WRITTEN QUESTION E-1746/99 by Winfried Menrad (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Distortion of competition resulting from EU aid for firms in Italy.
Date: 1999-10-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Baden-Württemberg, EU regional policy, Umbria, private sector, regional aid, restriction on competition, structural expenditure, tourism policy, trade event

20.6.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 170 E/91

2. Measures to strengthen the effectiveness of controls by Member States of external air and maritime
borders have been mainly developed in the Schengen framework, and are now integrated in the European
Union acquis, following the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty. Although these measures are carried
out by Member States, the Council is monitoring their effective implementation in its competent bodies.
As an example, practical measures to prevent illegal
in
cooperation with selected African countries, on the basis of the Decision of the Schengen Executive
Committee of 18 December 1998 on coordinated deployment of document advisers.

immigration by air and sea are undertaken,

3.
In addition to the Schengen acquis, practical measures of this type are also being developed, on
behalf of the EU as a whole, on the basis of the pre-existing European Union acquis, specifically the Joint
Position of 25 October 1996 on pre-frontier assistance and training assignments (OJ No L 281,
31.10.1996). Such measures, which will be coordinated within the competent Council bodies, however,
do not concern for the time being any African country.

4.
Regarding the root causes for flight or migration from some African countries, reference is made to
the Action Plan for Morocco, approved by the Council on 11 October 1999. This Action Plan is part of a
group of five Action Plans, each one defining a comprehensive and coherent approach targeted at the
situation of an important country of origin and/or transit of asylum-seekers and migrants. For each
country selected, the Action Plans present a coherent and well-balanced combination of the various
possibilities of the European Union in the area of Foreign Affairs, Development, Humanitarian and
Economic assistance.

5.
In the Action Plan for Morocco, this country was considered as a country of origin as well as of
transit of economic migrants toward European countries. The measures recommended in this Action Plan
include specifically the following: Building on existing channels to improve collection of relevant data,
dissemination of correct information on migration, development of strategies to combat illegal trafficking,
promotion of measures aimed at implementing readmission agreements. Promotion of foreign direct
investment, vocational training and self-employment and small-scale enterprises. Facilitation of voluntary
return and reintegration, integration into society of Moroccans legally residing in EU countries.

The Tampere European Council, held on 15 and 16 October 1999, considered as a useful
6.
contribution the first action plans approved by the Council, and invited the Council and the Commission
to report back on their implementation to the European Council in December 2000.

(2000/C 170 E/105)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1746/99

by Winfried Menrad (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 October 1999)

Subject: Distortion of competition resulting from EU aid for firms in Italy

A number of firms in the Tauber district (Baden-W(cid:252)rttemberg) and the Heilbron chamber of commerce
and industry have complained to me that the Commission is granting financial aid, as a means of
encouraging participation at trade fairs ((cid:145)Promotion-Action(cid:146)), to the region of Umbria and that this is being
used for the co-financing of the national and regional authorities there. The co-financing is provided as
part of an operational programme submitted by the region to the Commission and handled by Directorate-
General XVI (or V). The money is being used at (cid:145)Perugia Classico(cid:146), the musical instrument fair in Perugia, to
finance not only the costs of stands and the fair but also travel and accommodation expenses of persons
attending the fair (including flights, hotels, meals and tourist attractions).

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. Does the information I have received reflect the real situation?

2. Do you agree that in this case the firms in question enjoy an unacceptable competitive advantage over

German firms, for example?

C 170 E/92

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2000

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 1999)

Part of the Umbria region is eligible in the current programming period under Objectives 2 and 5(b) of the
Structural Funds, the programmes for which include a tourism promotion measure.

Any grant of aid to businesses under this measure is subject to Community rules, the ones on competition
in particular. The authority responsible for managing the programmes, in this case the Umbria region,
must ensure that these rules and the rules on the eligibility of expenditure as laid down in the relevant
decisions are all observed.

According to the information in the Commission(cid:146)s possession, the (cid:145)Perugia Classico(cid:146) event is being entirely
funded by the municipality of Perugia. It should also be noted that the municipality is not in an area
eligible for the Structural Funds.

(2000/C 170 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1747/99

by Karl von Wogau (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 October 1999)

Subject: Fuel checks on vehicles crossing into Hungary

Is the Commission aware that the Hungarian customs authorities conduct fuel checks on lorries crossing
the border and charge a fee on quantities in excess of 200 litres, with penalties if drivers fail to declare
quantities?

true that

Is it
there are no such checks on lorries travelling in the opposite direction? Does the
Commission feel it would be useful in this case to reintroduce the customs documents that used to be
carried and which prove that a tank contains a certain amount of fuel when it crosses the frontier? Does
the Commission feel it would be useful to conclude an agreement with Hungary, by analogy with the
agreement with Switzerland, so that these checks are not carried out?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(16 November 1999)

According to Article 4 of
transport vehicles (18 May 1956):

the Customs convention on temporary importation of commercial road

The fuel contained in the ordinary supply tanks of vehicles temporarily imported shall be admitted
without payment of import duties and import taxes and free of import prohibitions and restrictions.
Each Contracting Party may however fix maximum quantities for the fuel so admitted into its territory
in the supply tanks of the vehicle temporarily imported.

Both Hungary, and the Community are signatories to this convention (Council Decision 94/0111/EC of
16 December 1993 on the conclusion of the Customs convention on the temporary importation of
commercial road vehicles (1956) and the acceptance of the United Nations(cid:146) resolution on the applicability
of carnets de passage en douane and CPD carnets to commercial road vehicles (1)).

In line with this, Hungarian legislation states that imports of petrol in excess of 200 litres are subject to
VAT and excise duties. As the customs duty rate for petrol is currently 0 %, the imports are in practice
only subject to VAT and excise duty. However, Hungary has concluded bilateral agreements with certain
countries which set out on a reciprocal basis limits which differ to those mentioned above.