WRITTEN QUESTION No. 806/98 by Frederik WILLOCKX , Anne VAN LANCKER to the Commission. Unlawful practices in connection with applications for subsidies
Date: 1998-03-26
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN LANCKER
Subjects: Community budget, EU aid, State aid, distribution of aid, fact-finding mission, financial control, fraud, infringement of EU law, services company, use of aid

C 310/134

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

9. 10. 98

(98/C 310/180)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0805/98

by Florus Wijsenbeek (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 March 1998)

Subject: Discriminatory  taxation affecting  international  road hauliers  in the  countries of  Central and  Eastern

Europe

Is the Commission aware that, in ten countries in Central and Eastern Europe, countries which are also applicants
for accession to the EU, international road hauliers are faced with a multitude of unjustified and discriminatory
forms of taxation which vary from country to country and range from tax on fuel, road tolls and eco-taxes as far
as (cid:145)taxes on sanitary services and for sending goods(cid:146), (cid:145)maintenance taxes for border crossings(cid:146) and (cid:145)taxes for the
control of radioactive matter(cid:146) (see Agence Europe, 29.1.1998, p. 15).

Is  the  Commission  aware  that  the  Czech  Republic  and  Macedonia  apply  different  rates  depending  on  the
vehicle(cid:146)s country of origin, thereby discriminating against foreign hauliers?

Does  the  Commission  intend  to  urge  the  governments  of  these  Central  and  Eastern  European  countries  to
abandon these transit taxes and local taxes and every form of discrimination in the application of their rules on
taxation, to bring their taxation system more into line with the EU(cid:146)s system and to set a realistic level of taxation?

Will the Commission address this problem during the accession negotiations? If so, how will it proceed? If not,
why not?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(27 April 1998)

The Commission is fully aware that Community international transport companies are faced with a number of
discriminatory fiscal measures, varying from country to country, in the Central and Eastern European region.
A recent  PHARE  project  analysing  the  conditions  for  the  progressive  integration  of  inland  transport  markets
identified the principal barriers to market access in all inland transport sectors.

The  Commission  is  therefore  conscious  of  the  fact  that  road  tax  is  much  lower  for  national  operators  in  the
CEECs than in the Community and that, except when bilateral agreements are in force, the charging of users is
discriminatory between national and foreign operators.

The 10 accession countries of Central and Eastern Europe are bound by their respective Europe agreements to
adapt their transport legislation progressively to that of Community legislation in order to facilitate mutual access
to markets and to facilitate the movement of passengers and goods. This process is underway and is monitored by
the bilateral sub-committees set up to oversee the implementation of the Europe agreements. It is within this
forum that the Commission is discussing and insisting upon the necessary changes in the CEEC legislation which
will be required before the applicant countries can become members of the Community.

Finally,  the  Commission  is  about  to  launch  a  specific  project  on  road  transport  charges  in  order  to  provide
decision  makers  in  the  13  PHARE  countries  with  guidelines  on  how  to  align  their  present  systems  of  road
transport  charges  for  motorised  vehicles  to  those  in  the  Community.  This  study  will  also  cover  the  former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia which has not signed a Europe agreement with the Community and which has
not presented an application for membership to the Community.

(98/C 310/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0806/98

by Frederik Willockx (PSE) and Anne Van Lancker (PSE) to the Commission

(26 March 1998)

Subject: Unlawful practices in connection with applications for subsidies

We  have  recently  been  receiving  an  increasing  number  of  enquiries  from  all  kinds  of  institutions  and
organizations in connection with practices employed by European Business Services.