WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2873/98 by Fernand LE RACHINEL to the Commission. Substantial difference between the postage rates of the Member States of the European Union
Date: 1998-09-28
Institutions: European Parliament, LE RACHINEL
Subjects: EU Member State, European Union, distribution cost, postal charges, press, tariff preference, tax system

21.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 142/51

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2868/98 and E-2869/98
given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 1998)

Under Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and
flora (the Habitats Directive) ‘any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the
management of the site but likely to have a significant effect thereon, either individually or in combination
with other plans or projects, shall be subject to appropriate assessment of its implications for the site in
view of the site’s conservation objectives’.

Only the Court of justice can provide a definitive interpretation as to whether actions of the kind
mentioned by the Honourable Member fall to be assessed under this provision. However, it is evident from
the wording of the provision that, before an assessment becomes necessary, there must at least be a
likelihood of significant effects arising from the action. An action such as signposting or increasing the
permitted tonnage of user vehicles which may have the effect of increasing the intensity of use of an
existing road would not, in the Commission’s view, automatically require an assessment. Much would
depend on the specific circumstances of the protected area concerned.

(1999/C 142/062)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2873/98

by Fernand Le Rachinel (NI) to the Commission

(28 September 1998)

Subject: Substantial difference between the postage rates of the Member States of the European Union

The cost of subscribing to a newspaper or magazine can double according to whether the subscription is
taken out in the country of publication and circulation or abroad; this difference, which is in no way
justified by the distance, is said to be due to prohibitive postage rates.

Can the European Commission confirm this information, and, if so, how does it intend to correct these
distortions of competition, which have an adverse effect on freedom of information and freedom to
circulate ‘intellectual products’ such as newspapers and other publications?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 1998)

Postage charges do account for a considerable proportion of the cost of subscribing to a newspaper or
magazine, particularly when a daily newspaper is to be delivered.

The difference between national and intra-Community postal rates is due mainly to two factors. Firstly,
high costs are involved in routing and delivering press material as priority mail outside national borders in
such a way as to guarantee the requisite quality of service for such items, notably compliance with
deadlines.

Secondly, some Member States grant preferential rates for the distribution of press material within the
country. These special rates may therefore be reflected in the price of subscriptions taken out for that
country.

Community rules are not contrary to the principle of preferential rates being granted in certain Member
States for press consignments, provided that principle is not discriminatory.