WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4027/98 by Leonie van BLADEL The cost of introducing the euro
Date: 1999-01-11
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN BLADEL
Subjects: European Union, bank, dominant position, euro, financial transaction, monetary union, national currency, price list

11.10.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 289/115

Will the Commission now consider the issue of the protected wetland at Skhinias, where there are plans to set
up a rowing course with facilities for spectators etc. for the 2004 Games? Reliable sources of information claim
that Skhinias is to be designated a ‘natural park’ which will coincidentally(?) also incorporate these facilities. Is
it possible to effect such a change without infringing Community legislation?

(1) OJ C 117, 16.4.1998, p. 151.

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(23 February 1999)

The Schinias wetland has not been classified as a special protection area under Council Directive 79/409/EEC
of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (1), nor as an important bird area. The site is not included
either in the list of sites of Community importance communicated by the Hellenic authorities to the
Commission under the provisions of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of
natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (2), for future inclusion in the Natura 2000 network. Although
Schinias is listed in the relevant scientific inventory, hosting in particular several priority habitat types, no
evidence exists at the moment of insufficient representation of those habitat types in the Greek national list
which could justify the future addition of that site in the list of sites of Community importance.

In the light of the above, Community nature protection legislation is not involved in this case. In any event, the
Commission can only confirm the obligation for Member States to correctly implement all related Community
legislation, including Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain
public and private projects on the environment (3).

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.
(3) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(1999/C 289/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4027/98

by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council

(11 January 1999)

Subject: The cost of introducing the euro

Is the Council aware that following the introduction of the euro banks are charging their customers Fl 5

1.
per transaction for electronic cash transactions outside the Netherlands?

Is the Council also aware that the banks are also charging Fl 0,5 for electronic cash transactions in the

2.
Netherlands?

3.
Does the Council realise that the Fl 5 per transaction in other countries is forcing bank customers to
withdraw larger sums in order to reduce costs? A single withdrawal of Fl 500 costs Fl 5, whereas five
transactions of Fl 100 cost Fl 25.

Does the Council agree that this does not increase personal safety, given the larger sums of money

4.
withdrawn abroad to cut costs?

In view of the fact that all the banks charge the same rate, is the Council prepared to examine whether the

5.
banks have established a monopoly or have abused a monopoly position?

6.

If so, what action will the Council take?