The Commission does not intervene in operations of this kind unless it turns out that Community rules have been
ignored or have not been properly transposed by the Member States. It is first and foremost the job of the national
authorities to ensure compliance with the relevant national rules and, hence, with any Community provisions that
may apply to the cases in question.

(1)  OJ L 254, 30.9.1994.

(98/C 187/109)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3844/97

by Kirsi Piha (PPE) to the Commission

(5 December 1997)

Subject: Exceptional authorization granted by the EU to Finland on the import of alcohol

Finland has obtained an exceptional authorization to limit its imports of alcohol from the EU area until the end of
2003, when imports should comply with the standards applying in the rest of the EU. In Finland there is still a
fierce political debate about whether it is right that the EU should dictate the quantity of alcohol imported into
Finland. The present government, however, has probably committed itself to complying with the agreement it
has made with the EU. Does the Commission intend to follow up the measures aimed at dismantling the import
restrictions in Finland, and if so, how?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(2 February 1998)

Finland has not in fact obtained a derogation permitting it to limit imports of alcohol from the Community until
the end of 2003. Under Council Directive 96/99/EEC of 30 December 1996 amending Directive 92/12/EEC on
the general arrangements for products subject to excise duty and on the holding, movement and monitoring of
such  products (1),  it  has,  however  in  common  with  Denmark  and  Sweden  obtained  a  derogation  regarding
alcoholic drinks carried in the baggage of travellers coming from the Community. Under the derogation, once
certain allowances are exceeded, Finland may charge excise duty on such goods even though they are destined
for the personal use of the traveller concerned.

The Community is not therefore in any sense (cid:145)dictating the quantity of alcohol imported into Finland(cid:146). Indeed,
Finland is free to dispense with the derogation and grant travellers their full rights at any time. As regards the
dismantling of the restriction, under the Directive Finland is committed progressively to remove its restrictions
before the 2003 deadline, and before 30 June 2000, the Commission must report on the matter to the Council and
Parliament.

(1)  OJ L 8, 11.1.1997.