WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1476/99 by Richard CORBETT Postal tariffs
Date: 1999-09-01
Institutions: CORBETT, European Parliament
Subjects: application of EU law, imposed price, postal charges

C 27 E/86

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.1.2000

In their contacts with leading figures of the Kosovo Albanian community, EU Representatives have
underlined in clear terms that the persecution of Kosovo Serbs, Roma and other ethnic groups is
unacceptable and has to stop immediately.

The International Community will make every effort to facilitate the return of refugees and displaced
persons. In the meantime, the EU continues to provide humanitarian assistance to a large number of
refugees in Serbia. ECHO has recently allocated 56,1 million euro for humanitarian assistance to this effect.

(2000/C 27 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1476/99

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Postal tariffs

Some national postal authorities charge a different rate for letters sent to an address in the same country
(however far away) than to an address in another Member State (however close by). Is this compatible with
the Treaty, notably the provision on non-discrimination on grounds of nationality?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(6 October 1999)

The Commission is in favour of cost-based prices for each of the services involved in providing the
universal postal service, as called for in Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal
services and the improvement of quality of service (1).

The costs incurred by certain postal operators for distributing a letter in the same Member State may differ
from those incurred for a letter sent to another Member State, whereby the distance travelled has only a
marginal
impact. A purely domestic service involves a single operator with his network historically
adapted to that service, whereas a cross-border service involves different operators, each of whom provides
a part of the service using his own network, thereby increasing the complexity and cost of the distribution
process.

In view of the impact of costs on the rates, it cannot therefore be excluded that domestic and cross-border
situations are treated differently. Since postal services have not yet been liberalised, it is for the Member
State and the postal operator concerned to show that the difference in rates is justified. This requires an
examination of the individual case pursuant to Articles 49 (ex Article 59) and 86(2) (ex Article 90) of the
EC Treaty.

(1) OJ L 15, 21.1.1998.

(2000/C 27 E/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1477/99

by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Council

(1 September 1999)

Subject: Administrative detention

Would the Council inform me as to what efforts they are making to try to ensure the Israeli government
meets international standards regarding the practice of administrative detention, and in particular Article 9
of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights?

I would like to remind the Council of the case of Bilal Dakrub, one of 22 Lebanese detainees held by
arbitrary detention in Israel, prisoners who are held either without trial or long after their sentences have
expired.