WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2303/98 by Fernand HERMAN to the Commission. Equal treatment for European Union citizens
Date: 1998-07-22
Institutions: European Parliament, HERMAN
Subjects: EU national, European Commission, European Union, Italy, Veneto, discrimination on the basis of nationality, discriminatory price, equal treatment, exchange of information, museum

8.4.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 96/71

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 1998)

In its answer to oral question H-0527/98 on the same subject, the Commission took the opportunity to enlighten
the Honourable Member about the nature and objectives of the Commission departments(cid:146) report on the
evaluation of the national employment plans (1). This report and the related communication (2) contain the
results of the examination which the Commission is empowered to undertake in respect of the national action
plans for employment based on the guidelines approved by the Council.

Playing its full part within the Employment and Labour Market Committee, the Commission helped with the
preparatory work for the Cardiff European Council. Once the communication had been approved on 14 May
1998, the Commission forwarded it, along with the background report, to the representatives of the Member
States in order to assist the Committee in the process of joint examination of the national plans.

As far as the employment strategy is concerned, the results of the Cardiff European Council are viewed very
positively by the Commission, the Member States, the social partners and, it appears, also by Parliament. A lively
dialogue has sprung up between the Commission and the Member States, resulting more recently in the
organisation of bilateral meetings with all the Member States and the forwarding of implementation reports
shedding light on aspects which are insufficiently developed in the action plans.

The Commission is satisfied that the European employment strategy has, since its inception, been conducted with
a high degree of cooperation between the Institutions and it intends to do all it can for the future to ensure that this
spirit of cooperation continues.

(cid:145)From guidelines to action: evaluation of the National Action Plans › Background report(cid:146).

(1)
(2) COM(98) 316 final (cid:145)From guidelines to action: the National Action Plans for Employment(cid:146).

(1999/C 96/100)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2303/98

by Fernand Herman (PPE) to the Commission

(22 July 1998)

Subject: Equal treatment for European Union citizens

Participants in a recent trip organized by a senior citizens(cid:146) association noted that admission charges for museums
› in this instance, the Doges(cid:146) Palace in Venice › infringed the principle of equal treatment for all European
citizens, as Italian pensioners were admitted free, whereas Belgian pensioners were not.

This is a blatant case of discrimination on the grounds of nationality, which is contrary to the Treaty. What does
the Commission, as custodian of the treaties, intend to do to end discrimination of this kind?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(22 September 1998)

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that the inequality of treatment as between Italian residents
and residents of other Member States regarding admission charges to museums might indeed constitute a form of
discrimination that was in breach of Articles 6 and 59 of the EC Treaty. It will therefore contact the Italian
authorities with a view to obtaining further information.

In a similar case the Court of Justice found that a Member State had failed to fulfil one of its obligations in
connection with the imposition of an admission charge for museums in its territory (1).

(1) Case C-45/93 Commission v Spain [1994] ECRI, 911.