WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1497/98 by Richard CORBETT to the Commission. Frontier controls
Date: 1998-05-13
Institutions: CORBETT, European Parliament
Subjects: EU national, border control, free movement of persons, free movement of workers, identity document, passport

18.1.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 13/37

The Commission has since asked the Portuguese Government to provide eleven pieces of additional information
which it feels it needs in order to be able to undertake a comprehensive examination of the measures proposed by
the Portuguese authorities.

As is normal in such matters, the Commission will make a final statement regarding the measures intended to
assist Silopor within two months of receiving the additional information requested.

Has the Portuguese Government already provided the eleven pieces of additional information requested by the
Commission? If so, what is the substance of the information?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 June 1998)

The Commission refers the Honourable Member to its reply to his written question P-1423/98 (1). The situation of
the State aid file for the financial restructuring of EPAC mentioned therein is also applicable to the Silopor
restructuring programme in view of the connexity resulting from the special relationship between both
enterprises.

(1) OJ C 402, 22.12.1998, p. 132 .

(1999/C 13/052)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1497/98

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(13 May 1998)

Subject: Frontier controls

Does the Commission still stand by its answers to Parliamentary Questions 1692/84 (1), 1789/85 (2), 1071/82 (3)
and 1508/87 (4), whereby national officials are not allowed to require EU citizens travelling from one Member
State to another to answer questions relating to the duration or purpose of their visit or their destination? Does this
apply equally to national officials from the Member States of departure and of arrival? Will this situation change
with the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty, in particular as regards the United Kingdom and Ireland?

(1) OJ C 269, 21.10.1985, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 314, 8.12.1986, p. 1.
(3) OJ C 12, 17.1.1983, p. 2.
(4) OJ C 263, 10.10.1988, p. 9.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(13 July 1998)

Yes. The Court of Justice confirmed this interpretation of secondary legislation on the free movement of persons
and family members in its judgment of 30 May 1991 in Case C-68/89 (1).

Yes. Secondary legislation states that persons may leave the territory of a Member State and enter the territory of
another Member State (cid:146)simply on production of a valid identity card or passport(cid:146) (see Articles 2(1) and 3(1) of
Council Directive 68/360/EEC of 15 simply on production of a valid identity card or passport October 1968 on
the abolition of restrictions on movement and residence within the Community for workers of Member States and
their families) (2).

No. The application of secondary legislation on the free movement of citizens of the Union will not be affected by
the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty and its attached protocols.

(1) Commission v the Netherlands [1991] ECR I-2637.
(2) OJ L 257, 19.10.1968.