WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1082/98 by Jean-Antoine GIANSILY to the Commission. The future of small cafés and bars in rural areas
Date: 1998-04-07
Institutions: European Parliament, GIANSILY
Subjects: EU programme, beverage industry, competition policy, less-favoured region, regions of France, report

C 402/72

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.12.98

Joint answer to Written Questions
E-1079/98, E-1080/98 and E-1081/98
given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 1998)

The wide ranging consultation on the green paper on vertical restraints in Community competition policy (1)
terminated in a public hearing on 6 and 7 October 1997. During the consultation process 227 written submissions
were received by the Commission. The Commission has analysed the vast amount of information obtained during
the consultation exercise. A policy paper will be proposed to the Commission for adoption in the course of this
year which will set out the Commission(cid:146)s proposal for a new policy in the field of vertical restraints.

It is as yet too early to comment on the possible content of this policy paper and the Commission is not, at this
stage, in a position to inform the Honourable Member whether it is envisaged to extend the existing block
exemption regulations or whether any new policy would involve a greater use of market shares.

Following the adoption of a policy paper, work will commence on any necessary legislative changes.
The adoption of new legislation in the field of vertical restraints will follow the normal legislative procedure
which includes a number of consultations both of institutions, Member States and interested parties. This
legislative process is likely to take until the end of 1999.

(1) COM(96) 721 final.

(98/C 402/089)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1082/98

by Jean-Antoine Giansily (UPE) to the Commission

(7 April 1998)

Subject: The future of small cafØs and bars in rural areas

The press has recently reported that the Commission is funding small village cafØs in deprived areas of the South
of France under its Leader programme (the Community initiative for rural development).

This seems admirable, given that local cafØs help maintain the social, economic and cultural life of the EU(cid:146)s rural
areas and assist the tourist trade.

Local cafØs also indubitably help prevent alcohol abuse by providing a social setting that encourages moderation
rather than excess.

That being so, does the Commission agree that it is paradoxical that, at a time when DG VI is supporting cafØs by
means of the Structural Funds, another directorate-general, DG IV, is in danger of closing them down by
considering the possibility, in the Green Paper on Vertical Restraints in EC Competition Policy, of withdrawing
or restricting the opportunities allowed to the main brewers whose market share exceeds a given threshold to
finance cafØs by means of exclusive purchasing agreements?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 1998)

The Honourable Member has drawn the Commission(cid:146)s attention to the connections between the Community
Leader II Initiative and the Green Paper on vertical restraints in EU competition policy (1). As regards the Green
Paper, the Commission would ask the Honourable Member to refer to the answers given to his written questions
E-1079/98, 1080/98 and 1081/98.